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Apple iOS 27 To Level Up iPhone With More Performance And Tons Of AI

Apple iOS 27 To Level Up iPhone With More Performance And Tons Of AI Apple has made some significant hardware and software updates this year, with the debut of the ultra-thin iPhone Air and overhauled user interface of its operating systems with the Liquid Glass design language. The company will be focusing on stability and performance for the next version of iOS, however, while attempting to bolster its AI
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Windows 11 24H2 Bug Is Crashing Key System Components, Here Are The Workarounds

Windows 11 24H2 Bug Is Crashing Key System Components, Here Are The Workarounds If you feel like Windows 11 has been trending less and less stable over the last few months, you're not imagining things. Microsoft has confirmed a nasty bug in Windows 11 version 24H2 (stemming from cumulative updates starting in July 2025) that's knocking out critical system components. According to support article KB5072911, several core
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Microsoft Is Testing A File Explorer Trick To Speed Up Load Times In Windows 11

Microsoft Is Testing A File Explorer Trick To Speed Up Load Times In Windows 11 The latest Windows Insider build for Windows 11 features numerous performance fixes and additions, especially for File Explorer. One of the fixes, pictured below, is a reorganized right-click context menu in File Explorer. Perhaps the most interesting change is that Microsoft is considering pre-loading File Explorer in an effort to improve
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AI Can Bring Real-World Objects Into VR In Seconds

AI can bring real-world objects into VR as 3D assets in seconds, with Meta's new SAM 3D Objects model setting a new standard for quality.

It has been possible for years now to generate a 3D model of a real-world object by capturing dozens of images of it from surrounding angles, leveraging traditional photogrammetry techniques. Epic's RealityScan, for example, takes around 15–45 minutes of cloud processing, while Apple offers an on-device Object Capture API for iPhone Pro models that takes around 5 minutes.

But over the past year or so, advanced AI models have emerged that can produce 3D assets from a single image in a matter of seconds. And while they don't offer the same quality of photogrammetry, the quality has steadily improved with each new model release, mirroring the overall rapid advancement of AI.

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EchoTheReality on SideQuest, which uses an old AI model from 2024.

For an example of how this applies to VR, Takahiro “Poly” Horikawa published a Quest app on SideQuest that uses hand tracking to let you frame a specific real-world object and take a photo of it, leveraging Meta's passthrough camera API. This image is then provided to Stability AI's Stable Fast 3D API, based on the TripoSR model, and the result is spawned as a virtual object beside the image capture spot.

TripoSR is now almost two years old, though. And a few days ago, Meta launched SAM 3D Objects, the new state-of-the-art model for generating 3D assets from a single image.

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Meta SAM 3D Objects

You can test out SAM 3D Objects for free in your web browser on the Meta AI Demos page. Just provide it with an image and you'll be able to select which object you want to convert to a 3D model. Seconds later, you'll see a 3D view where you can pan around the object with your mouse or finger.

Meta's site isn't designed for mobile screens, so you'll probably want to use a PC, laptop, tablet, or VR headset. Also note that the model is only designed for inanimate objects, not people or animals.

This free public demo does not let you download the 3D model. But SAM 3D Objects is open source, available on GitHub and Hugging Face. That means developers should be able to host it on a cloud computing platform that offers GPUs, and use it to provide the experience of that EchoTheReality demo but with higher quality output – essentially pulling an object from reality into VR.

Social VR platforms, for example, could let you conduct show-and-tell for objects in your real room in a matter of seconds. Or decorate your home space with items you crafted in the real world. Meta has no announced plan to add this to Horizon Worlds, but it would seem like a natural future step, complementing the Hyperscape worlds it just launched.

Horizon Hyperscape Now Lets You Invite Friends To Visit As Meta Avatars
You can now turn new Horizon Hyperscape captures into unlisted Horizon Worlds, letting you invite friends to join you in them as Meta Avatars.
UploadVRDavid Heaney

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Marble Turns An Image Into A WebXR Volumetric Scene In Minutes

Marble, an AI model from World Labs, can turn a single image into a volumetric scene that you can view in WebXR in a matter of minutes.

World Labs was founded last year by Fei-Fei Li, one of the pioneers of modern AI. She's best known for creating the ImageNet dataset that helped enable the rapid advancement of computer vision in the 2010s, having the insight that the lack of high-quality labeled data was a critical bottleneck.

