In one of the biggest surprise hits of the year, the quirky single-player extraction shooter Escape from Duckov has absolutely exploded onto the PC scene, selling over one million copies in its first week on Steam. Developed by Team Soda and published by Bilibili, the game's blend of hardcore extraction mechanics and a charming duck protagonist has clearly struck a chord with players.

Launched just last week on October 16th, the top-down PvE title, which wears its Escape from Tarkov parody on its sleeve, hit 200,000 sales in its first 24 hours and crossed the half-million mark in just three days. This rapid success propelled it to the top of the Steam best-seller charts, trailing only established giants like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota and successful AAA releases such as Battlefield 6.

The concurrent player numbers have been equally impressive for an indie title. According to SteamDB, Escape from Duckov has consistently pulled in massive numbers, peaking at over 255,000 players online simultaneously.

While its premise might be light-hearted, the game itself offers a surprisingly deep PvE loop. Players take on missions, scavenge loot, upgrade their hideout, and battle other anthropomorphic bird enemies, all while managing survival mechanics. With over 50 hours of content promised for a single playthrough and a very accessible price point (currently around £15), it seems Escape from Duckov has found the perfect recipe for success in the crowded shooter market.

KitGuru says: Based on the sales numbers up to now, how well do you think Escape from Duckov will sell?

The post Escape from Duckov crosses the 1 million sales mark in less than a week first appeared on KitGuru.

Samsung is bringing its QD-OLED technology to a more budget-conscious segment with the quiet launch of the new Odyssey G50SF. This 27-inch monitor aims to offer the core benefits of OLED, but makes some significant cuts elsewhere to hit a lower price point.

The G50SF (via FlatplanelsHD) uses a 27-inch QD-OLED panel, featuring a QHD (2560×1440) resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 180Hz. As expected from OLED, the response time is near-instantaneous at 0.03ms (GtG), and the contrast ratio is rated at 1,000,000:1. Colour coverage is also strong, hitting 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut with 10-bit colour depth. The display supports both FreeSync and is G-Sync Compatible for tear-free gaming.

The typical brightness is a very low 200 cd/m², and HDR support is limited to just HDR10 (likely meaning no official VESA certification). The connectivity is also surprisingly dated for a 2025 monitor; it features only DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0. This means the full 180Hz refresh rate is only achievable via DisplayPort (with DSC or lower colour depth), as HDMI 2.0 will cap out at 144Hz. There's also no USB hub. Ergonomics are equally basic, with the included stand offering only tilt adjustment, though VESA mounting is supported.

Pricing in this region is still unknown, but in New Zealand, Taiwan, and Indonesia, it's priced at the equivalent of £430, £338, and £345, respectively.

KitGuru says: There are some notable cuts here compared to higher-end OLED displays, but the price point should help make up for that. Right now though, there is no word on whether or not this monitor will be made available in the UK. 

The post Samsung dips into budget OLED territory with new 180Hz Odyssey G50SF first appeared on KitGuru.

The saga surrounding Intel's Arrow Lake Refresh continues to evolve, with a new benchmark leak adding another layer of confusion to the mix. A processor identifying itself as the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has just surfaced in the Geekbench 6 database, and its core configuration is quite surprising.

According to the entry spotted by Benchleaks, this supposed Core Ultra 7 chip boasts 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, for a total of 24 cores. This is identical to the core count of the current flagship Core Ultra 9 285K and more than the 20 cores (8P+12E) found in the existing Core Ultra 7 265K. Despite the increased core count, the listed clock speeds (3.7 GHz base, 5.5 GHz boost) match the current 265K, not the higher-clocked 285K.

The chip scored 3,215 points in single-core and 22,720 in multi-core, which puts it on par with the average Core Ultra 9 285K. The test system appears to be a pre-production Lenovo desktop, as it was paired with an RTX 5090D, the China-exclusive variant of Nvidia's top GPU.

This leak throws a wrench into the reports that the Arrow Lake Refresh would be limited to a clock speed bump for existing SKUs. A Core Ultra 7 with the exact core count as a Core Ultra 9 would be unexpected from Intel but suggests a more significant reshuffling of the product stack is planned. Other rumoured SKUs for this refresh, potentially launching in Q1 2026, include a Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and a Core Ultra 5 250K.

KitGuru says: As always, take leaks with a grain of salt. Official announcements will be made eventually. 

The post Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus appears on Geekbench first appeared on KitGuru.

