Xbox is currently in a bit of a state of limbo, with the Series X|S consoles continuing to sell fewer units by the day, all the while fans eagerly await the official announcement of Microsoft’s much-teased handheld. One insider has now shared a ton of details surrounding Xbox’s future plans – including another Xbox Game Pass revamp.

As part of their most recent video, known industry insider eXtas1s revealed what is claimed to be Microsoft’s current future plans for the Xbox ecosystem. While this includes quite drastic and sweeping changes such as full integration of Steam and the Epic Games Store, one of the more interesting titbits pertains to Xbox Game Pass.

According to eXtas1s (and as translated by ResetEra user P40L0), Game Pass is set to receive yet another major overhaul following their previous rebranding back in 2023.

Though not quite as transformative as the prior update (which saw the Xbox Live Gold program discontinued and replaced with Game Pass Core), this upcoming change is said to bring with it:

• A cloud-only tier
• An ad-supported tier

Of course, a shake-up of Game Pass will also be met with changes to its pricing, with eXtas1s claiming that subscriptions will once again go up – especially for the PC tier (which is currently by far the most consumer-friendly tier).

Despite their shift towards a more 3rd-party release strategy, it seems Game Pass is here to stay – albeit at a higher cost. We will have to wait and see exactly what Microsoft has planned for the service.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft’s plans? How much is too much to pay for a monthly subscription? What Game Pass tier do you use (if any)? Let us know down below.

The post Xbox Game Pass to get another revamp with new tiers and higher prices according to insider first appeared on KitGuru.

Ever since the death of E3, Nintendo has mostly kept to itself when it comes to announcing games at showcases – instead focusing on their Nintendo Direct events. With the Switch 2 almost upon us however, it seems the console maker is trying to attract as many eyes as possible; confirming that they will be returning to Gamescom for the first time in a while.

Making the surprise announcement via Twitter, the official German Nintendo page shared the following (as translated by ResetEra user RandomlyRandom67): “Mark your calendar in red: Nintendo will be back at @gamescom in 2025. We look forward to welcoming you to Cologne from August 20 to 24!”

As mentioned, this marks the return of Nintendo to Gamescom following their absence last year. While no reason was given as to why they are coming back, it is quite clear that this has been setup as a result of the upcoming Switch 2.

Whether we will get actual announcements of new games, or simply another opportunity for hands on with the Switch 2 (despite it being out by that point) we will have to wait and see. That said, given the relatively light first-party console launch line-up, hopefully Nintendo has big announcement plans in the works.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised to see them return to Gamescom? Why do you think they skipped the event last year? What do you hope to see shown off during the conference? Let us know down below.

The post Nintendo announces return to Gamescom first appeared on KitGuru.

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, generally agreed upon as being one of the best Western RPGs perhaps of all time. With the game now officially hitting its 10th birthday, the team at CD Projekt Red are hosting a celebration live stream alongside a franchise-wide sale.

Making the announcement, the team at CDPR wrote: “Celebrate 10 years of killing monsters and forging unforgettable memories! It's been a decade since you began the search for Ciri, discovering all the choices, adventures, and stories that followed. Thank you for walking this Path with us. #10YearsofTheWitcher3.”

A video was released alongside the announcement, featuring many iconic moments from the 2015 classic. If you have yet to give The Witcher 3 a try, now is as good a time as any to do so, as the entire franchise is currently on sale for a massive discount.

Available across pretty much all platforms, the entire Witcher trilogy can be yours for up to 90% off, with the base Witcher 3 currently as low as £2.50. Alternatively, the Complete Edition is 80% off, going for just £6.99.

Despite releasing 10 years ago, The Witcher 3 still holds its own in 2025 thanks to a timeless narrative; a rich world; brilliant music and more. Speaking of music, CDPR is also celebrating the anniversary with a global concert tour, the details of which can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of The Witcher 3 10 years on? Does it hold up in your mind? What’s your favourite side quest from the series? Let us know down below.

The post The Witcher 3 celebrates 10th anniversary with franchise sale and more first appeared on KitGuru.

For the past 5 years or so we’ve seen a wide range of different online video game showcases pop up – focusing on specific publishers, platforms and even sub-genres of games. Joining the fray is ‘Indie Quest’: “a brand-new digital showcase spotlighting the best and brightest in independently developed JRPGs.”

