Times are as tough as they've been in recent memory for the DIY PC market. GPU prices are going up, SSD prices are high, memory is outrageous, and even power supplies might be increasing in price. It's never a terrible idea to consider pre-built PCs, but particularly the way things are right now, purchasing a PC from the likes of Maingear, 
In a poignant reminder that some of a game's biggest fans are the people who actually work on them, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided voice actor Elias Toufexis sounded off about the lack of a Deus Ex sequel, after teasing some upcoming projects coming this year. Elias Toufexis, known best as the voice actor for the Deus Ex main 
Security firm Koi has been busy lately. Its researchers have not only uncovered a sprawling spyware campaign, but they're also keeping tabs on the ever-evolving malware dubbed GlassWorm. In its latest form, GlassWorm has shifted from exclusively targeting Windows users to targeting macOS users as well, and it has a dangerous new trick up its Samsung Display has officially announced the mass production of its next-generation 34-inch QD-OLED panel. Aimed directly at the long-standing complaints regarding text fringing, the new panel introduces a “V-Stripe” pixel structure that abandons the traditional triangular sub-pixel arrangement of previous generations.
By aligning the red, green, and blue sub-pixels vertically, Samsung is promising a true RGB-stripe experience that finally brings OLED text rendering into parity with standard LCD monitors. This move follows closely behind LG Display's own announcement of a 27-inch RGB-stripe WOLED panel, signalling a broader industry-wide push to make OLED technology viable for serious productivity work like coding and document editing.
Image credit: Samsung
The technical specifications of this new panel are a significant leap forward for the ultrawide category. Operating at a native 360 Hz refresh rate, the display offers a substantial upgrade in motion clarity over previous 240 Hz models, while maintaining the cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and a subtle 1800R curve. Samsung has also pushed the luminance envelope, citing a peak HDR brightness of 1,300 nits and VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification. To achieve these figures on a high-refresh ultrawide, Samsung used a new top-emission structure and improved organic materials under its EL 3.0 implementation to maximise efficiency and longevity.
While the announcement comes from the panel manufacturer, the hardware is already in the hands of major partners. Samsung Display confirmed that it has been supplying these V-Stripe panels to seven global brands, including Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte. With CES 2026 set to kick off in Las Vegas on January 6th, both Asus and MSI are expected to unveil the first retail monitors using this technology.
KitGuru says: With both LG and Samsung now preparing RGB-stripe panels, OLED/QD-OLED panels could become the go-to solution for gaming and working on a single display.
The post Samsung Display fires back at LG with “V-Stripe” 360Hz QD-OLED ultrawide first appeared on KitGuru.Thermalright is expanding its already vast cooling catalogue with a rare entry into the slim 140mm fan market. The newly unveiled TL-B14015 series targets the growing niche of Small Form Factor (SFF) enthusiasts who require the surface area of a 140 mm fan but lack the clearance for standard 25-mm-thick fans. Measuring just 15 mm thick, these fans are designed to slide into tight gaps behind front panels or beneath bottom-mounted radiators where traditional blowers won't fit.
Currently available in a stealthy black finish, the standard TL-B14015 (via CowCotland) operates at a modest 1600 RPM, delivering 62.8 CFM of airflow and 1.0 mmH2O of static pressure while keeping noise levels very respectable at 24.6 dBA.
For those who prioritise raw performance over acoustic stealth, Thermalright has also introduced the TL-B14015 Extrem. This “Extrem” variant is distinguished by a structural gold ring connecting the blade tips. Moving away from standard plastics, the Extrem model utilises Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) blades. The performance jump is significant, with the Extrem pushing up to 2600 RPM, doubling the static pressure of the base model to 2.01 mmH2O and increasing airflow to 92.3 CFM. However, as one might expect from a slim fan spinning at such high velocities, the noise level climbs to 34.2 dBA.
Both versions of the TL-B14015 use a dual-row ball bearing system, which generally offers a longer lifespan than sleeve or fluid-dynamic bearings. Thermalright also includes a fairly robust accessory bundle for a standalone fan, including a protective metal grille with a colour-matched centre, mounting screws, and a PWM splitter for dual-fan configurations. This launch effectively positions Thermalright as a direct competitor to the few premium slim 140mm options on the market, likely at a price point that makes it the default choice for budget-conscious SFF builders.
KitGuru says: Thermalright continues to be a menace to the high-priced cooling establishment. Bringing LCP blades and a 2600 RPM ceiling to a 15mm-thick 140mm fan is an impressive technical feat, provided you don't mind the turbine-like acoustics at full power.