The long‑awaited Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been delayed, with the announcement arriving today via the game’s official X account. Originally expected to launch this year, the title will now arrive in 2026, pushing back one of the most anticipated releases for the new console.

The developers explained that the delay is necessary to ensure the game performs to expectations on Nintendo’s latest hardware. In a statement released on the official Elden Ring X account, From Software said: “While development on ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition continues wholeheartedly toward release, we have decided to move the launch to 2026 to allow time for performance adjustments. We apologize to players looking forward to the game and thank you for your patience and support.”

This decision follows reports from Gamescom 2025, where attendees who tested the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring noted choppy frame rates and inconsistent performance. Those concerns appear to have been validated, as the studio now takes additional time to optimise the game. The delay also comes in the wake of Borderlands 4 being pushed back on Switch 2, with similar reports of technical issues surfacing during hands‑on sessions.

There is no new release date for the game yet, but we should get an update in early 2026. Nintendo typically holds a Direct showcase between late January and late February, so a revised release date could arrive around that time.

KitGuru Says: Elden Ring was one of the major AAA game announcements at the Switch 2 reveal so this delay is bound to disappoint a number of fans. However, I'd rather have the game delayed to ensure smooth performance at launch than have to wrestle with bad performance and then wait months for patches.

The post Elden Ring Switch 2 release slips to 2026 amid performance concerns first appeared on KitGuru.

Razer has unveiled the Raiju V3 Pro, a next‑generation wireless esports controller for PlayStation 5 that debuts with symmetrical TMR (Tension Magnetic Resistance) thumbsticks as its headline feature. Built for precision and consistency, the new thumbstick technology is designed to deliver anti‑drift performance and pixel‑perfect control, giving competitive players a sharper edge in high‑stakes matches.

Beyond the thumbsticks, the Raiju V3 Pro is packed with features aimed at elite console play. Razer’s Pro HyperTriggers allow users to switch between rapid‑fire mouse‑like clicks and full analog control, with actuation points customizable through Synapse 4. Four removable back buttons and two claw grip bumpers, powered by ultra‑responsive mouse‑grade switches, provide additional flexibility and speed. The controller also incorporates mecha‑tactile PBT action buttons and an eight‑way floating D‑pad, both built for durability and crisp feedback. Wireless performance is handled by Razer HyperSpeed, ensuring low‑latency connectivity on PS5.

Players can personalize their setup through the Razer Mobile App and Synapse 4, adjusting sensitivity, remapping buttons, and saving up to four onboard profiles. A premium carry case and detachable USB‑C cable are included, making the controller travel‑ready for tournaments and LAN events.

Professional players have already endorsed the design. HyDra, 2023 Call of Duty World Champion with 100 Thieves, praised the Raiju V3 Pro as “a game‑changer on the PS5,” highlighting the precision of the TMR thumbsticks and the confidence the customization options provide. Razer’s Global Esports Director Jeffrey Chau added that the company worked closely with pros to ensure every feature was engineered for speed, control, and competitive performance.

The Razer Raiju V3 Pro is available now priced at £199.99 GBP, $219.99 USD, or €209.99 MSRP.

KitGuru Says: Are you in the market for a new high-end gamepad for console or PC gaming?

The post Razer unveils the Raiju V3 Pro – its most advanced PS5 controller yet first appeared on KitGuru.

Warhorse Studios and Deep Silver have confirmed that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will receive its final story expansion, Mysteria Ecclesiae, on November 11. The DLC takes Henry into the Sedletz Monastery, where he must investigate the source of a deadly epidemic while navigating the hidden agendas of the factions within its walls.

Players will step into the role of assistant to Sigismund Albicus, a healer with ties to King Wenceslas, as Henry undertakes a covert mission that blends political intrigue with a race against time to uncover the truth behind the plague. The expansion introduces the monastery as a new explorable location, complete with its own inhabitants, secrets, and gradually unlocked areas.

Alongside the narrative, Mysteria Ecclesiae adds fresh gameplay elements, including a new outfit, weapon, potions, and books to further develop Henry’s skills. The expansion is priced at £11.49, though owners of the Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition or Expansion Pass will receive it at no additional cost.

KitGuru Says: Have you played much of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 this year? Will you be jumping back in for the final expansion?

The post Kingdom Come: Deliverance II wraps up with final story DLC “Mysteria Ecclesiae” first appeared on KitGuru.

Corsair has unveiled two new portable SSDs, headlined by the EX400U Survivor, which delivers sequential read speeds of up to 4,000MB/s and write speeds of up to 3,600MB/s. Built with a rugged IP55-rated housing, the drive is designed for creators who need both speed and durability while working on the move.