Releasing a teaser trailer for the upcoming event, JRPG-focused YouTuber The Gaming Shelf wrote: “Indie Quest is a brand-new digital showcase spotlighting the best and brightest in independently developed JRPGs. Curated by Taylor Hoyt of The Gaming Shelf, the premiere event debuts May 29 at 4PM PDT / 7PM EDT with over 40 exclusive game trailers, a must-see world premiere from a critically-acclaimed studio, and a unique twist.”

It’s worth noting that the term JRPG in this instance likely refers more to the typical style of classic Japanese RPGs – as opposed to RPGs developed in Japan itself.

Regardless, it is always nice to see new video game showcases pop up. With so many titles releasing every single day, having a curated collection of quality games is welcome indeed.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the Indie Quest showcase? What’s your favourite indie showcase around? What does the term JRPG mean to you? Let us know down below.

The post Indie Quest Showcase announced with a focus on JRPGs first appeared on KitGuru.

While the company may not have introduced a brand new UI for its latest Xbox Series X|S consoles, Microsoft has continued to update and refine the overall user experience on Xbox through consistent firmware updates. As part of the newest release, Xbox owners will soon be able to customise their homescreen to a much greater degree.

Making the announcement via a blog post, Xbox’s Eden Marie detailed the latest firmware update coming to those signed up for the Xbox Insider Program, writing: “Starting this week, Xbox Insiders will notice a fresh set of customization options rolling out to the recently played games and apps list on Home. This update is part of our ongoing effort to make Home more personal, flexible, and responsive to your feedback.”

With that, the full list of new features landing with this update include the following:

• You can now hide system apps from the recently played games and apps list on Home
• You can now pin up to three of your recently played games or apps directly to the recently played games and apps list
• You can now reduce the number of visible tiles in the recently played games and apps list

Currently available to ‘Alpha Skip-Ahead’ and regular ‘Alpha’ users, these changes were made in “direct response” to fan feedback, writing “We’ve heard from many of you that Home should feel more like your space. Whether it’s surfacing your favorite games, hiding what you don’t use, or simply making Home feel less crowded.”

Though far from the most transformative update, this latest firmware release should allow those who prefer a clean homescreen to finally have the catharsis which they have long wanted.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest update? Is your homescreen organised? What other features would you like to see changed/added? Let us know down below.

The post Xbox firmware update brings new homescreen customisation options first appeared on KitGuru.

One of the biggest controversies surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 currently is its use of a new Game-Key Card feature, which essentially gives you a physical cartridge which holds little more than a ‘game key’ to allow owners to then download the game to their system’s internal storage. While a large portion of the currently-announced 3rd party titles will be using these Game-Key Cards, Nintendo has no plans to utilise these cards for their own first-party titles.

In a statement by Nintendo UK to the Switch-focused publication NintendoLife, the console maker claimed that “We currently have no plans to use game-key cards for Nintendo-developed titles.”

Of course, though far from a permanent and definitive statement, it does put to rest some concerns which players had regarding Switch 2 games – especially as physical releases will now cost consumers extra compared to digital.

That said, it will be interesting to see how closely Nintendo sticks to this as currently the Switch 2 only offers a 64GB cartridge or the aforementioned Game-Key Card. What Nintendo will choose to do if/when one of their first party titles exceeds 64GB in size, we will have to wait and see.

At the very least it seems that for now, those who purchase any first-party Nintendo titles can rest assured that the cartridges themselves will be actual cartridges.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the new Game-Key Card system? Is 64GB too little for the current console generation? Will Nintendo eventually introduce a 128GB card? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post First-party Nintendo titles won’t use the Switch 2’s Game-Key Card system first appeared on KitGuru.

Switching up their typical development cycle, NetherRealm Studios followed up 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11 not with a 3rd Injustice game, but instead another entry in the Mortal Kombat series: MK1. Reception towards the game was mild, with its post-launch support receiving particular criticism – ultimately ending its live-service plans prematurely. With MK1 now out of the way, it seems Netherrealm is finally returning to Injustice 3.

As reported by known Warner Bros. / Multiversus leaker ‘multiversusie’ the insider shared a rather humorous tease for what Netherrealm has planned next, taking to twitter to say:

“Multiversus shutting down is an injustice, then doing it all again is another injustice. Leaving me without any leaks is yet again another injustice. 3”

Though not outwardly stated, this is a clear reference to Injustice 3 seemingly being Netherrealm’s next project.

