After delaying its debut by a year, Sports Interactive has given us our first look at the long-awaited new match engine for Football Manager 26. Built on the Unity engine, the visual overhaul for the football management series is substantial, resulting in a slight increase in the game's hardware requirements.

The first trailer showcasing the new engine reveals a much-needed graphical leap. Player animations appear far smoother and more realistic, and the new engine shows considerable improvements in the lighting effects, such as the realistic shadows cast by the stadium roof during a match. The game's official Premier League license is also on full display, with highly detailed kits that bring a new level of authenticity.

Of course, the big question for many has been how this new engine will impact performance on the traditionally easy-to-run title. While the minimum specs are still relatively low, allowing the game to run on ancient hardware like a Core i3-530 and a GTX 960, the recommended specs are a different matter. For a good experience, Sports Interactive recommends at least a Core i5-9600 or Ryzen 5 2600, 12 GB of RAM, and a graphics card such as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or an AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. The story is similar for laptops, with the recommended spec calling for an RTX 2060 Mobile or an RX 6600M. The detailed system requirements for Windows and Mac can be found below:

MINIMUM (1080p, low settings)

• Operating Systems (64-bit): Windows 10 (with updates 22H2), Windows 11 (with updates 23H2)
• Processor (requires SSE4.2 & SSSE3):
  • Desktop:
    • Intel Core i3-530
    • AMD FX-4100
  • Laptop:
    • Intel Core i3-330M
    • AMD A6-5200
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics (512 MB VRAM):
  • Desktop:
    • Nvidia GeForce GTX 960
    • AMD Radeon R9 380
    • Intel HD 530
  • Laptop:
    • Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M
    • AMD Radeon R9 M375
    • Intel HD 530
• DirectX: Version 11
• Hard Drive Space: 20 GB available space

RECOMMENDED (1080p, high settings)

• Operating Systems (64-bit): Windows 11 (with updates 23H2)
• Processor:
  • Desktop:
    • Intel Core i5-9600
    • AMD Ryzen 5 2600
  • Laptop:
    • Intel Core i5-1035G7
    • AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
• Memory: 12 GB RAM
• Graphics (1 GB VRAM):
  • Desktop:
    • Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
    • AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
  • Laptop:
    • Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile
    • AMD Radeon RX 6600M
• DirectX: Version 11
• Hard Drive Space: 20 GB available space

Mac Requirements

MINIMUM (1080p, low settings)

• Operating Systems (64-bit only and updated): 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia.
• Processor: Apple M1 or Intel Core M
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics:
  • Desktop:
    • Apple M1
    • Nvidia GeForce GT 750M
    • Intel HD Graphics 5000
    • AMD FirePro D300
  • Laptop:
    • Apple M1
    • Nvidia GeForce GT 750M
    • Intel HD Graphics 5000
• Hard Drive Space: 20 GB available space

RECOMMENDED (1080p, high settings)

• Operating Systems (64-bit only and updated): 13 Ventura, 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia
• Processor:
  • Apple M1
• Memory: 12 GB RAM
• Graphics (1 GB VRAM):
  • Apple M1
• Hard Drive Space: 20 GB available space

While no firm release date has been set, Football Manager 26 is expected to return to its traditional early-to-mid November launch window, with a beta arriving about two weeks beforehand.

KitGuru says: Will you return to Football Manager when FM26 is released? Is your system ready for it?

The post Football Manager 26 makes big visual changes, but PC requirements remain accessible first appeared on KitGuru.

Konami's long-awaited remake, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, has had quite a successful launch, but technical issues have somewhat soured the celebration. The publisher has announced that the game sold over one million copies on its launch day across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, despite players reporting significant performance issues.

Konami confirmed the sales milestone, which was achieved following the game's official release on August 28th. It's a clear sign that the series remains a massive draw for gamers, even without the involvement of its original creator, Hideo Kojima.

However, the launch has not been entirely smooth. Players on PC, PS5, and Xbox have been widely reporting performance problems since release, most notably significant frame rate dips and stuttering. The issues are prevalent enough that Konami has been forced to issue a statement, confirming that they are “currently investigating the causes and working on a patch to resolve these problems”, though no timeline for the fix has been provided.

This puts the launch in a bittersweet position. The incredible sales figures all but guarantee a bright future for the Metal Gear franchise at Konami, which will likely encourage the publisher to continue investing in it. For now, though, many of the million-plus players who have already bought the game are waiting patiently for a patch to bring the performance up to the standard they expect.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried the Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater remake? How was your experience?

The post Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater remake sold one million copies on launch day first appeared on KitGuru.

It's a sad time for handheld gaming fans, as the Nintendo 3DS era has now officially come to a complete close. This week, Nintendo officially ended its repair service for the New Nintendo 2DS XL, the last and final model in the beloved console family to be supported by the company.

The end of service, which took effect on September 4th, was not unexpected, but Nintendo has now made it official. In a statement, the company confirmed that the shutdown is due to the depletion of parts inventory required for repairs, meaning the company can no longer offer licensed repairs.

This is the final nail in the coffin for the 3DS line, a process that has been happening over several years. The digital eShop, which was home to numerous exclusive titles, was shut down in March 2023. This was followed by the termination of general online services for multiplayer gaming in April 2024. The end of the repair service for the final model now marks the official end of all first-party support for the platform.

The Nintendo 3DS family, with its unique glasses-free 3D screen and extensive library of classic games, will go down in history as one of the most successful handheld consoles ever made. While owners will now have to rely on third-party repair shops to keep their consoles running, the console's legacy will live on.