The EX400U Survivor connects via USB4 but remains compatible with USB 3.2 Type‑C and even iOS devices equipped with the same port, making it a versatile option across platforms. A 30cm cable is included for instant plug‑and‑play use. Available in capacities from 1TB to 4TB, the drive also comes with Corsair’s SSD Toolbox software for secure erase and firmware updates, ensuring long‑term performance. It is backed by a five‑year warranty and supported by Corsair’s global customer service network.

Alongside it, Corsair introduced the EX300U, a more compact external SSD aimed at everyday portability. Offering read and write speeds of up to 1,100MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2, it is well suited for quick backups, photo transfers and video editing. Its standout feature is a MagSafe‑compatible magnetic ring, allowing it to attach directly to iPhones or other magnetic surfaces for added convenience. Like the Survivor, it is available in 1TB to 4TB capacities and supports Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices. The EX300U is covered by a three‑year warranty.

Both drives are available now through Corsair’s webstore. The EX400U starts at £149.99 while the EX300U starts at £109.99.

KitGuru Says: Are you in the need for speedy portably storage? Will you be considering one of Corsair's new portable drives? 

The post Corsair unveils EX400U Survivor with USB4 speeds and compact EX300U with MagSafe first appeared on KitGuru.

GeForce Now has another big week in store for gamers, with nine more titles joining the library, including brand new releases like Ninja Gaiden 4, Painkiller and Vampire: The Masqeurade – Bloodlines 2. 

Obsidian's latest RPG, The Outer Worlds 2, will release tomorrow to deluxe edition buyers. If you are one of those people, you'll get access through GeForce Now starting tomorrow as well. For standard edition buyers, you'll have to wait until next Wednesday to gain access to the game.

The full list of new games joining the GeForce Now library this week includes:

• NINJA GAIDEN 4 (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Oct. 20)
• Jurassic World Evolution 3 (New release on Steam, Oct. 21)
• Painkiller (New release on Steam, Oct. 21)
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 21, GeForce RTX 5080-ready)
• The Outer Worlds 2 – Advanced Access (New release on Steam, Battle.net and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Oct. 24, GeForce RTX 5080-ready)
• Tormented Souls 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 23)
• Super Fantasy Kingdom (New release on Steam, Oct. 24)
• VEIN (New release on Steam, Oct. 24)
• Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow (Steam)

KitGuru Says: What do you think of this week's round of GeForce Now titles? 

The post The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4 and more join GeForce Now first appeared on KitGuru.

It has been clear over the past two years that Microsoft is looking to squeeze more profit out of Xbox, leading to a long list of game cancellations, studio closures and thousands of layoffs. This week, new details on Microsoft's business plans came to light, with the company setting what appears to be an unrealistic profit target for the Xbox division. 

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier has heard from multiple sources familiar with Microsoft's strategy, who have stated that the company has set a massive 30% profit margin target for the Xbox division. The problem? This is significantly higher than the industry average, with S&P Global Market Intelligence estimating that the average profit margin across the games industry falls between 17% and 22%. One analyst told the outlet that a “30% or better margin is usually reserved for a publisher that is really nailing it”.

This unrealistic target is believed to be the core reason behind the recent rounds of studio closures, game cancellations and price hikes.

There is a bit more to the story though, as Game Pass also plays a crucial role here. Games that release day-one on Game Pass typically see less store sales. Microsoft accounts for this with its internal studios by using a weighted calculation that takes in factors such as ‘hours played' on Game Pass. This formula is something that can unfairly punish single-player games that have limited replay value and encourages studios to focus more on titles that keep players engaged for longer periods of time, like multiplayer live-service games.

Moving forward, the report claims that Xbox will be focusing more on games that are either cheap to make or deemed more likely to drive significant revenue.

KitGuru Says: Given this current financial situation over at Xbox, I have real concern for some of the smaller teams that Xbox acquired, like Double Fine and Compulsion Games. 

The post Microsoft has reportedly set unrealistic profit targets for Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.

While there has been some negativity surrounding Xbox Game Pass lately thanks to new price hikes, there are still some very good games heading to the service over the next couple of weeks, including Obsidian's latest RPG, The Outer Worlds 2.

The Outer Worlds 2 launches tomorrow for Premium Edition buyers. If you are a Game Pass subscriber, you can buy the Premium Edition upgrade at a cheaper price to get access starting tomorrow, or you can wait until next Wednesday, when the standard edition unlocks.

