Thermaltake has expanded its CT EX ARGB Sync PC cooling fan series with new colour options, allowing PC enthusiasts to inject a personal touch into their builds. Dark green, pastel brown, yellow, and pink join the existing colour palette, offering new options to complement any system aesthetic.

Thermaltake's commitment to blending design and technology is evident in this expansion, providing customers with bold and unique colour options. The CT EX ARGB Sync fan series now boasts eight distinct colours: black, white, pastel green, pastel blue, dark green, pastel brown, yellow, and pink. Furthermore, the series offers 120mm and 140mm sizes in standard and reverse blade configurations, providing PC builders with all the flexibility they need to create personalised systems.

The CT EX ARGB Sync fans feature Thermaltake's newly enhanced MagForce 2.0, a magnetic connection system designed for effortless installation. This innovative design minimises cable clutter, resulting in improved cable management and a cleaner interior. Performance remains a key focus, with the CT120 EX delivering up to 68 CFM airflow and a 2.95 mm-H₂O maximum static pressure, while the CT140 EX offers up to 90.3 CFM airflow and a 3.07 mm-H₂O maximum static pressure.

Designed for chassis and radiator applications, the CT EX fans feature anti-vibration rubber pads to minimise noise. Nine addressable LEDs provide 16.8 million colours, all of which can be controlled via most motherboard lighting software. The Thermaltake CT EX ARGB Sync fans can be acquired as a single unit or in a 3-fan pack.

KitGuru says: Of all the colour options available for the CT EX ARGB Sync fans, which one do you prefer?

The post Thermaltake adds four new colour options to CT EX ARGB Sync fan lineup first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this week, we learned more about Microsoft's plans for an Xbox handheld. Rather than building a bespoke device itself, Microsoft is partnering up with an OEM to produce an Xbox-licensed handheld. While initially we didn't know which OEM Microsoft has teamed up with, that has now changed.

According to The Verge, Microsoft has opted to team up with ASUS for its Xbox-themed handheld. With that in mind, the device is expected to be similar to the currently available (and expensive) Asus ROG Ally. Microsoft previously revealed that it had been working with handheld makers like Lenovo and Asus to put together a version of Windows 11 more fit for gaming.

While we will see Xbox-licensed products like the upcoming Xbox handheld from Asus, Microsoft is still expected to be working on its own custom handheld in-house. Whether or not that product sees the light of day remains to be seen. Microsoft has cancelled multiple Xbox hardware projects in recent years, including the Xbox Keystone, a streaming device intended to turn any TV into an Xbox, with full access to Game Pass via Cloud Gaming.

Aside from upcoming handhelds, Microsoft is also currently working on its next-gen home console. The next Xbox is expected to arrive in 2027 and will be more ‘PC-like' and could end up featuring a SteamOS style setup with a gaming UI set as the default boot screen, with access to an advanced desktop view hidden away in the options somewhere.

KitGuru Says: If the Asus Xbox handheld is indeed real, then I don't expect it to compete with the Steam Deck on price and at that point, I'm not sure there's much of a market left.

The post Microsoft has reportedly teamed up with Asus for first ‘Xbox handheld’ first appeared on KitGuru.

Prior to its delays, Assassin's Creed Shadows wasn't going to be available on Steam at launch and the game was not going to be verified for the Steam Deck. Fortunately, the developers have put the last few months to good use. The game is now coming to Steam on day-one and today, we also learned that the game has been submitted for Steam Deck verification. 

Previously, Ubisoft had ruled out Steam Deck verification for Assassin's Creed Shadows, as the game's minimum PC requirements were higher than what the Steam Deck offers. However, after diving into the files and tinkering around, Ubisoft has now announced that the game will support Steam Deck at launch.

As is the case with many modern AAA titles with realistic graphics, we don't expect Assassin's Creed Shadows to look particularly, and it will no doubt require FSR upscaling to achieve a playable 30FPS even with the lowest settings. FSR doesn't add much in the way of visuals when trying to upscale to 720p from sub-HD resolutions.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is launching worldwide on the 20th of March.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Assassin's Creed Shadows later this month? 

The post Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now support Steam Deck at launch first appeared on KitGuru.

SteelSeries has unveiled its new QcK Performance mousepad series, a line of premium mousepads designed to cater to the nuanced preferences of individual gamers. Recognising that every player's style is unique, SteelSeries has focused on providing three different surfaces, allowing users to choose the one that best matches their needs.

The QcK Performance Series departs from “one-surface-fits-all” mousepads, allowing players to choose between three distinct textures: speed, balance, and control. This granular approach allows gamers to select the ideal surface to complement their gameplay, whether prioritising rapid mouse movements, precise control, or a blend of both.

The series is built with a focus on consistency and durability. It features high-quality neoprene foam that provides a stable and reliable base for high-speed mouse movements, minimising sensor skipping. This ensures a smooth and consistent experience, which is crucial for competitive gaming.

Developed in collaboration with esports athletes, the QcK Performance Series aims to elevate gameplay by providing surfaces tailored to specific playstyles. Available in L (490×420 mm) and XL (900×400 mm) formats, all variants of the QcK Performance series have a 3.5 mm thick base for extra consistency and comfort and stitched edges to improve durability. The L models cost €44.99 while the XL costs €54.99.

KitGuru says: Which format and variant of the QcK Performance mousepad series would you go for?

The post Steelseries unveils new Qck Performance mousepads first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the last couple of years, a recurring rumour has claimed that a remake of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is on the way. More has come to light on this remake in recent months, with sources claiming that the game has been completely rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5. Now, it seems that a surprise release is just around the corner. 

According to two outlets, Nate the Hate and Video Games Chronicle, the Oblivion remake will be announced within weeks and will release well before the Summer. In fact, it is claimed that the game could release as early as April, so we could be looking at a very short wait between the reveal and eventual release date.

The Oblivion remake is reportedly being developed by Virtuos, a company that has primarily taken on support studio duties for the AAA games industry. Some notable franchises Virtuos has worked on include Call of Duty, Dark Souls, Bioshock, Uncharted, Tomb Raider and more. Virtuos is also working on the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.

With this being a remake of Oblivion in an entirely different engine, some areas of the game have seen extensive changes. According to MP1st, stamina, HUD elements and combat have all seen notable reworks, so expect something closer to Souls-like melee combat.

KitGuru Says: If gameplay has changed too much then my excitement for an Oblivion remake drastically reduces. Still, nothing has been announced yet so don't put too much stock into any early details. 

The post The Oblivion Remake is reportedly releasing as soon as next month first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel has appointed Lip-Bu Tan, former Cadence CEO and Intel board member, to lead the company as it navigates increasing losses within its foundry division.

This appointment follows Pat Gelsinger's recent departure as CEO, leaving a temporary leadership void filled by co-CEOs Michelle Johnston Holthaus and David Zinsner. Tan is expected to assume his new role on March 18th.

A prominent figure in the semiconductor industry, Tan brings a wealth of experience to Intel. He founded venture capital firm Walden Capital and has served on the boards of numerous technology companies, including SMIC, Flextronics, Mindtree, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ambarella, Schneider Electric, Inphi, Nuvia, and Softbank.