As mentioned, the studio has in the past released an Injustice game following each new Mortal Kombat title – with MK1 being the first time they’ve moved away from this structure.

Given the disappointing performance of Mortal Kombat 1 however, it seems either WB, or Netherrealm (or both) figured out that following up a Mortal Kombat with another MK title may not have been the best move.

It will be interesting to see how an Injustice 3 will be received – especially in a post-MK1 world.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this leak? Would you welcome a 3rd Injustice game? Or would you rather Netherrealm work on something entirely new? Let us know down below.

The post Leaker claims Netherrealm is working on Injustice 3 first appeared on KitGuru.

Death Stranding has been a huge hit for Hideo Kojima, with the the first ‘strand type’ game surpassing 20 million players while spawning a sequel and an upcoming film adaptation. According to Kojima, the film is currently scheduled to arrive some time in 2027.

As part of an interview with French magazine Le Film Francais, Kojima spoke on a range of topics from the upcoming Death Stranding film to his other project Physint.

With regards to the former, a tentative release date was shared, with the publication stating (as translated by ResetEra user Red Kong XIX): “An adaptation of Death Stranding is in development at A24, with a release planned for 2027. Would you one day like to direct a film?” to which Kojima responded:

“Oh yes! I've had so many offers since I left Konami, with serious conditions to develop games in my independent studio. Besides Death Stranding 2, there's also Physint in development. That will take me another five or six years. But maybe after that, I could finally decide to take on a film. I grew up with cinema. Directing would be, in a way, a tribute to it. Also, I'm getting older, and I'd prefer to do it while I'm still young!”

Beyond confirmation of Death Stranding’s film release, it is also interesting to learn just how far along the director’s PlayStation exclusive ‘action espionage’ Physint is currently – which is to say, not that far along.

Perhaps most curiously is the omission of any mention of Kojima’s other in-development project, the Xbox aligned genre-breaking OD. Announced back in 2023, the experimental title appears to be further along in development when compared to Physint – making the lack of any updates curious to say the least.

Of course, in the meantime, fans can look forward to Death Stranding 2’s release, which is set to arrive in just over a month’s time.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for Death Stranding 2? Are you more curious to see OD or Physint? What do you think their final titles will actually be? Let us know down below.

The post Kojima’s Death Stranding film is planned to release in 2027 first appeared on KitGuru.

5 years on from the game’s initial 2019 release, Sony officially launched Days Gone Remastered for PS5 and PC last month. While a solid upgrade overall (especially with its $10 price tag for owners of the previous release) the PS5 version in particular was missing some expected features. As part of the game’s latest patch however, PS5 players can now benefit from a 40FPS balanced mode, VRR support and more.

Making the announcement on BlueSky, the team at Bend Studio wrote: “We have an update beginning to roll out globally addressing player feedback, along with a new Balanced graphics mode, and VRR support.”

The full patch notes can be found HERE, but some of the most notable additions/improvements include the following:

• Added a new ‘Balanced’ render mode to the Graphics menu
  • PS5 – 1800p at 40fps
  • PS5 Pro – 2160p (using PSSR) at 40fps
• VRR support now enabled
• Improved loading times and streaming optimizations
• Updated input lag to feel more consistent across all render options
• Unlocked map FPS
• Overall audio mix improved.
• Various audio adjustments
• Gyro Aiming fixes

Sony’s first-party PlayStation releases have been quite good at supporting 40fps modes as well as VRR and so Days Gone Remastered lacking both at launch was somewhat surprising.

That said, it is welcome at least to see these additions coming within a month of the remaster’s launch.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Days Gone Remastered overall? Is it a solid effort? Do you use 40fps balanced modes if they are available? Let us know down below.

The post Days Gone Remastered update brings 40fps balanced mode alongside VRR support first appeared on KitGuru.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is almost upon us, with the next project from Kojima set to arrive in just over a month on the 26th of June. Ahead of this, the studio has announced the Death Stranding World Strand Tour 2 – coming to a dozen locations starting next month.