Here is the full list of titles joining Game Pass over the next couple of weeks, with platforms and dates included:

• Ninja Gaiden 4 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – Available now
• Heroes of Might and Magic II: Gold Edition (PC) – Available now
• Heroes of Might and Magic III: Complete Edition (PC) – Available now
• Commandos: Origins (Cloud, Console, PC) – Available now
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – Available now
• PowerWash Simulator 2 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – October 23
• Bounty Star (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – October 23
• Super Fantasy Kingdom (Game Preview) (PC) – October 24
• Halls of Torment (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – October 28
• The Outer Worlds 2 (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – October 29
• 1000xResist (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series XS) – November 4
• Football Manager 26 (PC) – November 4
• Football Manager 26 Console (Cloud, Console, PC) – November 4

November is just around the corner, which will be another major month for Game Pass, as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will be launching – though not until the middle of the month.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on playing any of the upcoming Game Pass titles?

The post Next wave of Xbox Game Pass titles announced first appeared on KitGuru.

While the early days of the PlayStation 5 were hampered by supply issues, a global pandemic and more, the 9th-gen console has since more than made up for lost time. Alongside a total global count of more than 80 million units sold, the PS5 (in the US) has already surpassed the PS3 sales-wise in the region.

As reported by industry analyst Mat Piscatella via the ‘InstallBaseForum’, total console sales for the PlayStation 5 have officially surpassed the PS3’s 26.7 million units in the US.

While an impressive achievement regardless, it is worth noting that the US was primarily served by the Xbox 360 during the 7th-generation of consoles. That said, unlike the PlayStation 3 – which received many price cuts over its life – the PS5 has only gone up in cost over the years.

Globally, the PS5 still has a slight journey to surpass its predecessor, with Sony’s latest and greatest currently sitting at 80.3 million units compared to the PS3’s 87.4 million.

With the PS5 still having a couple solid years left in it however, expect the PS3 to be surpassed globally sometime in the coming months.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the PS5’s performance 5 years on from its release? How long before it reaches the PS3’s total sales? Will the PS5 manage to match the PS4 sales-wise when all is said and done? Let us know down below.

The post PS5 has surpassed the PS3’s lifetime sales in the US first appeared on KitGuru.

The 5K professional monitor market is expanding, with more and more options landing at increasingly affordable prices. We reviewed ASUS' ProArt PA27JCV last year and today our attention turns to the Philips Brilliance 27E3U7903. Packing a 5120×2880 IPS panel with glass finish, this monitor also boasts Thunderbolt 4 support, a 5MP integrated webcam and comes Calman Ready.

5K monitors remain incredibly popular for Mac users, and it seems manufacturers have identified that not everyone with a MacBook or Mac Mini/Studio wants to shell out another £1500 minimum for the Apple Studio Display. The Philips Brilliance 27E3U7903 offers the same 5K resolution and 27in form factor but has an MSRP of just £849. It's still very expensive, but it could be an enticing proposition for a number of professional users. And of course it's not limited to only Mac users!

Specification:

• Panel size: 27 inch / 68.5 cm
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• LCD panel type: IPS
• Pixel pitch: 0.11655 x 0.11655 mm
• Brightness: 500 cd/m²
• Display colours: 1.07 B (8 bit+FRC)
• Colour gamut (typical): REC709 100%, Adobe RGB 99.5%; DCI-P3/Display-P3: 99%, sRGB: 160%, NTSC 130%*
• Contrast ratio (typical): 2000:1
• SmartContrast: 80,000,000:1
• Response time (typical): 4 ms (Grey to Grey)*
• Viewing angle: 178º (H) / 178º (V) @ C/R > 10
• Picture enhancement: SmartImage Premium
• Maximum resolution: 5120 x 2880 @ 70 Hz
• Effective viewing area: 596.736 (H) x 335.664 (V) mm
• Scanning frequency: 30-210 kHz (H) / 60-70 Hz (V)
• sRGB: Yes
• Delta E: <2 (sRGB)
• Flicker-free: Yes
• Pixel density: 218 PPI
• LowBlue Mode: Yes
• Display screen coating: Front Glass with Anti-Reflection, Anti-Finger 7%, 7H
• Low input lag: Yes
• EasyRead: Yes
• HDR: DisplayHDR 600 certified
• Calman Ready: Yes
• Signal input: HDMI 2.1 x 1, Thunderbolt 4 in x 1 (Upstream, Data, Video, PD 96 W)
• Sync input: Separate Sync
• Audio (In/Out): Headphone out
• RJ45: Ethernet LAN (10M/100M/1G)
• HDCP: HDCP 1.4 (HDMI), HDCP 2.3 (HDMI)
• Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt 4 in x 1 upstream (Data, Video, PD 96 W), Thunderbolt 4 out x 1 downstream (Data, Video, PD 15 W)
• USB Hub: USB version, Upstream: 1 x USB-C (Data only, 15 W), Downstream: USB-A x 2 (Gen2: 10 G; 1 for FC); USB-C x 1 (Data, 15 W)
• Max power delivery: USB to 96 W (5 V/3 A, 7 V/3 A, 9 V/3 A, 10 V/3 A, 12 V/3 A, 15 V/3 A, 20 V/4.8 A)
• Version: USB PD version 3.0
• Built-in speakers: 5 W x 2
• Plug and Play compatibility: DDC/CI, Mac OS X, sRGB, Windows 11/10
• Height adjustment: 150 mm
• Pivot: +90°
• Swivel: -/+ 360°
• Tilt: -5° / 20°