Tan's relationship with Intel is multifaceted. He served on the company's board of directors from 2022 until his resignation in 2024, shortly after Intel announced significant workforce reductions and cost-cutting measures. However, his resignation was officially attributed to personal reasons.

Tan is known for his successful leadership at Cadence Systems, where he oversaw a remarkable 3,200 percent increase in the company's share price during his decade-long tenure as CEO. Wall Street appears optimistic that he can replicate this success at Intel, as evidenced by a surge in the company's share price following the announcement. This positive reaction came after Intel's stock lost more than half its value the preceding year.

KitGuru says: Intel spent a lot of money setting up its Foundry Services business. Recent reports indicate that Intel 18A, the first Intel node to be offered to outside customers, is just around the corner. 

The post Intel names Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D uses their 2nd Gen V-Cache technology to give the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X an overhaul that transforms its behaviour. Against all the odds it is excellent at gaming and also at productivity tasks. Our benchmark charts in this review will likely bring despair to Intel.

Time stamps

00:00 Start
01:04 Technical data
01:58 3D V-Cache / Chipset Drivers
02:32 Hardware
03:20 BIOS / Latency heatmap
03:47 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
03:59 Cinebench 2024 Single Core
04:14 Geekbench 6 Multi Core
04:25 Geekbench 6 Single Core
04:31 Cinebench Multi Core Per £ of cost
05:15 CPU Power Consumption
05:28 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core Per Watt
05:59 7Zip v24 Benchmark
06:05 AIDA 64 Memory Bandwidth
06:27 3DMark Time Spy
06:45 Far Cry 6 (1080p)
07:02 Far Cry 6 (1440p)
07:10 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (1080p)
07:29 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (1440p)
07:48 Assassins Creed Mirage (1080p)
07:59 Assassins Creed Mirage (1440p)
08:16 Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p)
08:33 Cyberpunk 20277 (1440p)
08:45 Total War Pharaoh (1080p)
09:02 Total War Pharaoh (1440p)
09:16 Closing Thoughts

Alongside this Ryzen 9 9950X3D, AMD is also releasing the 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X3D that we have reviewed HERE.

If you check out that review you will have the background information you require to understand why moving from two 6-core CCDs in the 9900X3D to 8-core CCDs in this 9950X3D is a much bigger deal than it sounds..

The post AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review – AMD’s Brilliant All-Rounder first appeared on KitGuru.

There weren't a lot of MMOs trying to compete with WoW throughout the 2010s and the ones that did try ultimately ended up shutting down. One MMO that falls into this category is Defiance, an ambitious project that was supposed to share cross-promotional elements with a TV series by the same name. Ultimately, the show was cancelled and the MMO servers went offline, but a comeback appears to be just around the corner. 

Defiance first launched back in 2013 and featured some of the same characters that appeared in the show. However, outside of a few familiar faces, there was very little tying the two projects together. As a result, when the Defiance TV series was cancelled in 2015, the game was not put in jeopardy. Instead, it rebranded as Defiance 2050 and continued operating through to 2021, when the servers were finally taken offline.

Now, the independent studio and publisher, Fawkes, has acquired the rights to both Defiance (2013) and Defiance 2050, with plans to bring the MMO back online, starting in April this year.

Fawkes identified a passionate community around Defiance as its core reasoning for bringing the game back. Many fans still discuss this game in forum threads and YouTube videos about the game are still popular now, even years after the game going offline.

As Fawkes looks to revive Defiance, it has set up a Discord channel for gathering feedback on future game updates. If you are a Defiance fan, be sure to join the Discord to find groups to play with once the game returns, and to share ideas on what changes could be made to bring the game up to 2025 standards.

KitGuru Says: Did you play Defiance at all back when it first came out? Would you be interested in seeing the MMO return for good? 

The post Indie studio revives long-dead MMO ‘Defiance’ first appeared on KitGuru.

Hot on the heels of the successful launch of Portal RTX, Nvidia announced plans for an RTX reimagining of Half-Life 2. The mod, known as Half-Life 2 RTX, has been in development for years but we'll finally have the opportunity to play it for ourselves later this month. 

On the 18th of March, the Half-Life 2 RTX demo will be made freely available on Steam. The demo includes the first two levels of the game, complete with reworked textures and materials to fully take advantage of ray-traced lighting effects. Like Quake RTX and Portal RTX, Half-Life 2 RTX will give players access to a full suite of Path Tracing tools, so you can adjust away to really see what is possible with RT once pushed to the limits.

The demo will be available starting on the 18th of March and the full final game will be made available for free to all Half-Life 2 owners. Unfortunately, we don't have a final date for the full game, but it is also worth having patience, as the game is essentially being developed as a volunteer project by the folks at Orbifold Studios, exclusively using the RTX Remix tool set.

Alongside the release of the HL2 RTX demo, Nvidia is also releasing RTX Remix in full this month. The latest version of the software includes support for RTX Neural Rendering and DLSS 4, so we expect to see many more classic games ‘remade' with RTX Remix in the years ahead.

KitGuru Says: Will you be downloading the Half-Life 2 RTX demo when it drops next week?

The post Half-Life 2 RTX demo comes to Steam next week first appeared on KitGuru.

GDC is kicking off and as is the case every year, Nvidia has more than a few announcements ready to go. The big news this year? RTX Remix is officially launching, complete with support for DLSS 4 and RTX Neural Shaders, enabling developers to bring ray-traced effects to classic DX8 and DX9 based games. 

At this point, Nvidia's research shows that 90% of RTX GPU users utilise features like DLSS, ray-traced graphics and Nvidia Reflex. At this point, over 100 games and apps support the latest version of DLSS, DLSS 4, which brings Multi Frame Generation to the table, while hundreds of other titles support DLSS 3 or older versions. Support for frame generation and super resolution technologies has seen an uptick across the games industry, with some modern titles even factoring in ‘Frame Generation' capabilities when putting together minimum and recommended hardware requirements for new PC games.

We are unlikely to see support for DLSS drop off amongst game developers anytime soon, as Nvidia also claims it has shipped more RTX 50 series GPUs in the last few months than it did when RTX 40 series GPUs first launched back in 2022.

Here are some of the rapid-fire announcements from Nvidia at GDC:

• RTX Kit now available for Unreal Engine 5, bringing RTX Mega Geometry and RTX Hair to UE5 titles.
• RTX Remix is now officially available to all aspiring modders looking to freshen up old titles. The first major showcase of this tookit is Half-Life 2 RTX, with a free demo launching on Steam next week.
• Nvidia ACE AI-powered NPCs are now being used in the real world. The feature debuts in InZOI and Naraka: Bladepoint Mobile PC version this month, with more titles set to use Nvidia's ‘Smart NPCs' in the future.
• Nvidia ACE plugins now updated for Maya and Unreal Engine to further enhance game development with AI tools.

Interestingly, while the demo for Half-Life 2 RTX is being made available this month, complete with the first two levels of the game, a date for the full release has not yet been shared.