The post Thermalright unveils slim new 140mm case fans first appeared on KitGuru.LG is raising the bar for ultra-light computing ahead of CES 2026, unveiling a refreshed laptop lineup that aims to solve the age-old compromise between weight and structural integrity. The 2026 collection is defined by the debut of “Aerominum”, a proprietary magnesium-aluminium alloy inspired by aerospace engineering.
The new Aerominum chassis is achieved by fusing the low density of magnesium with the rigidity of aluminium. LG claims to have reduced the weight of the latest models while increasing scratch resistance. The result is a premium metallic finish that is more durable without the “flimsy” feel sometimes associated with ultra-light devices.
On the performance side, LG is leading with the US-exclusive Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR), which the company is touting as the world's lightest 17-inch RTX laptop. Designed for creators who need a lightweight workstation, it squeezes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 (8 GB GDDR7) into a frame roughly the size of a traditional 16-inch laptop. This model features a 17-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS panel.
As the lightest 16-inch laptop in its class with both on-device and cloud-based AI, the LG Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U) establishes a new benchmark. For both professional and creative tasks, the 16-inch WQXGA+ (2,880 x 1,800) OLED display provides a high-end, immersive visual experience with high PPI. For graphics, it seems the laptop will depend on the iGPU of the Intel Core Ultra series CPUs powering it.
The 2026 lineup also marks the debut of LG's Advanced Dual AI strategy. By combining Microsoft Copilot+ capabilities with LG's Gram Chat On-Device AI, these laptops can perform complex tasks such as document summarisation, search, and translation without an internet connection. This is powered by the upgraded Exaone 3.5 small LLM, ensuring user data stays private on the local hardware. A new “Time Travel” feature even allows users to revisit and restore past workflows or deleted data through an intuitive AI-driven timeline. Connectivity-wise, the new laptops are getting Gram Link, which now supports seamless file sharing and screen mirroring across Android, iOS, and even webOS-based LG devices like TVs and smart monitors.
KitGuru says: LG Gram laptops have always been exceptionally light, but there still seems to be room to make them lighter. Is the weight of a laptop a critical factor to you?
The post LG enters a new era of ultra-portability with ‘Aerominum’ laptops first appeared on KitGuru.
Astronomers have detected a massive, lonely world drifting through the darkness without a star to call home. This Saturn-sized rogue planet was discovered by an international team of scientists using the gravitational microlensing technique.
Free-floating planet gravitationally microlensing a distant star in the Galactic center. (Credit: 
Reflecting back on a year of gaming, Steam's final hardware and software survey of 2025 indicates a couple of interesting trends as 2026 gets underway. One of this is AMD's ability to continue chipping away at Intel's lead, and on the software side, Windows 11 is adding even more distance between itself and Windows 10, at least among Steam 
China has completed construction of the world’s most powerful hypergravity machine, a device designed to compress space and time to simulate extreme events like dam and earthquake disasters.
The machine, officially known as CHIEF1900, was delivered to Zhejiang University on December 22. Built by the Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Group, 
LG is getting ready to launch an updated line of lightweight Gram laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next week, and the upcoming models will debut a new Aerominum material that promises to meld ultra-light construction with premium aesthetics and military-grade durability. This paves the the way for what LG claims is the world's 
One of the most iconic gaming consoles of all time is the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) that released in the United States way back in 1985. Now a little over 40 years later, Acemagic is using the original NES as inspiration for its Retro X5, a powerful mini PC "designed for players who love the charm of classic games and thrill The new year brought about some unfortunate news for Sony's security team. The BootRom key for PS5 consoles has leaked, enabling a new wave of jailbreaking, along with the ability to allow homebrew software to run.
The BootRom is crucial to the security of consoles. With the key, modders will be able to decrypt the bootloader and from there, it will become possible to run unlicensed software and install custom firmware, which could lead to a new wave of piracy-enabled ‘hacked' PS5 consoles.
As pointed out by HotHardware, this could also enable emulator developers to get PS5 emulation up and running, as they will be able to simulate the PS5 booting process and decrypt game loaders.
Unfortunately, there is no magic way for Sony to put the genie back in the bottle here. However, Sony can always take legal action against attempts to share these keys online, as well as attempts to ship emulators. As Nintendo managed to get Switch emulators shut down a few years ago, Sony may also have success stamping out publicly available emulators for PS5 initially as well.
KitGuru Says: It was possible to ‘hack' a PS5 before this but the addition of BootROM keys will open up additional possibilities. Due to the high risk of legal action though, we would expect anyone in possession of the keys to keep it private for the foreseeable future.