As with almost all of the remarkable advancements in 3D reconstruction over the past few years, Marble generates Gaussian splats, fitting thousands of semitransparent colored blobs (Gaussians) in 3D space so that arbitrary viewpoints can be rendered realistically in real-time. But Marble's variety of supported input types and the speed of its output are unprecedented.

While other splat generation systems like Meta's Horizon Hyperscape and Varjo Teleport require hundreds of input frames and hours of processing, in its simplest mode Marble can generate a splat from a single input image or text prompt in a matter of minutes.

For more advanced outputs, if you pay for the $20/month subscription Marble can take multiple images as input, or a short video, or even a 3D structure, using a tool World Labs calls Chisel.

Chisel lets you lay out a scene with crude 3D shapes, as you would in a game editor, and then use a text prompt to turn it into a detailed volumetric scene.

With the subscription, Marble outputs support interactive editing, expanding, and the ability to combine multiple worlds together. And you can export as a high-quality traditional 3D mesh, though this takes multiple hours of conversion time.

Because of the unique capability set of Marble, World Labs describes it as a "first-in-class generative multimodal world model".

On the Marble web app you can generate your own scenes for free, and view the output in VR via WebXR using the web browser of your headset.

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UploadVR testing Marble with a single image of the Steam Dev Days 2014 VR room.

Trying out Marble on Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, by turning a single image of the Steam Dev Days 2014 VR room into a volumetric scene, I found the quality to be noticeably inferior to Meta's Hyperscape worlds and Varjo Teleport, more akin to (but notably better than) Niantic Scaniverse. While the details directly brought in from your input image are relatively detailed, the further away you move from this, the more typical Gaussian splat visual artifacts you'll see.

And of course, the elephant in the room here is that details beyond the image frame are hallucinated, so will be very different from what was actually there behind the camera, unless you provide multiple input images.

Still, the limitations aside, the ability to generate volumetric scenes in minutes from a single image or sentence is remarkable, and that you can then edit them with a combination of an editor UI and natural language is even more so.

Further, the ability to then export these scenes as traditional 3D worlds, with geometric steerability via Chisel, seems like it could have huge potential for VR developers to build environments for their interactive apps and games.

You can try out Marble at marble.worldlabs.ai. Note that if you don't pay, any scenes you create will be publicly listed. You'll need the $20/month subscription to create a private scene, alongside unlocking the more advanced creation, editing, and export features.

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Leo Says 83 – Nvidia, OpenAI & Rising RAM Prices: The Hidden Story

Here at KitGuru we know you are sick of hearing about AI, however we have more bad news in this episode of Leo Says and it's all about the impact of AI. The shock is that Nvidia only has a minor part in this particular drama with the spotlight falling on Sam Altman of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

Previously we have blamed Nvidia for the runaway price of gaming graphics cards and now we can point the finger at OpenAI as we tell you about horrible, terrible and shocking things that are happening in the memory market where the cost of DDR5 has doubled in just the past two months.

Kitguru says: We are used to surges and pricing cycles but this time it feels different and we have a strong feeling that things won't change for the better in 2026 and may persist through 2027. Buckle up, it's going to get rough

The post Leo Says 83 – Nvidia, OpenAI & Rising RAM Prices: The Hidden Story first appeared on KitGuru.
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MSI slashes laptop prices for Black Friday this week

We've covered many of MSI's Black Friday deals so far, focussed around monitors and DIY PC hardware. Today, MSI rolled out its list of laptop deals, cutting prices across gaming and business-oriented models.

Then MSI Prestige 14 AI Studio laptop is down from £1,399 to £979, packing an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of DDR5 memory and an RTX 3050 laptop GPU. For something with a bit more gaming grunt, there is the MSI Thin 15 with its 144Hz display, 13th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and RTX 4050 GPU, giving you access to more modern features like DLSS Frame Generation in supported titles. Normally, this model goes for £999 but is now down to £599.

The MSI Vector 16 HX AI houses a 16″ 16:10 QHD+ 240Hz display, an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti for £1,499, down from its usual £1,899 price. For a cheaper option, the MSI Cyborg 15 Gaming Laptop has an Intel i7-13620H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 for £939.99.