KitGuru Says: Nvidia's AI game development tools are gaining traction. It will be interesting to see if ACE-powered NPCs in a game like Naraka: Bladepoint can be easily differentiated from a typical NPC. For me though, Half-Life 2 RTX is the big announcement here and after years of teasing, I'm looking forward to finally diving in. 

The post Nvidia claims it has shipped twice as many RTX 50 GPUs at launch compared to RTX 40 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. With the show’s second season set to premiere in almost exactly a month, HBO/MAX have released the first official full-length trailer – with it raking in over 150 million views in just 72 hours.

As reported by TheWrap, the recently-released ‘official trailer’ for HBO’s The Last of Us season 2 has garnered a ton of interest across the board.

According to the publication, in the first 3 days since its release the trailer has managed to surpass 158 million views across all the various social media platforms.

Not only does this make it the most-viewed trailer for any HBO/MAX show, but also represents a 160%  growth over Season 1’s trailers.

Given the fact that Season 1 ended up seeing an average of 32 million viewers per episode in the US alone, it’s safe to say that Season 2 is set to be huge for both Sony and HBO.

KitGuru says: Did you watch the trailer? Are you ready for The Last of Us Season 2? Will episode 1 break viewership records? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 trailer passes 150 million views in 72 hours first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in 2022, EA officially announced that they were reviving the long-dormant Skate franchise. With the game planned to launch some time this year, the team have been hosting a bunch of closed alpha tests. In a not-so-surprising move, despite being in an alpha state, EA has now added microtransactions into Skate.

As reported by Insider-Gaming, EA recently sent a message to all the early alpha testers in which they announced the introduction of microtransactions into Skate – with it reading as follows:

“To ensure we achieve these goals at Early Access we have enabled the option to purchase and use virtual currency (San Van Bucks) in our ongoing Closed Alpha playtest. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated in providing a great experience at Early Access launch.”

To be somewhat fair to EA, Skate is planned to be a free-to-play title upon its full release, and so it would expectantly include microtransactions.

That said, even if this is being used to test the stability of the service, it is somewhat of a bad look to feature such monetisation during Skate’s pre-released state.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest move by EA? Is it anything to be worried about? Could a free-to-play format work well? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post SKATE adds microtransactions despite still being in closed alpha first appeared on KitGuru.

Since its release back in 2020, Microsoft’s Flight Simulator has seen a great number of updates on a consistent basis. Marking the 19th major world update, Microsoft Flight Simulator (and its 2024 sequel) are revamping a number of regions including Brazil, Guyana and more.

Making the announcement on their blog, the team at Asobo Studios officially unveiled World Update XIX, writing, “This long awaited and oft-requested Microsoft Flight Simulator: World Update XIX is filled with excitement and beauty that enhances over half the land mass of South America with its coverage of Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.”

As always, these refreshed regions are accompanied by a bunch of further additional content, with Update XIX bringing:

• 75 points of interest
• 4 TIN Cities
• 7 Airports
• 3 Discovery flights
• 3 landing challenges
• 3 bush trips (MSFS)

Alongside the above (which is available right now), 2024’s Microsoft Flight Simulator in particular is set to get a couple unique additions on the 17th of March, namely:

• New helicopter landing challenge
• New Rally Race
• New low-altitude challenge

Given the scope of Microsoft Flight Simulator it is understandably frustrating to have to wait potentially years to see your country properly represented in the game. That said, it is nice to see the team continue to build upon MSFS – making it as accurate a representation of the full world as we are likely to have for many years.

KitGuru says: Will you be hopping back into Flight Simulator? What regions are you still waiting to get updated? Let us know down below.

The post Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XIX is now live first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, Sony updates its PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium libraries with a line-up of current and classic titles. For March, Sony is adding a solid dozen titles including the OG Armored Core trilogy.

Set to join PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium on the 18th of March, this month’s line-up is as follows:

• UFC 5 | PS5
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | PS4, PS5
• Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions | PS4
• Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy | PS4, PS5
• Arcade Paradise | PS4, PS5
• Bang-On Balls: Chronicles | PS4, PS5
• You Suck at Parking | PS4, PS5
• Syberia – The World Before | PS4, PS5

PlayStation Plus Premium:

• Arcade Paradise VR | PS VR2
• Armored Core | PS4, PS5
• Armored Core: Project Phantasma | PS4, PS5
• Armored Core: Master of Arena | PS4, PS5

While the Extra tier sees a bunch of welcome additions including the underrated Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and the nostalgia-filled Arcade Paradise, the Armored Core trilogy is easily this month’s biggest draw.

Announced back in February, these additions mark the first time in a long time that FromSoftware’s original mecha games have been made available.

While PlayStation’s PS1/2 emulation leaves quite a bit to be desired, these inclusions are more than welcome nonetheless.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this month’s additions? Which games will you be hopping into? Did you check Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown out back when it first released? Let us know down below.

The post Armored Core, Prince of Persia and more coming to PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium first appeared on KitGuru.

Avowed marks the biggest first-party Xbox game for 2025 so far, with the Obsidian Entertainment-developed RPG arriving on Microsoft’s console (and PC) just under a month ago. Being Microsoft, the company rarely shares sales figures for its games. That being said, according to the game’s director, the higher-ups at Xbox are “happy” with Avowed’s player numbers.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Avowed’s Creative Director Carrie Patel spoke on a wide range of topics from the game itself to the studio’s culture and more.

When asked about the performance of the game in the weeks following Avowed’s launch, Patel unsurprisingly offered no concrete data.

That said, according to the director, “I've certainly been very happy, and all the folks I've talked to, both at the studio level and at the Xbox and Microsoft level, have been very happy with the reception to our game – to the number of people playing it, the amount of time they're spending in it.”

While this in and of itself is welcome to hear, Microsoft’s history of celebrating a game’s success only to then close down the studio does put a damper on any metrics they choose to share.

For the sake of Obsidian Entertainment, hopefully the suits at Microsoft are indeed pleased with the results so far.

KitGuru says: Have you been playing Avowed? What do you think of it? Let us know down below.

The post Avowed director confirms Microsoft ‘happy’ with game’s player numbers first appeared on KitGuru.

Corsair is bringing its popular Custom Lab service to Europe, allowing gamers to create personalised peripherals that reflect their style. Corsair Custom Lab offers a one-stop shop for creating custom gear, allowing users to express themselves through mice, keyboards, and mousepads, with plans to expand the product offerings.

Corsair Custom Lab allows customers to personalise the appearance of gaming peripherals, enabling them to curate a workspace aesthetic that is uniquely their own. Users can select from various colours and themes, ranging from retro gaming designs to futuristic graphics, giving them a canvas for self-expression.

The K65 Plus Wireless gaming keyboard, the M75 Wireless gaming mouse, and the MM300 mousepad are the first products available through Custom Lab in Europe, but expect more to come. Corsair Custom Lab will be accessible through all EU Corsair webstores, with keyboard layouts for North America, the UK, Germany, and France available at launch.

The Corsair Custom Lab platform is now live on Corsair websites in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Poland. Artist series selections currently available on the US website will be offered to EU customers at a later date.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Corsair's Custom Lab is a nice option for users who want to avoid the hassle of customising keyboards or searching for specific parts in various stores. However, that comes at a price, literally.