The post BootRom keys for PS5 leak, enabling custom firmware, emulation and piracy first appeared on KitGuru.One of 2025’s biggest indie hits was Dispatch – an episodic superhero adventure title from developers who previously worked at Telltale Games and Night School Studio. Released in chunks, the game saw its final episode arrive in November; receiving high praise across the board and helping to push the game past 2 million copies sold. Since then, interest has not yet slowed down, with the title having now officially sold over 3 million copies in total.
Taking to BlueSky to release their ‘2025 Dispatch Wrapped’ the team at AdHoc Studio shared a bunch of different player statistics, including but not limited to the total number of shifts completed; the amount of calls answered and players’ overall romance choices.
By far the most interesting stat however was the confirmation that Dispatch has sold 3 million copies – a little over a month since its last major milestone.
Currently, Dispatch is only available on PlayStation 5 and PC. With the game confirmed to be landing on both the Switch and Switch 2 later this month however, it is likely that Dispatch will only continue to grow in popularity. It will be interesting to see how big the game winds up being on Switch.
KitGuru says: Have you played through the game? What did you think? How well will the game sell throughout 2026? Let us know your thoughts down below.
The post Dispatch has officially sold over 3 million copies ahead of Switch launch later this month first appeared on KitGuru.Over the past few years Bloober Team have made a name for themselves in the horror space. While their earlier projects were far from masterpieces, the team have proven themselves with time – culminating in the successful release of Silent Hill 2 Remake. With multiple projects currently in the works at the studio, Bloober Team have started to tease something mysterious.
Taking to Twitter, Bloober Team shared a curious URL alongside the message “Dare to peek into the darkness…”
In going to the link, users are met with what appears to be a random string of letters, then leading to a countdown timer which will last for 44 days – seemingly ending on the 14th of February 2026.
The letters in question are as follows: RemosdNeulSerorehsoOvamCeyerd; though what this means exactly is currently unknown.
For the uninitiated, Bloober Team are currently developing a number of different projects. Alongside their ongoing work on the Silent Hill 1 Remake, Bloober also previously announced Project M – an exclusive being developed for the Nintendo Switch / Switch 2.
Considering the fact that Nintendo has hosted various Directs during the month of February in previous years, it is quite possible that Bloober Team are teasing their Switch exclusive. We won’t have to wait too long to find out.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this teaser? Could it be related to project M? What do you think the message spells out? Let us know down below.
The post Bloober Team teases mysterious project with new website and countdown first appeared on KitGuru.MSI has expanded its 32‑inch 4K QD‑OLED gaming monitor lineup with two new models, the MPG 322UR QD‑OLED X24 and MAG 321UP QD‑OLED X24. Both displays use MSI’s latest 5‑layer Tandem OLED architecture with EL Gen 3 technology, designed to improve luminous efficiency and extend panel lifespan across the company’s 32‑inch 4K range.
The monitors introduce several upgraded display technologies aimed at delivering stronger visual performance and durability. MSI’s new DarkArmor Film enhances light absorption to eliminate the purple or red tint often seen on standard QD‑OLED panels under ambient lighting. It increases perceived black depth by up to 40% and raises surface hardness from 2H to 3H, offering significantly better scratch resistance for everyday use.
Uniform Luminance is another key addition, addressing the inconsistent brightness shifts common in HDR content. The feature allows users to fine‑tune the HDR brightness curve by mapping brightness levels to different window sizes, ensuring smoother and more stable luminance across varied scenarios.
The MPG 322UR QD‑OLED X24 serves as the flagship option, adding MSI’s AI Care Sensor for automated panel protection. Powered by an NPU‑based IC, the system uses real‑time human‑detection algorithms to manage power states and trigger protective measures based on user presence. This allows the monitor to safeguard the panel without interrupting gameplay or requiring manual intervention.
With these updates, MSI aims to deliver higher durability, improved HDR consistency, and smarter long‑term protection for players seeking premium 4K QD‑OLED performance. We'll get a closer and more detailed look at all of this next week as CES gets underway.
KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the next generation of QD-OLED panels? We've been getting steady improvements over the past few years and prices have been coming down too.
The post MSI introduces DarkArmor and Uniform Luminance Reshape for new QD-OLED displays first appeared on KitGuru.In a sea of small form-factor keyboards, it’s sometimes easy to forget that full-size boards still exist. The Epomaker TH108 Pro is exactly that – a full-size, gasket mounted mechanical keyboard which features a TFT screen and rotary dial for added functionality. With a chassis made from ABS plastic and a price tag of roughly £75, is the TH108 Pro any good?