If you are after a laptop with a current-gen GPU, then this newer MSI Cyborg 15 model with an RTX 5060 GPU instead is currently down to £1,049.

These are just a handful of the best deals, if you shop around at retailers like Currys, SCAN, Overclockers UK and even CyberPowerPC, you'll find a host of models at a discount for the next week or so.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up a new gaming laptop during the Black Friday sales this week?

The post MSI slashes laptop prices for Black Friday this week first appeared on KitGuru.
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Microsoft rolls out Xbox Full Screen Experience preview for Windows 11 PCs

Microsoft has released the first public preview build of the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE), expanding its availability beyond handheld devices. The feature, previously limited to sub-10-inch displays like the ROG Xbox Ally X, is now officially accessible for testing on traditional desktops, laptops, and tablets via the Xbox Insider program.

The Full Screen Experience is designed with console-style navigation in mind, transforming the standard Windows 11 desktop into a streamlined, controller-first environment. Microsoft states that this mode also pauses background maintenance activities and mutes notifications to ensure consistent frame delivery. Furthermore, running FSE instead of the standard Windows Explorer shell can reportedly save approximately up to 2GB of system memory.

Once the FSE is enabled in Windows Settings, the interface can be accessed via Task View, Game Bar settings, or by pressing Windows key + F11. To access the official preview, users must be enrolled in both the Xbox Insider Program and the Windows Insider Program (Dev and Beta Channels). To join the Windows Insider and Xbox Insider programs, you first need to sign up for the Xbox Insider Program and install and open the Xbox Insider Hub application. In the app, go to Previews > Preview of PC Games, then select Join. Moreover, you'll also have to sign up for the Windows Insider Program and join the beta or dev channels.

The functionality is rolling out gradually with the latest Windows 11 preview release, 26220.7271. Microsoft expects that the Xbox Full Screen Experience will be rolled out to all Windows 11 users sometime next year.

KitGuru says: Are you interested in the new Xbox Full Screen Experience? Will you try it out while it's still in beta, or wait for the full release?

The post Microsoft rolls out Xbox Full Screen Experience preview for Windows 11 PCs first appeared on KitGuru.
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Nvidia launches GeForce Now ‘Fast Pass’ tier exclusive to Chromebooks

Google and Nvidia have teamed up to introduce the GeForce Now Fast Pass, a new cloud gaming subscription tier built exclusively for Chromebook owners. The service offers access to over 2,000 “Ready-to-Play” titles from users' existing game libraries (Steam, Epic, Xbox, etc.), and every new Chromebook purchase now includes a one-year subscription for you to try it out.

The Fast Pass is positioned as a significant upgrade over the existing free service. It eliminates pre-roll advertisements and grants priority server access, allowing Chromebook users to skip the potentially long waiting queues often associated with the free plan. The service connects users to Nvidia's GeForce RTX servers, although not the latest RTX 5080 servers. The service also tops out at 1080p/60FPS at this tier, while Ultimate members get access to more resolution and frame rate options.

However, the new tier does come with a strict usage cap. Fast Pass members are limited to 10 hours of cloud gaming per month. While up to five unused hours can be carried over to the following month, this limitation positions the tier as a casual gaming supplement rather than a replacement for paid plans. For comparison, Nvidia's higher-tier subscriptions, which start at $9.99 per month, offer up to 100 hours of monthly playtime.

Neither company has confirmed the pricing of the Fast Pass outside of the one-year Chromebook bundle.

KitGuru says: Do you think this new tier will convince more gamers to get a Chromebook?

The post Nvidia launches GeForce Now ‘Fast Pass’ tier exclusive to Chromebooks first appeared on KitGuru.
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Microsoft acknowledges Windows 11 File Explorer lag

The slow performance of the Windows 11 File Explorer has been a complaint since the operating system's debut. Microsoft has finally addressed this fundamental shortcoming, though the solution is less an architectural fix and more a clever workaround.

Microsoft (via Windows Central) has officially acknowledged the performance problems and is testing a solution in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, specifically 26220.7271. The key change is that File Explorer will now be preloaded into memory by default when the system boots or is idle. This keeps the necessary components resident in RAM, drastically reducing the “cold start” latency experienced when the user clicks the taskbar icon.