The post Corsair expands its Custom Lab to European customers first appeared on KitGuru.

With both Nvidia and AMD having launched new-generation graphics cards this year, it is now time to take a look at the state of the market. Nvidia's RTX 50 series GPUs have been available since the end of January and as of last week, the AMD RX 9070 series GPUs are also available. Early stats indicate that AMD is currently outselling by volume.

The team at ComputerBase (via 3DCenter) has revealed the results of its latest survey, finding that around 60 percent of 4,200 readers surveyed have bought an RX 90000 series graphics card over an RTX 50 unit. Of those surveyed, around 25 percent opted for a current-gen Nvidia GPU, while a further 20 percent opted to pick up an older generation graphics card instead.

These results confirm something industry onlookers had already suspected – RTX 50 stock is in extremely low supply and AMD did a much better job building up stock for its RX 9070 launch compared to Nvidia's RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 launches.

As the stock situation fluctuates, we expect these results to eventually change. As Nvidia provides multiple higher-end options compared to AMD, we would expect Nvidia to still accrue more money from GPU sales, even if it doesn't shift as much overall volume over the coming months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you attempted to pick up a new-gen graphics card in recent weeks? Were you successful or have you struggled to find stock?

The post Survey claims AMD RX 9070 series is outselling Nvidia RTX 50 first appeared on KitGuru.

BlizzCon is coming back in 2026! The ultimate celebration of Blizzard's games and the vibrant community that unites players will again grace the Anaheim Convention Center on September 12th and 13th, 2026.

BlizzCon is a cherished tradition for Blizzard and its fans. For many, it goes beyond simply showcasing games. It's where fans celebrate their shared passion for Blizzard's universes. Since its inaugural event in 2005, BlizzCon has been a staple for fans of its work. Now, nearly 20 years later, Blizzard aims to elevate this iconic event to new heights.

After skipping 2024 and 2025 (Blizzard confirmed we wouldn't get one this year), BlizzCon is returning in 2026. Blizzard plans to deliver an exceptional experience for all attendees, building upon BlizzCon traditions such as the Opening Ceremony, in-depth panels, the Darkmoon Faire, friendly competition, and hands-on gameplay.

Expect to learn more details between now and the event's date. Users can always subscribe to BlizzCon's newsletter to be notified when tickets go on sale and receive access to BlizzCon news, special offers, and announcements.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever gone to a BlizzCon? Would you like to?

The post Blizzcon targets 2026 return first appeared on KitGuru.

Moon Studios' critically acclaimed Ori series has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 15 million copies sold across Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Thomas Mahler, the series' director, celebrated this achievement on social media, noting that it's “not too shabby” for a genre that many considered dead when development of the first game started. Funny enough, Steam now receives new metroidvania games every week or so, and in part, that could be explained by how Ori revitalised the genre.

Adding to this accomplishment, Mahler revealed that these sales figures do not include players who experienced the games through Xbox Game Pass. As such, the game has likely been played by well over the 15 million players who've bought it.

In other news, Moon Studios has announced its independence following months of negotiations with what remains of Private Division. The studio is now focusing on its action RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, which is currently in early access. The announcement was made during a recent Wicked Inside Showcase, where the studio revealed what's coming to its latest game.

The studio unveiled the game's upcoming update, “The Breach,” scheduled for release on April 30th, 2025. This update will introduce new content, including new regions like the Lowland Meadows and Marin Woods, weapon archetypes such as Gauntlets and Wands, and various cosmetic and performance enhancements. The update also focuses on replayability, implementing QoL improvements like direct teleportation to your house, an enhanced storage system, and a Hardcore mode.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever played an Ori game?

The post Ori series surpasses 15 million copies sold first appeared on KitGuru.

Ever since the release of Palit's RTX 4090 GameRock, I've been waiting to see what the company would do next, and today we finally get our answer. That's because we're reviewing the RTX 5090 GameRock, featuring a bold, eye-catching design and a fat – effectively quad-slot – cooler. Concerns around pricing and availability remain just as pressing as they did when the RTX 5090 first launched, but what can this partner card bring to the table?

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:44 5090 pricing/availability – no pre-orders at all
01:21 GameRock design impressions
03:10 PCB and heatsink analysis
04:25 Test setup
04:52 Thermals and noise
06:05 Game benchmarks
06:51 Power – 12VHPWR is a huge concern
10:07 Overclocking
10:50 Closing thoughts

I remember the first time I opened the box of the last-gen Palit RTX 4090 GameRock and couldn't quite believe my eyes. The shroud was almost entirely covered in a crystal-like plastic, and once the system turned on, the RGB lighting was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

Following up something like that can often be tricky, but Palit has gone for what it describes as a ‘chameleon' aesthetic with the RTX 5090 GameRock. It's still incredibly eye-catching, but we take a closer look at the design on the next page.

It's also worth pointing out that I was sent the regular GameRock, rather than the GameRock OC, so my sample ships without a factory overclock – i.e. at reference spec.

	RTX 5090	RTX 5080	RTX 4090	RTX 4080 Super	RTX 4080
Process	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4
SMs	170	84	128	80	76
CUDA Cores	21760	10752	16384	10240	9728
Tensor Cores	680	336	512	320	304
RT Cores	170	84	128	80	76
Texture Units	680	336	512	320	304
ROPs	176	112	176	112	112
GPU Boost Clock	2407 MHz	2617 MHz	2520 MHz	2550 MHz	2505 MHz
Memory Data Rate	28 Gbps	30 Gbps	21 Gbps	23 Gbps	22.4 Gbps
L2 Cache	98304 KB	65536 KB	73729 KB	65536 KB	65536 KB
Total Video Memory	32GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR7	24GB GDDR6X	16GB GDDR6X	16GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface	512-bit	256-bit	384-bit	256-bit	256-bit
Memory Bandwidth	1792 GB/Sec	960 GB/Sec	1008 GB/Sec	736 GB/Sec	716.8 GB/Sec
TGP	575W	360W	450W	320W	320W

First, a quick spec recap. The RTX 5090 is built on the new GB202 die, measuring 750mm², though it's not quite a full implementation of the silicon. Instead we find a total of 11 Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each holding up to eight Texture Processing Clusters (TPCs), for a total of 85. Each TPC is home to two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), giving us 170, and each SM still holds 128 CUDA Cores, meaning the RTX 5090 has an eye-watering total of 21760 shaders. We also find 170 RT cores, 680 Tensor cores, 680 Texture Units, and 176 ROPs.

This time around, however, there's no node-shrink, and GB202 remains fabricated on TSMC's N4 node, as per the RTX 40-series. As such, rated clock speed is not increased this generation and is actually touted slightly below that of the RTX 4090, with the RTX 5090 delivering a rated 2407MHz boost clock, compared to its predecessor's 2520MHz boost.

The memory configuration has seen significant upgrades, though. The RTX 5090 now comes equipped with a super-wide 512-bit memory interface, paired with 32GB GDDR7 memory running at 28Gbps, and that puts total memory bandwidth at a staggering 1792 GB/s. L2 cache is also increased to 98MB, up from the 74MB of the RTX 4090.