Firmware tested: V1.02

The post Philips Brilliance 27E3U7903 Review (5K/70Hz Professional Monitor) first appeared on KitGuru.

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PowerWash Simulator was a fun and relaxing title which resonated with many following its release back in 2022. After a great deal of post-launch support, its sequel is finally here. Like with the first game, the team at FuturLab have promised a mixture of free and paid DLC – officially sharing their 2025/2026 roadmap.

Taking to BlueSky, the team at FuturLab officially detailed their post-launch plans for PowerWash Simulator 2. While the rest of 2025 will see the team focus on introducing “fixes, further optimisations and QOL improvements,” 2026 is when the real post-launch support begins.

Like with the first game, PowerWash Simulator 2 will receive a mixture of both free and paid DLC. On the paid front, players can look forward to 3 separate crossover DLCs – coming in Q1, Q2 and Q3 respectively. Alongside these, each quarter will also see a free DLC released in the form of the ‘Caldera Chronicles Jobs’.

Beyond this, the team have also promised a ton of other free updates, namely:

• New features
• Bug fixes
• Quality of Life improvements
• New furniture and skins
• Community events

The original PowerWash Simulator was a fun and satisfying time which only improved as more free and paid DLC was released. Hopefully its successor manages to maintain the same level of quality and post-launch support.

KitGuru says: Will you be picking up PowerWash Simulator later today? What crossovers are you hoping to see introduced? Let us know down below.

The post PowerWash Simulator 2 roadmap officially revealed first appeared on KitGuru.

Like clockwork, Hello Games have once again announced and released a surprise update for No Man’s Sky. Available right now, the latest ‘Breach’ update introduces a new expedition, an expansion to the game’s ship building mechanics and more.

Making the announcement on their blog, Sean Murray and the team at Hello Games wrote: “Our update for Halloween is called Breach, and it leans into the thrill of custom ship assembly, space-walking, skydiving, and community spirit introduced in Voyagers.”

While a much smaller update when compared to the aforementioned Voyagers, this free content drop still offers plenty to explore and enjoy, including:

• Abandoned Corvette ships to scavenge in deep space
• New rare vertical corvette parts
• Atlas-themed ship modules
• Expanded space-walking
• Multiple quality-of-life improvements
  • Enhanced snapping during ship building
  • Better collision
  • Ship painting improvements

With this patch primarily focused on the latest community expedition, the Breach update is far from the game’s biggest. Even so, there are plenty of new features and functionality to get stuck into – making what is in many ways the perfect ‘casual’ space game even more enjoyable.

KitGuru says: Will you be hopping back into No Man’s Sky? Is there anything missing from the game which you’d like to see introduced in the future? Let us know down below.

The post No Man’s Sky update brings further ship building improvements, QoL fixes and more first appeared on KitGuru.

2025 is a great year for kart racers, with the latest entry in the Mario Kart series launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, and SEGA’s Sonic Racing series returning in all its glory following some less-than-stellar entries. Just one month following the official launch of Sonic Racing Crossworlds, the game has sold over 1 million copies.

As reported by the publication Gematsu, Sonic Racing Crossworlds has managed to sell over 1 million units since its launch in late September. Alongside this, the publisher also released some player stats, revealing that so far over 74 million races have taken place; 31.5 million Grands Prix have been completed and more than 13 million ranked matches have occurred in total.