The company's motivation for this brute-force fix is clear: users often compare the sluggish start to the near-instantaneous file managers found in competing operating systems, with many pointing out that the problem did not exist in Windows 10. The performance degradation is widely attributed to the blending of modern XAML and WinUI components with the older Win32 shell, which supposedly creates unnecessary initialisation overhead.

While the fix should provide a snappy, near-instant launch, it has been met with skepticism, as some argue it masks the root cause of the inefficiency in how File Explorer was programmed. For users concerned about the permanent memory footprint, Microsoft has included a user-facing option in File Explorer's Folder Options to disable background preloading. The feature is expected to roll out to all Windows 11 users in a future update next year.

KitGuru says: Have you ever felt File Explorer was slow? Will you enable this option when your system supports it, or would you prefer to have more free memory?

The post Microsoft acknowledges Windows 11 File Explorer lag first appeared on KitGuru.
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Chieftec’s latest mATX case looks like a subwoofer

Chieftec has introduced a new Micro-ATX chassis, The Cube, that draws design inspiration from large audio speakers. As the name suggests, the case sports a minimalist, boxy design, with its signature look provided by a large circular front vent covered in breathable fabric, reminiscent of a subwoofer. 

The Chieftec The Cube is a compact 34.1-liter enclosure that measures 385 x 265 x 355mm (DxWxH). Despite its size, the case offers solid component compatibility, including support for mATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. There's also space for graphics cards up to 335mm long and CPU coolers up to 160mm tall. The chassis also supports standard ATX power supplies up to 160mm long (depending on whether internal drive bays are used). For storage, the system can house two 3.5-inch HDDs and two 2.5-inch SSDs simultaneously.

The unique front design houses a single 200mm PWM fan that comes pre-installed, ensuring high-volume, quiet airflow. The top of the chassis supports additional cooling, including up to two 120mm fans (or a single 200mm fan) or a 240mm liquid cooling radiator. There's also space for a 120mm fan at the rear.

The connectivity panel is located above the front grille and features dual USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and audio jacks. The case is currently available only in black. The product is already available in the EU, priced at approximately €70.

KitGuru says: The case looks interesting and could certainly pass for a subwoofer, although we do wonder if the fabric covering the vent may restrict airflow. 

The post Chieftec’s latest mATX case looks like a subwoofer first appeared on KitGuru.
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Latest Hitman elusive target mission puts Agent 47 up against Eminem

Last month, IO Interactive made headlines with its latest HITMAN elusive target mission, bringing legendary martial artist Bruce Lee into the game. Now, IO Interactive has a new target for Agents to take out, the one and only Slim Shady.

Eminem vs Slim Shady is the latest elusive target contract for HITMAN: World of Assassination. The new mission will see players take on a mission from the rapper himself, as he looks to put his Slim Shady persona to rest for good. The mission takes place in a reworked version of an existing Hitman map, but rearranged to look like an asylum, complete with a radio broadcasting studio, all littered with references to past Eminem albums. Yes, that does include a poisoned plate of Mom's Spaghetti.

IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak called the collaboration “something truly special and unique”. Better yet, the mission will be free to all owners of the game across PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles, as well as PC, mobile platforms and even the VR versions of the game.

Eminem is the latest in a growing list of celebrity cameos within Hitman. We recently, saw Bruce Lee added to the game, but other past appearances have included Sean Bean, Jean‑Claude Van Damme, Conor McGregor and more.

KitGuru Says: Will you be checking out the new elusive target mission in Hitman?

The post Latest Hitman elusive target mission puts Agent 47 up against Eminem first appeared on KitGuru.
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Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked Review: A Natural Crossover

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a mostly natural crossover and a fitting evolution for the VR tabletop RPG. Read on for our full review.

Resolution Games created something special with the original Demeo, offering a compelling social VR experience with the turn-based dungeon crawler. Though it gradually evolved through post-launch updates, the initial release was rather bare and it's a testament to the concept's replayability that I'd keep coming back for more. Four years later, Demeo x D&D takes its potential even further.

The Facts

What is it?: An official crossover between Demeo and Dungeons & Dragons that supports up to four players with cross-platform multiplayer.
Platforms: Quest, PC VR, PS VR2 (Reviewed on Quest 3)
Release Date: Out now
Developer/Publisher: Resolution Games
Price: $29.99

Demeo x D&D delivers that same moreish strategy with a more refined package, boasting two sizable campaigns that took my party roughly six hours each to beat. There's considerably more here than what the original Demeo offered at launch, so you'll be busy for a fair while. Using Wizards of the Coast's famous Forgotten Realms setting across Neverwinter and Icewind Dale is an undeniably great fit.