Considering the large increases to die size and core count, but with no node shrink, it's perhaps unsurprising to see power draw has increased, this time boasting a 575W 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 Palit RTX 5090 GameRock Review first appeared on KitGuru.

For well over a decade LEGO has had a strong relationship with TT Games, letting the studio use its IP to craft co-op focused LEGO titles across a range of franchises. Despite this, the company has now announced that it’s gearing up to build its own internal game dev studios.

As reported by the Financial Times (paywalled), LEGO looks set to take a further step into the video games industry, with the company’s CEO ‘Niels Christiansen’ telling the publication:

“We can definitely say as long as we're under the Lego brand we can cover experiences for kids of all ages, digital or physical. [Games development in-house] is something we're building up.”

This comes in the wake of a number of major moves made by the company in recent years across the video games space.

Alongside a reduction in the number of TT Games developed LEGO titles, the company has partnered with Epic for a Fortnite spin-off as well as Sony for LEGO Horizon Adventures.

Given the success they have seen with such partnerships, it is interesting to hear that the company plans to get into video game development directly. Hopefully this doesn’t end with studio closures and mass lay-offs. We will simply have to wait and see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Should the company stick to partnering with others? What would you want to see done differently for these internal titles? Let us know down below.

The post LEGO is “building up” internal game dev studios first appeared on KitGuru.

Apple Arcade was created with the intention to bring wider awareness to the many great video games available on mobile platforms. With a monthly subscription, iOS users can get their hands on a range of interesting and unique games, all of which are free from microtransactions. Following the last major update, the service is set to get 6 new titles next month, including a new Katamari.

Making the announcement on their blog, the Arcade team at Apple wrote: “Six fun games and exciting updates for Apple Arcade are launching over the next month.”

Set to go go live on the 3rd of April, the full line-up of new titles is as follows:

• Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE
• Space Invaders Infinity Gene Evolve
• puffies.
• RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic+
• The Game of Life 2+
• Sesame Street Mecha Builders+

Easily the biggest upcoming addition is that of Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE. The first new entry in almost a decade, this Apple Arcade exclusive takes the classic Katamari format and adds a twist, having players:

“energize the king’s ‘live stream’ by rolling their Katamari to create stars. As users advance, comments from in-game fans appear, and the longer they play, the larger their audience grows. By completing the king’s challenges and boosting their subscriber count, players can unlock dynamic new stages.”

Fortunately for fans of the series, you might not need to purchase an Apple device in order to get a new taste of the King of all Cosmos, as Bandai Namco recently trademarked the name ‘Once Upon a KATAMARI’ – suggesting more games are in the works. Regardless, it is exciting to see the series finally rise from its slumber.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the line-up? Will you check out Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE? What Apple Arcade exclusive has been your favourite so far? Let us know down below.

The post Apple Arcade to add 6 new titles including Katamari and Space Invaders first appeared on KitGuru.

During Sony’s State of Play last September, the console manufacturer announced that the highly successful HITMAN World of Assassination Trilogy would be coming to PlayStation VR2 in December 2024. Following a slight delay, the game is finally ready for deployment, with the game set to come to PSVR2 later this month.

Announced during the VR Games Showcase, IO Interactive offered fans another look at HITMAN World of Assassination running on PSVR2. Set to launch on the 27th of March, this PSVR2 port won’t be free, however will be relatively cheap at just £8.99 for current owners of the flat-screen version.

Fans of this trilogy might remember the previous VR port made for the OG PSVR / PS4. Given its rather rudimentary hardware, the experience was far from perfect. Fortunately, this new release looks to be significantly more comprehensive, featuring “dual-wielding, full ambidexterity, room-scale implementation, as well as general improved VR experience through new intuitive controls and gameplay mechanics.”

Beyond this, the port also adds “the possibility of performing actions with both controllers at the same time, active reloading, on-body weapon holstering, aiming through the sniper’s scope, and manual interactions to take disguises,” alongside “spatial interactions to touch, grab, and position, integration of the PlayStation VR2 controllers’ adaptative triggers, and many more.”

This marks the 3rd attempt at a VR port for HITMAN, following the aforementioned PSVR1 version and the more recent Meta Quest release. That said, hopefully IOI have managed to hit the nail on its head this time. 3rd time lucky and all that.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to this PSVR2 port? Have you tried any of the other VR Hitman experiences? Could this be a system seller if done right? Let us know down below.

The post HITMAN World of Assassination comes to PSVR2 later this month first appeared on KitGuru.

Dino Crisis is a beloved series from Capcom which has unfortunately seen little to no activity in decades. Following surveys conducted by the publisher asking whether they’d be interested in more Dino Crisis, Capcom has now registered a trademark for the game franchise in Japan.

As reported by Gematsu, Capcom recently published a trademark listing for Dino Crisis just a week ago as it pertains to video games.

While in and of itself perhaps not a big deal, as explained by Dino Crisis Community Rep Jawmuncher on BlueSky: “The [trademark] system doesn't work like it does in the US, so such a trademark means they must be planning to do SOMETHING with the IP.”

Lending further credence to this, it’s been well under 10 years since the IP was last re-trademarked, indicating that this could be more than just a case of maintaining the property rights.

As mentioned, Capcom has surveyed fans on a number of occasions asking which dormant IPs they would like to see return. With the likes of Onimusha finally getting the attention it deserves once again, perhaps Dino Crisis could be next in line? We can hope.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you think this recent filing means anything? Would you want a new entry or a remake first? Let us know down below.

The post Capcom files new trademark for Dino Crisis in Japan first appeared on KitGuru.

Last week, a dutch etailer caused quite a stir after telling RTX 5090 pre-order customers that they would have to wait longer for their graphics cards to arrive. Despite having units in stock, the store claimed that Nvidia had issued a recall of RTX 50 GPUs. We were quickly able to establish that no such recall is or was taking place, and now, customers who have been kept waiting for over a month are starting to get their graphics cards.

One of our YouTube channel subscribers, Ben, got in touch with us about the situation last week, producing proof of purchase for the RTX 5090 at uwgamespecialist.nl, as well as the email from their customer service stating that Nvidia had recalled a number of graphics cards. Ben had purchased the RTX 5090 for 3399 euros in January but despite the card showing as in stock on the retailer's website, he could not get an update on when the card would ship. This eventually led to the now infamous ‘recall' claim. The CEO for uwgamespecialist.nl later admitted in email to KitGuru that there was no recall and promised to get Ben the unit he ordered.

In an email this morning, Ben confirmed to us that he did indeed receive his MSI RTX 5090 Suprim graphics card from uwgamespecialist.nl on Monday. We know of at least one other customer who bought the same graphics card at a similar price, on the same day as Ben, who is also awaiting their unit. It is our hope that they also get their unit in the coming days.

To catch up on the whole story surrounding this situation, be sure to check out the editorial from our Editor-in-Chief, Allan Campbell, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you are buying an in-demand item like the RTX 5090, be sure to keep an eye on the store you ordered from for any stock updates and raise the alarm if you notice something suspicious, like a dubious recall claim. You'll always be able to tell if a legitimate recall has been issued or not, as product recalls always require a public announcement from the original product manufacturer.  