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:51 Pricing and key details
01:25 Design and appearance
02:27 TFT display + dial
03:20 RGB lighting and other details
04:32 Build quality
05:42 Typing feel + acoustics
06:35 Soundtest
06:57 Day to day use
08:24 Battery life
08:53 Web software
09:37 Mat’s closing thoughts
Specifications
You can buy the TH108 Pro keyboard directly from Epomaker, starting at £74.76 HERE.
Pros:
Cons:
KitGuru says: What the TH108 Pro lacks in build quality, it makes up for with a comfortable and satisfying typing experience.
ASRock is set to showcase a wide range of new hardware at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio across cooling, motherboards, monitors, graphics cards, power supplies, and compact systems.
The company will debut a full lineup of next‑generation AIO liquid coolers featuring a new pump architecture, improved flow design, optional full‑color LCD displays, and premium components such as LCP fan blades and dual‑ball‑bearing motors.
ASRock is also introducing the new Rock Series motherboards, including B850 and B860 models in both ATX and mATX formats. The Challenger Series expands with additional AMD X870E, X870, and B850 options, plus Intel B860 variants, now available in both ATX and compact mATX designs.
Sticking to components, this year will also see ASRock launching its very first white graphics card – the RX 9070 XT Taichi White, featuring an LCD display, ARGB lighting and a white PCB. ASRock will also have new Phantom Gaming SFX and Steel Legend Platinum power supplies hitting the market this year.
Rounding out the components side of things, ASRock is also going to be introducing its new DeskSlim mini PCs during CES this month, promising powerful 120W CPUs in a small 4.9-liter design.
In displays, ASRock will present its latest 27‑inch OLED gaming monitors across the Taichi and Phantom Gaming lines. Taichi models offer WOLED and QD‑OLED panels with 2K or 4K resolution, refresh rates up to 540Hz, Dual Mode switching, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification. Phantom Gaming models deliver 2K 240Hz QD‑OLED performance with ergonomic stands and USB‑C connectivity.
CES 2026 begins on the 6th of January.
KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to new tech announcements at CES next week?
The post ASRock to debut new AIO coolers, monitors and more at CES 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.As they have done for many years now, the Epic Games Store gave away a different title for free every 24 hours during the final weeks of 2025. With 2026 now officially here, Epic’s Christmas game giveaway is coming to an end – with both Total War: Three Kingdoms and Wildgate available to claim right now.
Available to add to your library from now until the 8th of January, the Epic Games Store is giving away two titles in total, namely:
Wildgate is a PvPvE multiplayer shooter developed by Moonshot Games and published by Dreamhaven. Released back in July of 2025, the game offers a unique take on the genre due to its mix of both first-person shooting and ship-to-ship combat set in space.
Described by many as ‘Sea of Thieves in space’, Wildgate is worth checking out, especially for free – but don’t expect it to be your next live-service shooter.
Total War: Three Kingdoms meanwhile is the latest entry in the long running RTS series. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA, Three Kingdoms received solid reviews across the board from both critics and fans alike. Though not for everybody, those who enjoy the genre will have plenty to enjoy.
Both Wildgate and Total War: Three Kingdoms are available to add to your library from now until the 8th of January – at which point they will be replaced by the classic tower defence Bloons TD6.
KitGuru says: What did you think of Epic’s final 2025 giveaways? How many free games do you have in your library at this point? Let us know down below.
The post Total War and Wildgate are both free on the Epic Games Store first appeared on KitGuru.The weakest part of the Quest 3 reveals itself the moment you put it on. The stock cloth head strap is barely adequate and uncomfortable for a lot of people. Meta shipped variations of this strap for years, and each time the same thing happens. The result is a thriving aftermarket built almost entirely around fixing a problem the headset ships with.
My own reference point for comfort comes from an unexpected place. My first experience with any headset was an Apple Vision Pro demo. What struck me, in addition to the visuals and the floating screens, was the Solo Knit Band. The fabric cupped the back of my head evenly, gathering just enough to distribute pressure instead of concentrating it in one spot. The headset eventually pressed down on my face due to the lack of a top strap to counteract the heavy weight of the Vision Pro, but the strap itself felt high-quality and secure in a way that made a strong impression on me at the time. I bought the Quest 3 a short time later and my experience with Meta headsets and the default strap starts there.
When Apple launched Vision Pro it came with two straps. The Solo Knit Band that appeared in nearly every promotional image as well as a second, bulkier, strap with a cross strap over the top of the head that actually supported the headset’s weight. Apple rarely showed that second strap in marketing.