For the unfamiliar, Demeo emulates the tabletop experience by giving you figurines for each character that you can physically move across tile-based maps; hand-tracking controls remain supported on Quest, though controllers offer better precision. Co-location is also pleasingly available on Meta's headset too, letting your whole party sit around the same digital board together.

This time, Resolution's swapped the basement setting for a more modern second-floor room. You've got that same freedom to change your board positioning with minimal fuss, while artwork for the first game's campaigns gives your background environment some nostalgic decoration. Getting up close with each map shows crisp visuals on Quest 3, bringing the digital tabletop fantasy to life well.

Screenshot taken by UploadVR on Quest 3

Like before, movement and skills work well with this turn-based strategy card battler. You have two action points per turn and some ability cards, like healing potions and poison antidotes, can be freely used if you've got points left, since turns automatically end when you run out. Movement, attacks, and more powerful abilities require one point, forcing you to consider each move carefully. Watching your carefully planned strategies pay off feels quite rewarding, though you still need to roll the dice to land a hit. Crits and fails haven't gone anywhere.

Six character classes are currently available with unique moves, offering familiar choices between a fighter, paladin, sorcerer, rogue, ranger, and bard. It's well balanced, as each class comes with its own strengths and drawbacks; setting off fireballs as the sorcerer never gets old with crowd control, nor does the paladin smiting his foes into oblivion in delightfully over-the-top fashion.

They could benefit from a greater range of voice lines, though; there are only so many times a bard can use the same vicious mockery insults before they get stale, even with decent voice acting. I'd like to see some wider options for character creation, too. Much of the joy in D&D comes from creating your own heroes, but right now, you're stuck with limited cosmetic adjustments using the existing base character for each class.

Comfort

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked uses a third-person, tabletop perspective, making this a comfortable game to play for newcomers or anyone susceptible to motion sickness. As such, many common comfort options aren't here because they aren't necessary.

Moving across the board is done by hitting one of your controller's triggers and pulling yourself to a location, while rotating the board requires doing this with both hands. Hand tracking support is available exclusively on Quest, though I found controllers to be more precise throughout. Steam and PS5 also have optional flatscreen modes.

Out of the few options here, a vignette can be activated while moving. Quest also supports mixed reality, letting you play off a digital board while viewing your real-world surroundings.

Battles remain challenging, though usually not overwhelmingly so like it could sometimes feel before. Enemies don't spawn nearly as often in Demeo x D&D. You often need to find the way out or defeat the boss, collecting gold to buy new cards along the way from the local bazaar or after individual stages in longer dungeons. My co-op partner and our two hirelings - we each controlled one of these extra characters - only really struggled as we reached the first campaign's end.

It's worth clearing out all the enemies and clearing side quests, as you'll gradually earn more XP that unlocks new abilities, and you pick one of three options from three separate categories each time. That's based on your chosen class and primary/secondary abilities you hold proficiency in, such as strength or constitution. This delivers useful upgrades like extra hit points, less damage from specific attacks, healing if you kill enemies, and more.

Screenshot taken by UploadVR on Quest 3

You can also reuse previous characters too, giving some nice continuity for these otherwise standalone campaigns. What's slightly annoying is that hirelings don't level up with you, which leaves you disadvantaged in a campaign's later stages if you're playing solo or without a full team of four. This leaves some of your party stuck at level one and that gradually feels more unbalanced as you progress, so I'd love to see Resolution address this in a future update. Days after launch, I'm also encountering connection issues that keep interrupting games even after the hotfix. Infrequent enough that it's not a major issue, though no less annoying when it does happen. At least you can jump back into a session easily enough.

This is roughly the extent of D&D's gameplay influence here, since ability checks are mostly limited to one-off actions that only have a marginal impact. Battles often limit this to avoiding obstacles or traps, while outside of combat throws in a few choices with NPCs - usually with side quests - on how best to deal with enemies. You can't choose a specific character to handle checks either, meaning you're stuck using the party leader or whoever activated an event. Perfectly fine with traps but for story situations, continuously failing rolls can get frustrating when another party member is proficient with the required checks.