The post Dutch etailer sends out long-awaited RTX 5090 after fake recall claim first appeared on KitGuru.

Following yesterday's leak detailing the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5050 specifications, the missing piece of the puzzle has finally fallen into place: the RTX 5060. The same leaker has now provided the full specifications of the upcoming GPU.

According to kopite7kimi (via videocardz), all three cards will use the same PG152 board design, which apparently supports two distinct GPUs (GB206 and GB207) and two memory types (GDDR6 and GDDR7). This suggests a unified platform, potentially streamlining production and reducing costs.

As predicted, the RTX 5060 non-Ti appears to be a slightly less powerful variant of the 5060 Ti. It features 3,840 CUDA cores, approximately 25% more than the RTX 4060, a higher 150W TGP, 35W more than its predecessor, and 8 GB of GDDR7 memory across a 128-bit memory bus. While clock speeds remain undisclosed, the core count increase, faster VRAM, and TGP difference suggest a decent performance uplift, at least more than the rest of the RTX 50 series brought compared to its RTX 40 series counterparts.

Nvidia is reportedly planning to announce the RTX 5060 alongside the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5050 next week. These cards are expected to become available starting in April, but we're unsure if they'll all be released simultaneously.

KitGuru says: Of all three reportedly upcoming Nvidia RTX 50 series cards, which one looks the most interesting to you?

The post Nvidia RTX 5060 reportedly packs 25% more CUDA cores than its predecessor first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft has been rumoured to be working on a gaming handheld for decades. Even back during the days of the Xbox 360, there were rumours of an Xbox-style PSP or GameBoy style system. With handhelds now able to offer enough power to run even current-generation games, Microsoft finally looks to be jumping on the bandwagon. 

According to WindowsCentral, Microsoft is working on an Xbox companion handheld device to cap off the Xbox Series X/S generation. In collaboration with an unnamed OEM partner, this Xbox handheld is being developed under the codename ‘Keenan' and it should launch before the end of this year.

The handheld will run Windows 11, like several other handhelds already on the market, but with new ‘device aware' features that allow the OS to shift UI formats based on whether you're using a handheld, laptop or desktop. Think of it similarly to how the Steam Deck launches with the Big Picture UI, but you can opt to switch to desktop mode for more advanced tasks.

The handheld would be the last major hardware release of the Xbox Series X/S generation, as Microsoft is also reportedly moving ahead with plans to ship a new-gen Xbox console in 2027.

KitGuru Says: The issue I have with this strategy if that going via the OEM route almost always leads to increased costs. If the handheld can't compete with the Steam Deck on price, then I don't see any chance for widespread success. 

The post Microsoft reportedly set to unveil Xbox handheld this year first appeared on KitGuru.

Konami's big Silent Hill revival has been a success thanks to Blooper Team's highly rated remake of Silent Hill 2. Now, Konami is gearing up to announce the next game in the franchise. 

This week, Konami will hold its latest Silent Hill Transmission stream, during which we will get new details on the project known as “Silent Hill F”.

Silent Hill F was first teased back in 2022, but Konami has revealed little else about it since. That will change during the stream on March 13th, as we'll get a fresh look at the game and its “completely new story set in 1960s Japan”.

Silent Hill F is being developed by Neoboards Entertainment, which previously worked on Resident Evil Resistance and RE:Verse. Blooper Team has also confirmed plans to work with Konami again on a new game in the future.

KitGuru Says: Following on from last year's remake, are you looking forward to seeing all-new Silent Hill games? 

The post Konami to reveal new Silent Hill game this week first appeared on KitGuru.

ZA/UM Studio made a name for itself years back with Disco Elysium, but we've heard very little from the studio since. It looks like 2025 is set to be another big year for the company, as their next game has now finally been revealed under the codename ‘Project C4'. 

Project C4 is described as a “mind-warping espionage RPG that blends player introspection, deep character-driven dialogue and high-stakes encounters”. Based on that description, it will feature similar gameplay to Disco Elysium, where much of the game centres around character conversations, dialogue options made, dice rolls for skill checks and multiple outcomes to explore.

While the game may also borrow a lot of inspiration from Disco Elysium, it is worth noting that many of the leads on that game no longer work at ZA/UM Studio. Back in 2022, Disco Elysium's game director and art director left the company following a slew of firings and formed a new studio.

There is no word on when Project C4 will release but we expect to learn more about the game later this year.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully whatever behind-the-scenes issues took place following the release of Disco Elysium have been resolved. After all, an Espionage RPG in a similar style to Disco Elysium could end up being a huge hit. 

The post Disco Elysium studio reveals new ‘Espionage RPG’ first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD announced the Ryzen 9 9900X3D at CES 2025 which allies twelve cores of Zen 5 goodness with a slab of 2nd Gen V-Cache. This approach works superbly well with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and today we find out how well it works in a grunty Ryzen 9.

Time stamps

00:00 Start
01:33 9900X3D Hardware Specs
02:40 A look at AMD charts
03:58 AMD Chipset Drivers – the importance
04:46 Hardware test setup
05:58 BIOS settings and core latencies
06:30 Cinebench 2024 Single Core
07:21 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
07:29 Geekbench 6 Multi Core
07:41 Geekbench 6 Single Core
07:53 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core per £ of cost
09:28 CPU Power Consumption
10:00 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core Per Watt
10:42 7 ZIP v24 Benchmark
11:01 AIDA 64 Memory Bandwidth
11:20 3DMark Time Spy
11:50 Far Cry 6 1080p
12:12 Far Cry 6 1440p
12:28 Avatar Frontiers of Pandora 1080p
12:50 Avatar Frontiers of Pandora 1440p
13:05 Assassins Creed Mirage 1080p
13:23 Assassins Creed Mirage 1440p
13:37 Cyberpunk 2077 1080p
13:48 Cyberpunk 2077 1440p
14:02 Total War Pharaoh 1080p
14:17 Total War Pharaoh 1440p
14:44 Leo’s views on this launch / 9900X3D
18:17 Closing thoughts

As background reading to this review of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D we suggest you look at our reviews of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D HERE and the Ryzen 9 9900X HERE as AMD has used their clever 2nd Gen V-Cache Technology to enhance the Zen 5 Ryzen 9 9900X. The result, as you will see in our video, is a CPU that AMD claims is ‘The Perfect Processor for Elite Gamers'.

The post AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D Review first appeared on KitGuru.

XFX has revealed a unique customisation feature for its Radeon RX 9070 Quicksilver graphics cards. Using the 3D print files released by XFX, owners of these cards can personalise the appearance of their cards with magnetically attached, 3D-printable “wings”.

As spotted by VideoCardz, this level of customisation provides a unique degree of personalisation, allowing users to tailor the look of their graphics card to their individual preferences. Note, however, that in addition to printing the wings, users will still need magnets to attach them to the graphics card.