Apple course-corrected with the later introduction of the Dual Knit Band alongside the second-generation M5-powered Vision Pro. Each M5 headset now ships just with the Dual Knit Band.
Apple initially prioritized appearance and ended up with a headset sitting too heavily on the user’s face. Adding proper top support was a necessary fix.
So when I started hearing stories of people adapting Apple’s Solo and Dual Knit Bands for use on the Quest 3, I paid attention. The idea of pairing Apple’s strap comfort with the Quest headset made sense immediately. I wanted to see whether I could recreate what I remembered from that first demo using hardware I already owned.
The solution turned out to be relatively straightforward. A well-regarded Etsy seller offers 3D-printed side plates designed specifically to mount Apple’s knit bands onto the Quest 3. After a short exchange to confirm fit and compatibility, I placed the order, which arrived in days. Apple took longer. The Dual Knit Band was backordered for nearly a month.
Once everything arrived, I assembled what looked like a mismatched experiment. (Editor’s Note: From FrankenQuest to Dual Knit Quest) The effect was obvious right away. Even before putting the headset on, you can feel the tungsten weights built into the rear of the Dual Knit Band doing real work as a counterbalance. The balance of the headset becomes evident the moment you pick it up.
Wearing it confirmed what I was hoping for. This is easily the most comfortable strap setup I have used on the Quest 3. The same fabric gathering and cupping I remembered from Vision Pro is there, but now the top strap keeps the headset locked in place. It does not slide forward. It does not sag. It stays where you set it.
The adjustment system is also very Apple. A single rear dial, reminiscent of the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch, controls both straps. Pull it out and twist to adjust the top strap. Push it in and twist to tighten the rear. You do not think about it after the first use. It works the way it should. The result is a Quest 3 that finally feels as comfortable as it should have been from the start.
This setup vastly improves how I use the Quest 3 day to day. I often use it lying down for meditation, watching videos, or for reading on the web. In other straps, pressure points show up quickly and in some an added rear hard band makes it uncomfortable to lay your head down. The Dual Knit Band avoids that entirely. The weight stays evenly distributed, and the headset remains comfortable even during longer sessions. This article was written entirely on my Quest 3 using the Dual Knit Band reclining on my bed.
At $99 plus the pieces from Etsy, the Dual Knit Band for Quest 3 is pricey compared with many other solutions, but the quality of the materials and added comfort feels like value for the money. I highly recommend this solution to add a little Apple design magic to your Meta Quest 3 and gain some serious comfort.
UploadVRIan Hamilton
Security researchers at Koi have uncovered a massive, coordinated spyware campaign that spans 100+ Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla FireFox extensions, which seem to function legitimately, but (eventually) exhibit malicious behavior tied to a threat actor called DarkSpectre. This behavior includes stripping security protections, More people than ever before chose VRChat to ring in the New Year.
VRChat broke its concurrently connected user record as the year flipped from 2025 to 2026 in various time zones, according to figures posted on social media by the head of community.
As the New Year rolled across the United States from December 31 at 11:59 pm to January 1 at 12:00 am, from Eastern Time to Pacific Time, VRChat's servers supported nearly 150,000 staying online in various spaces together concurrently.
VRChat's long-time head of community Tupper posted on Bluesky that Japan saw a surprisingly high peak figure over the holiday, with no specific number provided, as well as specific peak numbers across the four time zones dividing up the United States for concurrently connected users:
While VRChat doesn't always detail how many users access the service in headset versus traditional flat interfaces, the figures help ground the narrative around VR headset use. Tupper noted that "normal weekend" use of VRChat in recent times has seen around "120-125K CCU at peaks."
As Bigscreen Beyond 2 continues scaling production of its ultralight headset design in 2026 and Valve prepares to sell the lightweight modular Steam Frame as well, we'll be curious to see where VRChat's peak figures land on January 1, 2027.
If you were in VRChat for New Year's Eve, please share in the comments below the name of the space you chose to be in to celebrate the new year. And for those outside VR who still might not see the overall trend here, did the people who stood freezing under the lights of Times Square in New York for most of New Year's Eve spend their time any better than the people cozy at home wearing Bigscreen Beyond 2 to visit VRChat?
The PlayStation 5 has essentially been cracked, just in time for 2026, and it would appear that short of releasing a new hardware revision, there's not much Sony can do about it. This is because PlayStation 5 hackers have found the BootROM (Level 0) keys for the PlayStation 5, which enables decryption of the bootloader and, from there, allows 
Connexion