How Does It Compare On Steam & PS VR2?

For the majority of this review, my co-op partners hosted a game in flatscreen mode on Steam while I joined via Quest 3 natively. However, I've dived in a couple of times on both PS VR2 and SteamVR as well, connecting to the latter with my Quest 3.

Minus the Quest-specific features (mixed reality, hand tracking, and co-location support), I can't really say I've noticed much difference when playing across PS VR2 and Steam beyond a perceived resolution increase. Everything works well and for PC VR, I encountered no issues with either Virtual Desktop or Steam Link via Quest 3.

For reference, my desktop uses an Intel i9 16-Core Processor i9-12900 (Up to 5.1GHz), 32GB RAM - Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz, and a 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super. You can find the minimum and recommended specs on the Steam page to learn more.

Battlemarked largely sticks to the original Demeo's established mechanics with the appropriate Dungeons & Dragons set dressing, which feels fitting enough and evolves upon the original game well. But it's these moments where I believe Resolution could take slightly better advantage of what such a crossover can provide.

I'm not expecting Baldur's Gate 3 levels of branching narrative, but Dungeons & Dragons is all about theater of the mind. A good DM won't just let anything fly; an even better one will give you choices while subtly guiding you on a certain path. Choosing a DM-less system is understandable given the base game it's working from, though I'd love to see more meaningful story choices beyond some side quests. What's here is a deliberately simplified take on Wizards of the Coast's tabletop hit, though I'm still having a great time with friends.

Screenshot taken by UploadVR on Quest 3

Demeo x D&D is a great way to introduce newcomers to the Forgotten Realms that's highly enjoyable for more veteran players of both. Returning to these iconic locations in a new way continues to intrigue me, scratching an itch I've had since leaving my regular Dungeons & Dragons campaign two years ago. Progress saves as you advance, and reaching each chapter's end ultimately feels worth it for that sense of accomplishment.

I can only hope it'll be a similar story when Resolution Games begins releasing additional campaigns via future DLC. Given the lengthier nature of Embers of Chaos and Crown of Frost, I'm hopeful for what comes next. As an added touch, unlocking lengthier missions as one-shot dungeons upon completing them is a welcome touch for those of us after something a little more brief.

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked - Final Verdict

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a fitting evolution that's both newcomer-friendly and expands upon the original Demeo well. This crossover packs more expansive campaigns, better difficulty balancing with enemy spawns, lovely visuals, and a greater story focus that better complements these gameplay systems.

I do wish this offered a little more gameplay freedom to better fit D&D. Further narrative freedom would leave your decisions feeling more impactful, leveling up hirelings would help solo players, and I'd love a more expansive custom character creator. Still, Demeo x D&D gets a strong recommendation from me and if you enjoyed Resolution's older hit, you'll feel right at home here.


UploadVR uses a 5-Star rating system for our game reviews – you can read a breakdown of each star rating in our review guidelines.

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Meta Faces Scrutiny As Senators Link Facebook & Instagram To Billions In Scam Ad Revenue

Meta Faces Scrutiny As Senators Link Facebook & Instagram To Billions In Scam Ad Revenue Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal, two U.S. senators, have asked the FTC and SEC to probe Meta over an estimated $16 billion in scam ad revenue in 2024. A letter from the two to the agencies stated, "The FTC and SEC should immediately open investigations and, if the reporting is accurate, pursue vigorous enforcement action where appropriate,"
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AMD Zyphra GPU Cluster Gives Birth To ZAYA 1 MoE AI Model, Smokes Llama3.1

AMD Zyphra GPU Cluster Gives Birth To ZAYA 1 MoE AI Model, Smokes Llama3.1 AMD is in a celebratory mood after AI research firm Zyphra successfully trained its cutting-edge, large-scale Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) model, ZAYA1, entirely on AMD’s accelerated computing platform, which consists of Instinct MI300X GPUs, Pensando Pollara 400 networking hardware, and the ROCm software stack. What are MoEs, exactly? You
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Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite X Ice Review

If you're considering a value-conscious Intel system and want a good-looking motherboard with all the trimmings for around $200, then Gigabyte has a gem here with great connectivity and cooling, especially if you're building a white PC.