XFX has announced the availability of these files but has not provided a direct link. Users must go to the product page and locate the “Support and Download” section to get the files. The downloadable archive includes three folders: one-piece and two-piece wing designs for each side of the card and a separate folder for the PCIe side wing. Users can also choose to print versions with or without the XFX branding. The one-piece files are available in STEP, STL, and IGS formats, ensuring compatibility with various 3D printing solutions. Unfortunately, the two-piece files are only available in STL format.

Currently, XFX has not confirmed whether pre-printed wings will be available for purchase separately for users who do not own 3D printers.

KitGuru says: Did you grab one of these XFX RX 9070 Quicksilver series graphics cards? Are you planning to print these wings to add some flair to it?

The post XFX releases files for removable “wings”, opening up 3D print mods for RX 9070 Quick Silver cards first appeared on KitGuru.

Remedy Entertainment’s Control was an excellent game when it released back in 2019, only getting better with time thanks to an enhanced Ultimate Edition. Years on from its last major update, Control has gotten a surprise patch, bringing previously-locked content to all alongside a boatload of new PC settings.

Making the announcement on their blog, the team at Remedy wrote: “Hello Director! We’re happy to announce that all owners of Control Ultimate Edition will be receiving a free content update. The update is hitting PC players (Steam and Epic Games Store, GOG to follow later) today, including several improvements to support newer hardware.”

Said to also be coming to consoles at some point in the “near future” this update is clearly focused on PC as a platform, as alongside the unlocking of previously-exclusive content for all to enjoy, the update adds a bunch of new and appreciated graphics settings, including:

• Added HDR support
• Added new Ultra ray tracing preset
• Added ultrawide monitor support for up to 48:9 monitors
• Added an FOV scaling setting for the gameplay camera
• Updated SDR to 10bit (from 8bit)
• Added rendering resolution support beyond 4K
• Added DLSS support for arbitrary resolutions
• Added DLAA support
• Updated DLSS to DLSS 3.7, with higher temporal stability

The full list of changes and additions can be found HERE. Given how long it's been since an update of this size, it is welcome yet surprising to see Remedy revisiting this title so many years later. The improvements to DLSS and HDR in particular are quite exciting.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by this update? Did the lack of proper HDR support bother you? Let us know down below.

The post Control gets surprise update with tons of new PC settings first appeared on KitGuru.

Sapphire has unveiled its new Edge+ VPR-5050 Series mini-ITX motherboards for edge computing and industrial AI applications. These platforms, the Edge+ VPR-5050-MB and Edge+ VPR-5050A-MB, leverage AMD's Embedded+ architecture, combining the power of Ryzen Embedded V2748 processors with Versal AI Edge VE2302 adaptive SoCs.

The Edge+ VPR-5050 series provides a scalable and high-performance computing platform, reducing development cycles and accelerating time-to-market for advanced embedded systems. These motherboards are ideally suited for various applications, including AI-driven industrial control, smart security and AI vision, autonomous mobile robotics, medical imaging and surgery, and embedded PC applications. Both models are optimised for power efficiency, with AI acceleration capabilities starting at just 30W.

The cornerstone of the Edge+ VPR-5050 Series is AMD Embedded+, a hybrid architecture that integrates high-performance x86 processing with adaptive AI acceleration. This combination enables real-time sensor data processing, low-latency AI inference, robust industrial networking, and precise control applications.

The Edge+ VPR-5050-MB is designed for AI-driven industrial control and real-time sensor fusion. It features the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 Processor, powered by “Zen” cores and Radeon graphics, and 8 GB of memory. The AMD Versal AI Edge VE2302 Adaptive SoC facilitates low-latency AI inference and deterministic sensor processing. Connectivity options include 2.5 Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen2, SATA3, RS232/422/485, and GPIO, ensuring seamless integration into industrial environments. The motherboard also supports M.2 storage, M.2 WiFi/BT, and PCIe x8 expansion, allowing for flexible customisation.

The Edge+ VPR-5050A-MB builds upon the foundation of the VPR-5050-MB, catering to applications requiring more complex embedded software topologies. It has dual 10/25 Gb Ethernet and 16 GPIO for high-speed industrial connectivity and enhanced sensor support via programmable I/O. The Versal AI Edge device now features 64 GB of eMMC storage and 16 GB of RAM. A dedicated USB connector is provided for direct IO, and an auto-IO board with Octo GMSL2, Dual GbE, and Dual CAN bus interfaces further expands its capabilities.

Optional plugin expansion boards are also available for customised industrial, AI vision, and automation applications. The Sapphire Edge+ VPR-5050-MB and VPR-5050A-MB are now available for developers and OEMs.

KitGuru says: Embedded solutions are becoming more capable, and the new Sapphire Edge+ VPR-5050 series boards are no exception.

The post Sapphire showcases new Edge+ VPR-5050 boards at Embedded World first appeared on KitGuru.

Hazelight Studios has amassed a reputation over the past years for its dedication to creating new and unique co-op experiences. So far, this seems to be working out, with each successive game selling millions more than the last. While it’s too early to tell whether it can surpass its predecessor, the recently-released Split Fiction is already doing numbers – having sold over 1 million copies in just two days.

Making the announcement on BlueSky, the official Hazelight Studios page wrote: “SPLIT FICTION sold 1 MILLION units in its first 48 hours!!! The love you all show for our game is overwhelming! Everyone here at Hazelight are beyond happy – and we can’t stop enjoying your amazing reactions!”

Despite being published by EA, Hazelight Studios is a relatively small studio whose games operate on budgets far lower than the typical AAA release from the publisher, making its success even more notable.

As mentioned, Hazelight’s prior games sold incredibly well over the long-term, with 2018’s A Way Out and 2021’s It Takes Two selling 11 and 23 million copies respectively – doubly impressive when considering that you don’t need two copies to play together.

With Split Fiction being not only the highest rated game by Hazelight, but currently sitting as the highest rated title of 2025, we’ll likely see the game break milestone sales on a rather consistent basis over the coming months.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you played Split Fiction? Is it Hazelight’s best work yet? What do you hope to see next from the studio? Let us know down below.

The post Split Fiction has sold over 1 million copies in 48 hours first appeared on KitGuru.

Prior to its release on the Xbox Series X|S last year, Microsoft confirmed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would also be swinging its way onto PS5 in 2025. A couple weeks ago, leakers narrowed down the release window to sometime in April. Now, we seem to have a concrete release date alongside pre-order details.

As reported by known industry insider Billbil-kun via Dealabs, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to come to PS5 on the 17th of April – though as Microsoft has made a habit of – ‘Advanced AAAccess’ players will get it a couple days early.

Beyond this, pre-orders are reportedly planned to go live on the 25th of March and will be offered in two forms: a £70 Standard Edition and a £100 Premium Edition.

Given the fact that Indiana Jones originally released last year, it is a bit surprising to see Microsoft charging full price while also offering advanced access for premium buyers.

Then again, with the upcoming Forza Horizon 5 priced at £55 despite first launching in 2021, the price is to be expected.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Which of the upcoming Microsoft PS5 games are you most excited for? Are the prices fair? What’s your opinion on Advanced Access? Let us know down below.

The post Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s PS5 release date has leaked first appeared on KitGuru.