Despite being a massive part of the history of video games, Sonic titles in general are not massive sellers (especially compared to Mario), with the highly-successful Sonic Frontiers from 2022 having reached around 4.5 million copies as of 2025.

In addition, Sonic Racing Crossworlds is the first Sonic title to have retailed for $70 – and given that the game has only been out for a month – there have yet to be any sales or discounts.

As mentioned, Sonic Racing Crossworlds will likely never reach the highs of even the lowest-selling Mario Kart title. Still, its success is notable and will hopefully mean that SEGA has an incentive to continue supporting the game for the long-term – perhaps even beyond its previously-stated DLC plans.

KitGuru says: Are you one of the 1 million players? How does Sonic Racing Crossworlds compare to Mario Kart World? Is Crossworlds better than All-Stars Racing Transformed? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Sonic Racing Crossworlds has officially sold over 1 million copies first appeared on KitGuru.

The first benchmark results for Panther Lake's Xe3 iGPU have surfaced online, giving us our first look at the performance potential of the new 12-core integrated GPU. The leak comes from a Geekbench entry for the upcoming Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, one of the first chips confirmed to carry Intel's new top-tier mobile branding.

Various Panther Lake benchmark scores were spotted by Benchleaks, all linked to an unannounced Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 laptop. These entries showed the Core Ultra X7 358H as a 16-core CPU, featuring 4 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 4 LPE-cores, boosting up to nearly 4.8 GHz. This CPU is paired with 32 GB of LPDDR5X.

The focus of these benchmarks, however, is the integrated Xe3 GPU. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the 12-core iGPU scored between 51K and 53K points. While Geekbench's OpenCL test isn't always the most flattering benchmark for Intel's integrated graphics, this score still represents a healthy 25% improvement over the previous generation “Arrow Lake-H” Arc iGPU in the same test. Perhaps more interestingly, this level of performance puts the Panther Lake iGPU roughly on par with Nvidia's laptop GeForce RTX 3050 and even outperforms Intel's own discrete Arc A550M laptop GPU.

Note that this is almost certainly an early engineering sample running on unoptimised drivers. Performance could still improve as Intel refines the software stack ahead of the official launch. Still, this early result is a promising sign for the graphics capabilities of the upcoming Panther Lake platform.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: What kind of performance are you expecting from Intel's Xe3 iGPUs on Panther Lake chips?

The post Intel Xe3 iGPU benchmark leak shows significant improvement first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this month, Remedy Entertainment was forced to issue a profit warning to investors, after their most recent game, FBC: Firebreak, failed to garner significant sales. Now just weeks later, the company's long-time CEO,

Tero Virtala, who has served as the CEO of Remedy Entertainment since 2016, announced that he is stepping down today. Under his tenure, Remedy shipped multiple games, including Control and Alan Wake 2. During this time, Remedy Entertainment also signed a deal with Rockstar Games, allowing them to develop remakes of the original Max Payne games.

Remedy co-founder, Markus Mäki, will be the interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. In a statement, Mäki thanked Virtala for his “good cooperation” during this transition. It is unclear if the underperformance of FBC: Firebreak had an impact on this change.

Moving forward, Remedy has a slate of single-player action games on the way, playing to the studio's core strengths. These include Control 2 and the Max Payne remakes.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm a huge Control fan, but there was nothing about FBC: Firebreak that really drew me in. The monetary gains of a successful live service multiplayer game can be tempting, but I hope that moving forward, Remedy continues to focus on the single-player games it is best known for.

The post Remedy Entertainment CEO steps down first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, gaming fans were surprised to find that the 2006 cult-classic, Scarface: The World is Yours, had re-appeared for sale on PC platforms like Steam, from a new publisher known as EC Digital. As it turns out, there may be something fishy going on here, as the Scarface rights holders may not even be aware that this re-release is happening. 

Scarface: The World is Yours originally released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles, as well as PC back in 2006. The game has suddenly re-appeared on Steam and the Epic Games Store as a HD remaster, utilising AI upscaling to improve textures throughout the game. This is an optional DLC though, so you can also play the game in its original form, with the exception of a few curious files.

As it turns out, this re-release includes two fan-made patches for the game to get it running on modern PCs. However, as spotted by VGC, the modder behind the game's Silent Patch has spoken out saying that they were not informed about this release at all. On top of that, they have also stated that the rightsholder had previously been unwilling to re-release the game, casting doubt on the authenticity of this release.