Making the announcement via a press release, the team officially unveiled its DS2 pre-release marketing plans, writing: “KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS confirmed today that the studio is gearing up to visit 12 locations across the globe to celebrate the launch of DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, arriving exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26th, 2025. Fans around the world will be able to join a celebration of all things DEATH STRANDING as part of a World Tour, with special guests and events at each stop.”

Exact details on what these events will entail is currently unknown, but given that some of the shows are taking place long after the game’s launch, it’s safe to assume that this event will likely serve as a fan celebration – more so than a simple marketing tour.

With that, the full list of dates and locations are as follows:

• 8th June – Los Angeles  
• 14th June – Sydney   
• 26th June – Tokyo  
• 28th June – Paris  
• 30th June – London  
• 4th July – Seoul  
• 6th July – Taipei  
• 9th July – Hong Kong  
• 12th July – Shanghai  
• August – Riyadh  
• October – Sao Paulo  
• November – Lucca 

Death Stranding was a highly unique and evocative game which – while it did not resonate with everyone – offered a strong and compelling message alongside a surprisingly calming gameplay loop. Hopefully the Death Stranding 2 World Tour proves to be just as unique and memorable as the game itself.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for DS2? What do you think these fan events will entail? Will you try to attend one of the shows? Let us know down below.

The post Kojima announces Death Stranding 2 ‘World Strand Tour’ first appeared on KitGuru.

Last month, Ubisoft officially showcased the next major DLC set to come to Star Wars Outlaws – A Pirate’s Fortune. In alignment with this DLC now being officially available, the publisher has released Outlaws’ next big free ‘title update’ 1.6, bringing with it a ton of welcome changes, additions and quality of life improvements.

Releasing the patch notes onto their blog, Ubisoft officially detailed Star Wars: Outlaws’ Title Update 1.6, writing: “The new update arrives alongside our brand-new story pack, A Pirate's Fortune, bringing new improvements and fixes. It also includes a free new cosmetic pack inspired by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, available to all players!”

The full list of changes and additions can be found HERE, but some of the most notable include:

• The ability to free-fire Kay's blaster while riding your speeder
• Seamless switching between two-handed weapons and Kay's blaster
• Enhanced Trailblazer customization with new passive systems
• New space contracts with multiple challenge types and rewards

Other ancillary fixes include the following:

• Improved shooting when behind cover
• Improved enemy AI when moving to cover/being suppressed
• Improved Kay's movement animations on stairs and slopes
• Miyuki Traders have been upgraded to full vendors
• Performance improvements during climbing
• Improved attaching and releasing input when using the grappling hook
• Kay is now thrown off the speeder when hit by a melee attack
• RTXDI improvements
• Ray Reconstruction improvements
• Various accessibility improvements

While Ubisoft titles do have a penchant to release in less-than-complete states, there is no denying that the publisher is willing to make rather sweeping changes and fixes to ensure the game gets closer to meeting fan expectations. It’s just a shame that we’ve had to wait so many months for some of these improvements.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest update? Does Ubisoft rely too much on post-launch support? Let us know down below.

The post Star Wars: Outlaws Title Update 1.6 brings combat improvements, customisation and more first appeared on KitGuru.

While the Epic Games Store gives away a game or two each week to all those with an Epic account, on occasion the platform holder will up the value of games being offered. Such is the case right now, with Dead Island 2 and Happy Game being given away for free as part of the Epic Games Store’s MEGA Sale.

Available to add to your library from now until the 22nd of May at 4PM, this week’s free headlining title is Dead Island 2 – the long awaited sequel to 2011’s first person Zombie experience.

Following years of delays and multiple development studio switches, the sequel finally launched back in 2023 to pretty decent reviews overall, with particular praise being given to the game’s brutal FLESH gore system.

While not included with the free package, Dead Island 2 did receive two sets of post-launch DLC (alongside other free updates), with the SoLA and Haus expansions currently on sale for 30% off.

Happy Game meanwhile is an indie horror puzzler in which you must “endure and escape three unforgettable nightmares” all the while solving “deeply disturbing puzzles in (not so) charming environments.”

Both Dead Island 2 and Happy Game are available to add to your library for the next week, at which point they will be replaced by two as-of-yet-unknown games, alongside ‘Deliver At All Costs.’

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offerings? Did you enjoy Dead Island 2 more or less than the average person? What titles do you hope will be offered next week? Let us know down below.