One of the many benefits touted by Sony regarding the PS5 Pro is its hardware support for the company’s PSSR upscaler. While results for early adopters have been somewhat mixed, lead console architect Mark Cerny has promised that PSSR will continue to improve over time – matching the recently-announced FSR 4 in quality by next year.

Following the recent official unveiling of FSR4, AMD revealed that the ML-based upscaler was developed in collaboration with Sony.

Speaking on this, and what it means for the future of PlayStation, Mark Cerny told Eurogamer: “The neural network (and training recipe) in FSR 4's upscaler are the first results of the Amethyst collaboration. And results are excellent, it's a more advanced approach that can exceed the crispness of PSSR. I'm very proud of the work of the joint team!”

Cerny continued, “Our focus for 2025 is working with developers to integrate PSSR into their titles; in parallel, though, we have already started to implement the new neural network on PS5 Pro. Our target is to have something very similar to FSR 4's upscaler available on PS5 Pro for 2026 titles as the next evolution of PSSR; it should take the same inputs and produce essentially the same outputs. Doing that implementation is rather ambitious and time consuming, which is why you haven't already seen this new upscaler on PS5 Pro.”

As mentioned, results for PSSR so far have been somewhat mixed, with some games displaying excellent results, while others required hotfixes in order to resolve major unexpected issues. As such, it is highly exciting to see that the technology will improve greatly in the relatively near future – meaning that the value prospects of the PS5 Pro should also get better with time.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of PSSR so far? Are you impressed with FSR 4? Could PS5 Pro justify its existence with these upcoming improvements? Let us know down below.

The post PSSR in 2026 and beyond will match FSR 4 claims Mark Cerny first appeared on KitGuru.

Nvidia appears to be bolstering its entry-level graphics card offerings, with an increasing number of leaks suggesting we'll get an RTX 5050. This budget-friendly card is reported to launch in the coming weeks, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Intel's Arc B580.

Leaker kopite7kimi has been relatively quiet since the RTX 50 series' initial announcements, but they recently resurfaced with detailed specifications for both the RTX 5050 and the upcoming RTX 5060 Ti.

The leaker corroborated the RTX 5060 Ti's dual memory configurations, which stated that 16 GB and 8 GB GDDR7 variants will use a 128-bit memory bus. The card is expected to feature a 180W TGP (Total Graphics Power), aligning with previous rumors. The report also reads that the RTX 5060 Ti is based on the PG152 board design and uses the GB206-300 GPU, packing 4,608 CUDA cores.

Intriguingly, the leaker claims that the RTX 5050 will share the same PG152 board design but paired with the smaller GB207-300 GPU with 2,560 CUDA cores. Matching earlier rumors, kopite7kimi said that the RTX 5050 will feature 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 128-bit memory bus, making it the sole RTX 50 series card to use this type of memory.

Rumours suggest that Nvidia may unveil the RTX 5060 series and potentially the RTX 5050 as early as next week. However, these cards are only expected to be released in April or May.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning to buy an entry-level or mid-range graphics card soon? Are you considering one of Nvidia's upcoming RTX 50 series GPUs?

The post Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5050 detailed in new leak first appeared on KitGuru.

Nvidia's professional workstation graphics card lineup is probably getting an update like the gaming series did with the RTX 50 GPUs. Nvidia hasn't confirmed it yet, but the supposed new flagship card, RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell, has recently been spotted online.

The listing spotted on Leadtek's website by Mark Brown (via @harukaze5719) confirms the “RTX Pro” branding will remain and unveils the specifications of this monstrous GPU. The RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell is purported to feature a staggering 24,064 CUDA cores, exceeding the RTX 5090 count by 2,304 cores. Furthermore, the card has 96 GB of GDDR7 memory, triple the capacity of the flagship gaming card. The Leadtek listing suggests a 600W TGP for the RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell, surpassing the RTX 5090's TGP. This strongly indicates the presence of one or two 16-pin power connectors.

Image credit: VideoCardz

Compared to its predecessor, the RTX 6000 Ada, the RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell boasts a 32% increase in CUDA cores and doubles the memory capacity. The reported 600W power consumption also represents a significant leap from the RTX 6000 Ada's 300W TDP.

The RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell's enormous TGP necessitates a robust cooling solution. Gone is the traditional blower-style design, replaced by a cooling solution (shared by VideoCardz) that appears to be a variation of the dual-flow-through design found on the RTX 5090. Images accompanying the leak reveal a dual-slot design with a more exposed heatsink on the front and a redesigned backplate. The card also features a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface and four DisplayPort 2.1 ports.

The RTX Pro Blackwell series is expected to be officially unveiled at Nvidia's GTC 2025 conference, which will run from March 17th to the 20th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Considering the RTX 6000 Ada released at around £7,500, how do you think Nvidia will price the RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell?

The post Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell leaks via retail listing first appeared on KitGuru.

Early benchmarks are promising for AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with the 16-core CPU reportedly topping the PassMark multi-threaded charts. A single benchmark run has yielded a score of 69,702 points, placing it 10% ahead of the previous-generation 7950X3D and 5% ahead of its non-3D V-Cache counterpart in multi-threaded performance.

Note that these results are based on a single benchmark run compared to the hundreds of data points typically used for comprehensive analysis. RAM configuration and overclocking or PBO could significantly influence these scores. Nevertheless, this initial result shared by @x86deadandback suggests that the 16-core 9950X3D is currently leading the pack among flagship consumer CPUs, outperforming the 7950X3D, 9950X, and Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K. This 170W CPU, armed with 16 Zen 4 cores and second-generation 3D V-Cache, is set to launch in three days.

Analysing the 9950X3D's single-threaded performance reveals near-identical scores to the 9950X, indicating that the addition of 3D V-Cache doesn't compromise single-threaded speed. Both CPUs share the same core count, peak boost frequency, and 170W TDP. The key difference lies in the 9950X3D's usage of 3D V-Cache on one of its chipsets.

AMD recently confirmed the 9950X3D's $699 price tag, representing a $100 premium over the 9950X's launch price. Alongside it, AMD will also release the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. Both processors are expected to release on March 12th

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you thinking about getting one of AMD's new Ryzen 9000X3D processors? If so, which one are you considering buying?

The post AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D shows up on PassMark with improved single-core performance first appeared on KitGuru.

Recently it was claimed that next year's Call of Duty is already in development for the next-gen Xbox. However, a reliable source has now rebuked this claim, as the next generation Xbox hardware is being planned for 2027 and no development kits exist yet.

According to Microsoft-focused reporter, Jez Corden, the next generation Xbox will be with us in 2027 and currently, development kits do not exist. In a recent podcast, Corden also shed some light on the concept behind Microsoft's future console.

“The whole idea of the next Xbox is that it's going to be a PC in essence but with a TV friendly shell that also has a specific set of specs in mind”, Corden said. He adds that this will mean that developers will be developing for a Windows PC in a way.

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox will need to focus on being a more open platform, as the company has opted to move away from exclusive games entirely.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What are you expecting to see from the next Xbox?

 

The post Next-gen Xbox to be ‘a PC with a TV-friendly shell’ first appeared on KitGuru.