EC Digital, the publisher listed behind this re-release, also has no prior history on Steam. According to the publisher, the store pages for the game were accidentally made live early, so it is possible that there is a proper announcement coming down the pipeline. For now though, it is unclear whether or not this is an official re-release, or if it's an illegal cash grab. If it's the latter, then the game files could be hiding something more nefarious than uncredited fan patches, such as malware.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There is something very strange going on here. Hopefully soon some answers are provided. 

The post Scarface: The World is Yours gets fishy re-release first appeared on KitGuru.

Battlefield 6 launched earlier this month and instantly saw massive success, with over seven million copies sold in just a few days. Now, EA is gearing up for the first post-launch seasonal content drop, with a new trailer giving us a sneak peek at what's to come between now and early December. 

Battlefield 6 Season 1 begins with Rogue Ops on October 28th. The first phase drop is titled Rogue Ops, which includes a new map called Blackwell Fields built for all-out warfare and an intense new 4v4 mode called Strikepoint. This update also includes the new APC Traverser Mark 2 vehicle and three new weapons including the SOR-300C carbine, Mini Fix sniper rifle, and GGH-22 sidearm, plus fresh attachments like the Rail Cover and LPVO optic.

On November 18, the California Resistance phase expands the conflict to Eastwood, a suburban map disrupted by sleeper agent uprisings. This update adds the Sabotage mode, an 8v8 objective-based battle where teams alternate between offense and defense to destroy sites. Returning to the franchise is the Battle Pickups feature, offering powerful but limited weapons scattered across the map. Players will also gain access to the DB-12 dual-barrel shotgun, the M327 Trait revolver, and the Troy Angled grip attachment.

The season concludes on December 9 with Winter Offensive, plunging the Empire State into a frozen warzone. A limited-time update transforms Brooklyn into an icy battlefield, accompanied by the Ice Lock event, which introduces the Freeze mechanic as a gameplay modifier. A new melee weapon, the Ice Climbing Axe, joins the arsenal, offering both combat and environmental utility.

For now, it is unclear exactly when ‘Season 2' will begin, as there will be the Christmas and New Years break in late December. Chances are, we'll get the first Season 2 content in January, giving us a three-month cadence for Battlefield 6 seasons, which is essentially the industry standard.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: With its structured rollout of monthly content, Battlefield 6 Season 1 promises to deliver a steady stream of new experiences for players. 

The post Battlefield 6 Season One preview first appeared on KitGuru.

The past week has been an odd one for Call of Duty news. Out of nowhere, rumour mongers began predicting that Black Ops 7 would release early, perhaps in response to the strong sales of Battlefield 6 this month. However, Treyarch's most recent dev diary makes it clear that the November 14th launch date has not changed. 

Treyarch released a video yesterday discussing the changes made to Black Ops 7 multiplayer following the open beta earlier this month. As spotted by Insider Gaming, In the promotion for that video, Treyarch reaffirms that Black Ops 7 is releasing on November 14th, seemingly shutting down rumours that the game might launch a week early.

In the videogame world, we are very used to seeing delays, but from time to time, we do also see release dates moved forward. Some notable examples include the likes of The Last of Us Part 2, which ended up releasing a week early, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which had its release window moved from February 2024 to January 2024 and Minecraft Dungeons, which also released a few days earlier than initially announced.

However, from the looks of it, we will not see this happen with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which makes sense, as it is Microsoft's biggest game franchise and likely already has a lot of marketing activations locked in that can't be suddenly rearranged.

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KitGuru Says: This rumour always sounded a bit ridiculous and I have a feeling it was sparked by the recent Battlefield 6 sales announcement, where EA confirmed that the game sold 7 million copies at launch. Call of Duty is a big business with a lot of planning around it. It would be incredibly difficult for Microsoft to suddenly heel-turn on its plans for this year's entry unless it had been planned months in advance. 

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Crucial, Micron's consumer brand, is making a stronger push into the enthusiast gaming market with the launch of its new DDR5 Pro Overclocking (OC) 6400 CL32 gaming memory. These new sticks aim to deliver a sweet spot of high speed and relatively low latency, wrapped in a fresh heat spreader design.

Available in 16GB single modules or 32GB kits (2x 16GB), the new memory runs at 6400 MT/s with CL32 timings, which Crucial states offers up to 37.5% lower latency than standard JEDEC DDR5. The company is making some bold performance claims, suggesting users could see average frame rate increases of up to 25% in memory-sensitive titles compared to slower memory. However, real-world gains will naturally vary depending on the game and system configuration.