The post Dead Island 2 is free on the Epic Games Store first appeared on KitGuru.

While not quite the PSP3 that some may have hoped for, Sony’s PlayStation Portal Remote Play peripheral has been a surprise hit since its launch back in November of 2023. In the year and a half following, the handheld has received a strong level of support from Sony, bringing additional functionality. This seems to be paying off, with the PS Portal said to be a “strong and profitable peripheral.”

As part of the company’s latest fiscal earnings report, Sony’s President and CEO Hiroki Totoki spoke on the ongoing success of the PlayStation Portal, calling it (as transcribed by Genki_JPN) a “strong and profitable peripheral” which they will continue to focus on moving forward.

For context, while we’ve not gotten any official sales numbers for the Portal, the handheld had originally sold out of its initial stock in just two days following its arrival in November of 2023.

Since then, the device has continued to improve, adding new functionality such as cloud streaming alongside other smaller quality-of-life improvements.

Back in February of last year Sony reaffirmed the ongoing success of the Portal, stating at the time “although we don’t have any numbers to share, the demand has continued to exceed our expectations.”

Based on recent rumours which claim that Sony could be working on a proper dedicated gaming handheld, it seems their experiment with the PlayStation Portal has been and continues to be a massive success. It will be interesting to see how Sony approaches future PS Portal updates.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Did the PS Portal exceed your expectations? Has this given PlayStation the confidence to make another PSP? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Sony’s PlayStation Portal continues to be a “strong and profitable peripheral” first appeared on KitGuru.

Switching up their typical development cycle, NetherRealm Studios followed up 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11 not with a 3rd InJustice game, but instead another entry in the Mortal Kombat series: MK1. Reception towards the game was mild, with its post-launch support receiving particular criticism. Unfortunately (or fortunately), after less than two years, Mortal Kombat 1 is officially over – announcing the game's Definitive Edition.

Making the announcement via a press release, the teams at NetherRealm and Warner Bros. officially unveiled the Mortal Kombat 1 Definitive Edition – featuring all of the previously-released content alongside a couple new extras, namely:

“New character skins (outfits) for Johnny Cage, Kitana, Scorpion, and Shao Kahn inspired by New Line Cinema’s upcoming Mortal Kombat II film” alongside “the Mortal Kombat (2021) movie character skin (outfit) for Sub-Zero; and the tournament themed character skin (outfit) for Liu Kang.”

While not outwardly stated as being the end of MK1’s post-launch support, no further DLC has been announced, and considering the fact that this is labelled as the ‘Definitive Edition’ it’s safe to say that NetherRealm are done with Mortal Kombat 1.

This also lines up with previous leaks/rumours which claimed that WB cancelled their plans for future DLC content back in November of last year.

All in all, with sales for MK1 tracking behind that of MK11, and their proclaimed “years of support” ending after less than two years, it seems quite clear that following up Mortal Kombat with another MK title might not have paid off.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of MK1? Was it a step back compared to 11? Where do you want NetherRealm to go from here? Let us know down below.

The post WB announced Mortal Kombat 1 Definitive Edition as post-launch support ends first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in 2020, Ubisoft officially announced and unveiled their remake of the classic Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Initially planned to launch in early 2021, the game was delayed multiple times and even rebooted – changing development studios along the way. Many years later, it seems the game is nearing completion, with it set to arrive this fiscal year.

As part of Ubisoft’s latest fiscal earnings report, the publisher offered an update on the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, stating:

“The FY2025-26 [April 2025 – March 2026] guidance will benefit from strong back-catalog that will notably rely on Assassin's Creed Shadows and the release of Siege X which is expected to strongly grow franchise net bookings, regular partnerships as well as the following line-up: Anno 117: Pax Romana, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, Rainbow Six Mobile and The Division Resurgence. Other titles will be announced at a later stage.”

While of course focused on more than just The Sands of Time, this represents a rather significant update for the game, with the previous report from almost a year ago penning the title for a vague 2026 release.

While this could still happen, it is encouraging to know that The Sands of Time Remake could arrive as early as this year. It will be interesting to see what the game looks like when it is finally re-revealed – and whether fan complaints will have been addressed.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this release window? Does this give you more confidence in the project? What did you think of the original remake? Let us know down below.

The post Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake confirmed for FY2025 release first appeared on KitGuru.