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Les Mills XR Dance Steps Onto Steam Next Month

Fitness experience Les Mills XR Dance gets a PC VR release next month.

Developed by Odders Lab, Les Mills XR Dance is a fitness program that features over 40 dance routines, one that partners with EDM record label Monstercat for the soundtrack. Featuring five different presenters and four difficulty levels, it's choreographed for different music styles like pop, club, and more. First released on Quest two years ago, a new Steam page confirms it's heading to PC VR soon.

Since that initial release in 2023, Les Mills XR Dance has received numerous post-launch content updates that appear to be included straight away on Steam. New updates have slowed down across the last year, though previous patches added new workouts, a playlist feature, more beginner-focused sessions, further difficulty levels, and more.

This also follows April's PC VR release for Les Mills XR Bodycombat, and Odders Lab recently released the Focus Mode DLC for its older title on both Steam and PlayStation VR2. Already available on Quest, it introduced a Space Station environment, eight new workouts, and premium futuristic cosmetics.

Les Mills XR Dance is out now on the Meta Quest platform and Pico, while the Steam release will follow this December.

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Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deal With AMD Ryzen & RTX GPU Drops To $549

Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deal With AMD Ryzen & RTX GPU Drops To $549 There's a lot of chatter and speculation about how much Valve's upcoming Steam Machine will cost, and there's the recent price hikes on game consoles. If you're a gamer, it can be tough sledding. However, Black Friday is the great equalizer. We've already seen plenty of PlayStation 5 deals, including both console hardware and things like games
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Valve drops more hints on Steam Machine’s PC-like pricing

While Valve has still not announced exact prices for its upcoming hardware launches, members of the hardware team have been dropping some hints. After confirming that the Steam Machine will not be priced ‘like a console', two Valve workers have now added that PC gamers should expect pricing in line to a DIY PC of a similar performance level. 

After telling LinusTechTips that the Steam Machine will not be positioned as a console competitor price-wise, two Valve workers also appeared on the Friends Per Second podcast last week, adding a bit more clarification to Valve's thinking when it comes to price.

“If you build a PC from parts and get to basically the same level of performance, that’s the general price window that we aim to be at”.

They added that “obviously, our goal is for it to be a good deal at that level of performance”, so Valve won't be marking it up like we often see in the pre-built PC business. However, the Steam Machine will not be a ‘subsidised' device like consoles often are, where companies like Sony and Microsoft eat a portion of the hardware cost to get people on the platform, and then make up that money by taking a cut of software sales.

Valve does take a cut of everything sold on Steam, so it isn't like Valve couldn't do this. However, it is currently a tricky time in the hardware world due to AI corporations buying up all available supply to feed massive datacentres, leaving little left for the consumer electronics market. As a result, it is expected that certain devices, like the Xbox Series X/S consoles, will soon go up in price again due to rising memory costs. It is possible that this on-going uncertainty is why Valve hasn't nailed down a price point already.

KitGuru Says: Given everything we know so far, how much are you expecting the Steam Machine to cost? At this point, my guess would be anywhere between $800 and $999. 

The post Valve drops more hints on Steam Machine’s PC-like pricing first appeared on KitGuru.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 1 release date officially announced

While the team at Treyarch have made a ton of positive changes with the launch of Black Ops 7, the Call of Duty name is currently far from its peak, with the highly successful launch of Battlefield 6 serving as an interesting point of contrast. Even so, Treyarch have been teasing that Black Ops 7 will have a massive Season 1, with the post-launch update officially set to arrive in a little over a week’s time.

Even prior to the official launch of Black Ops 7, Treyarch began to tease their content roadmap for the game’s first Season, confirming a number of upcoming additions including:

  • 6 new multiplayer maps
  • 7 additional weapons
  • New main Zombies map (Astra Malorum)
  • Two Zombies Survival maps (Exit 115 and Zarya Cosmodrome)

Black Ops 7 Season 1

While we have yet to receive the full entire roadmap, the team have started to offer some more details, taking to Twitter to confirm that Season 1 will officially launch on the 4th of December.

As mentioned, Call of Duty is in a bit of an awkward spot right now. While Black Ops 7 is in many ways objectively one of the best Call of Duty entries in recent years, sentiment surrounding the franchise as a whole has fallen off a cliff somewhat.

As such, it will be interesting to see whether “the biggest Season 01 ever” will be enough to shift the general sentiment. We won’t have to wait long to find out.