The modules support both Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO profiles for easy one-click overclocking (though manual BIOS enablement might be needed for EXPO) and are validated for compatibility with the latest Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors. Crucial has also given the heat spreader a visual overhaul. The new design features a slightly raised profile with a subtle camo-inspired pattern and comes in either black or white, offering a more modern and tactical look compared to previous Crucial designs.

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KitGuru says: As a Micron brand, the underlying memory technology is well-regarded for reliability. Crucial is positioning this kit not just for gamers, but also for content creators and users running data-intensive AI workloads who need a blend of speed and stability. 

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It appears that Warner Bros. is going through another massive shake-up. Just a few years after the messy merger with Discovery, the company is now looking to sell. 

In a press release issued this week, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that it has paused its plans to split up Warner Bros. and Discovery due to “unsolicited interest” from “multiple parties”. It appears that even larger companies are looking to buy both WB and Discovery together, while others have expressed interest in just acquiring the Warner Bros. portion of the conglomerate.

Why are we reporting on this here at KitGuru? Well, Warner Bros. happens to own a number of prolific game studios and IP, even after the shutdown of teams like Monolith, who were responsible for the Middle-Earth Shadow of War titles and prior to that, F.E.A.R. Studios like Rocksteady could be invaluable for a publisher looking to put together a big new action game.

While Warner Bros. Discovery is now listening to proposals, this does not guarantee that a deal will happen. Even advanced negotiations can fall apart in the final hours. In some cases, certain mergers could also raise legal issues due to laws around monopolisation.

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KitGuru Says: Outside of Hogwarts Legacy, WB's gaming division has struggled quite a bit in recent years. Personally, I'd like to see that portion of the company separated and sold to a company with more experience navigating the current gaming landscape. 

The post Warner Bros. Discovery may be sold, rather than split up first appeared on KitGuru.

Ubisoft has announced a major free update for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora that delivers two of the most highly requested features from the community since the game's launch. The new update, scheduled to arrive on December 5th, will finally allow players to experience the Western Frontier in a third-person perspective and add a New Game+ mode for players seeking a tougher challenge.

The headline feature is, of course, the third-person mode. Players will be able to switch between the original first-person view and the new over-the-shoulder perspective with the press of a button. According to Ubisoft, the development team has put significant effort into this, updating animations, controls, audio, and camera systems to ensure a fluid and intuitive experience, whether you're exploring or battling the RDA.

For those who have already completed the main story, the update also introduces New Game+. This mode allows players to replay the campaign while retaining all their unlocked skills and inventory from their previous playthrough. To keep things interesting, New Game+ will feature tougher enemies, but also offer rewards in the form of a brand-new skill tree and more powerful gear to acquire. It's worth noting, however, that the two previously released story packs, The Sky Breaker and Secrets of the Spires, will not be accessible within the New Game+ mode.

This update continues Ubisoft's post-launch support for the title, which has also seen quality-of-life improvements like a smoother 40 FPS performance mode for consoles and combat rebalancing. To celebrate the announcement, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is currently on sale at the Ubisoft store for up to 70% off on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for a limited time.

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KitGuru says: Have you already tried Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora? Are you interested in the new third-person mode?

The post Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is getting a free third-person mode and new game+ first appeared on KitGuru.

Insurgency: Sandstorm has continued to grow in popularity since its initial PC-exclusive release in 2018. Since then, the game has branched out to Xbox and PlayStation consoles, continuing to receive big content updates to keep fans engaged. The latest major update, Operation Shell Shock, has now rolled out to all platforms, offering players a mix of new free and paid content.

With Operation: Shell Shock, two new free shotguns are coming to the game – the highly requested S12K for Security and the US12 for Insurgents. The latest update also introduces a new Challenge system, offering Daily, Weekly, and Static goals that reward players with credits for completing in-game objectives. New outfit customisation options and free cosmetics are also available.

Just in time for Halloween, this update also includes a new limited-time game mode called ChadTeam666. In this mode, your squad of vampiric special forces takes on waves of zombies, capturing key checkpoints along the way.

If you own the Year 4 Pass, you'll get access to a bit more in this update, including new gear sets for Security and Insurgent teams and a new weapon skin for each side too.

Insurgency: Sandstorm is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S with crossplay across all platforms. The new update is available as of today.

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KitGuru Says: Do many of you play Insurgency Sandstorm? Are you jumping back in for the new Zombies mode?

The post Insurgency: Sandstorm update brings zombified ‘ChadTeam666’ game mode first appeared on KitGuru.