KitGuru says: Have you been playing Black Ops 7? What do you think so far? Can Black Ops 7 win back jaded fans? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 1 release date officially announced first appeared on KitGuru.
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Long-rumoured Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake reportedly launching in March

Back in early 2024, a rumour first popped up claiming that Ubisoft had greenlit the development of an Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake. Since then, we’ve heard various bits and bobs surrounding the project – including the extent to which they plan to alter the game’s overall formula. Though still yet to be officially announced, insiders have claimed that AC’s Black Flag Remake is slated to arrive in just a few months.

As reported by known industry leakers Insider-Gaming, the long-rumoured yet-still-unannounced Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake could be arriving in just a few months time – more specifically before the end of March 2026.

This follows on from comments by Ubisoft themselves who recently revealed that they have an unannounced project scheduled to arrive before the end of the fiscal year (aka. the 31st of March 2026).

Going into slightly more depth, the leakers stated that this Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake is “scheduled to release the week of March 23rd” (most likely on Tuesday or Friday).

Black Flag Remake

As mentioned, this is far from the first time we’ve heard of a Black Flag remake, with previous reports claiming that quite a few changes are being made, including but not limited to:

  • Removing all of the modern day elements from the game
  • Edward having his own loot and gear stats
  • Combat being less ‘choreographed’ than the original
  • A more dense map with fewer loading screens

Of course, we will have to wait for an official announcement before jumping to conclusions. That said, given how close the remake seemingly is to its release, we might finally get an unveiling during this year’s Game Awards.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the Black Flag remake? Can it live up to the original? What are your thoughts on the leaked details so far? Let us know down below.

The post Long-rumoured Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake reportedly launching in March first appeared on KitGuru.
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AMD Reportedly Tells ASUS, Gigabyte & Other GPU Partners To Brace For A Price Hike 

AMD Reportedly Tells ASUS, Gigabyte & Other GPU Partners To Brace For A Price Hike  It took a long while for pricing on modern generation graphics cards to finally stabilize, but unfortunately it may not last for long. Yet another warning of impending price hikes on AMD's Radeon GPUs is making the rounds and the reason is exactly what you think it is—rising memory costs as demand from the AI sector ravages chip supplies.
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AirPods 3 Pro & AirPods 4 Hit Lowest Price Ever On These Black Friday Deals

AirPods 3 Pro & AirPods 4 Hit Lowest Price Ever On These Black Friday Deals In case you missed it last week, Apple's AirPods Pro 3 saw a surprise discount ahead of Black Friday, bringing the latest-generation earbuds down to an all-time low price. It wasn't the discount in and of itself that was surprising, but how quickly it came about, given that the AirPods Pro 3 came out in September, supplanting the AirPods Pro
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Marvel's Deadpool VR Hits #1 In Quest Weekly Revenue Charts

Marvel's Deadpool VR is currently the top-earning game in the Quest weekly revenue charts.

Marking Meta's latest first-party title exclusive to Quest 3 and 3S, Marvel's Deadpool VR secured the top spot following last week's launch for $50. Developed by Twisted Pixel Games, this arcade-style action game sees you playing as the titular merc with a mouth after he's kidnapped by the supervillain Mojo. It currently sits at a 4.5-star rating on the Meta Horizon Store with 546 reviews.

Meta Horizon Store: Top-earning games this week by revenue as of November 24, 2025

This week's other big debut is Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked, an official crossover between Resolution Games' tabletop adventure from 2021 and Wizards of the Coast's fantasy hit. Featuring two campaigns with more to come, it's taken #4 in the weekly revenue charts following last week's multiplatform launch for $30, sitting at a 4.2-star rating after 224 reviews.

Otherwise, it's familiar names with UG sitting at #2 and Beat Saber close behind at #3. Animal Company at #5, respectively followed by Gorilla Tag, VRChat, Blade & Sorcery: Nomad, Yeeps, and PokerStars - Vegas Infinite to round out the top 10. Despite reaching #6 two weeks ago, Triangle Factory's 16v16 shooter Forefront has moved out of the top 10 but still charts at #13.

This list may evolve as the week goes on, and you can find the full charts here for more details on the top 50 weekly earners. We'll continue monitoring these standings as we approach the end of this year.

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