KitGuru says: Do you still own a Nintendo 2DS XL? Is it still running well?

The post Nintendo halts support for 2DS XL, effectively ending the 3DS era first appeared on KitGuru.

Lenovo has unveiled its latest high-end gaming displays at IFA 2025, introducing a new trio of Legion Pro monitors featuring “PureSight” QD-OLED panels. The new lineup includes two 4K high-refresh-rate models and a QHD option, all boasting the rapid response times and stunning image quality that QD-OLED technology is known for.

Leading the charge is the Lenovo Legion Pro 32UD-10, a 31.5-inch gaming monitor with a 4K (3840×2160) resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate. A smaller 26.5-inch model, the Legion Pro 27UD-10, joins it, packing the same 4K resolution and 240 Hz refresh rate into a more compact frame, resulting in a very high pixel density. For those who prioritise raw speed, there's also the Legion Pro 27Q-10, a 26.5-inch QHD (2560×1440) model that runs at 280 Hz.

All three monitors are built for gamers, featuring a 0.03 ms response time, 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour spectrum, and support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA Adaptive Sync. They are also certified for HDR TrueBlack 400, ensuring deep blacks and high contrast. Moreover, the 4K models are both ClearMR 13000-certified, while the 27Q-10 is ClearMR 15000-certified.

Regarding connectivity, the product sheets list DisplayPort 1.4 as an option for all models. That means that using this option, users may not be able to drive the 4K@240Hz and 2K@280Hz signals without DSC (Display Stream Compression). Alternatively, the monitors have HDMI 2.1 ports, which can drive a 2K@280Hz signal without DSC, but not the 4K@240Hz ones. Each monitor also features a USB hub with various USB ports (27Q-10 only has USB-A), Lenovo Artery software compatibility, VESA mount support (100 x 100 mm), and console mode.

The new monitors feature a stylish, compact stand with tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment capabilities. The Legion Pro 27UD-10 is set to launch in October for €859, followed by the flagship 32UD-10 at €899 and the QHD 27Q-10 at €599 in November.

KitGuru says: Which of these three upcoming Lenovo Legion Pro monitors do you prefer?

The post Lenovo unveils trio of Legion Pro OLED gaming monitors first appeared on KitGuru.

Machine Games impressed greatly with Wolfenstein: The New Order and its sequel. Unfortunately, the story of B.J. Blazkowicz has been on pause since the 2017 release of Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, but the studio may finally be ready to wrap up its planned trilogy.

Over the past few years, much of Machine Games has been working on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. That game turned out to be incredible, offering some of the best visuals in all of gaming, along with fun adventure gameplay with a little bit of combat thrown in. However, a return to Wolfenstein is still on the table.

As spotted by Insider Gaming, recently the NoClip YouTube channel posted a documentary focused on Wolfenstein. In the doc, game director, Jerk Gustaffson, explained that Wolfenstein: The New Order was supposed to be the start of a trilogy. Machine Games had always planned to tell the story of B.J. Blazkowicz over three games, and it sounds like that third game may finally get made. Here is the relevant quote from the video:

“I think this is important to say, because we have always seen this as a trilogy. So that journey, for B.J., even during those first weeks at id when we mapped out New Order, we still had the plan for, at least, that character; What will happen in the second one, what will happen in the third one. I think that’s important to say, because – at least, I hope – that we’re not done with Wolfenstein yet. We have a story to tell.”

The quote is not an announcement, or confirmation that Wolfenstein 3 is even in active development, but with work on Indiana Jones now wrapped up with the release of its new expansion, there could be time and resources up for grabs to start a third Wolfenstein project.

Based on this statement, it does seem that previous rumours about Wolfenstein 3 were incorrect. Prior to the announcement of Indiana Jones, a number of known games industry insiders made the claim that Wolfenstein 3 was in development, but this statement makes it pretty clear that while there were plans for a third game at one point, it never actually went into production.

KitGuru Says: Did you play Wolfenstein The New Order and The New Colossus? Would you like to see a third game all these years later?

The post Machine Games confirms Wolfenstein 3 was planned before pivot to Indiana Jones first appeared on KitGuru.

It's been two years since the launch of the AMD AM5 motherboard platform and the 600-series motherboards. Since its launch, the platform has seen the launch of several CPUs in the Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, and Ryzen 9000 families. While the 600-series motherboards provide great features & compatibility with newer Zen 5 CPUs, motherboard makers are always looking to enhance user experiences through the latest technologies, which is why AMD has introduced a new chipset line called the 800-series. The first wave of AMD 800-series motherboards (X870E & X870) hit shelves last year with the Ryzen 9000 series, & these […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/asrock-b850-challenger-wifi-motherboard-review-strong-value-option-for-amd-ryzen-builders-with-12-phase-vrm-wifi-7-at-179/

August was a big month for Helldivers 2, as Arrowhead welcomed a whole new platform to the ranks. Helldivers 2 is now out on Xbox consoles for the first time and so far, it appears to be a massive hit. 

Alinea Analytics shared their list of the most downloaded games in August 2025, finding that Helldivers 2 had been downloaded by almost a million players during its first six days on the Xbox platform. This is even bigger than the initial PS5 launch for the game, where over 600K players downloaded the game in the first week, as noted by Gamerant.

Of course, the Xbox launch had the benefit of arriving much later. This gave gamers on other platforms plenty of time to experience the game and spread positive word of mouth, whereas when Helldivers 2 first launched on PS5 and PC, it was pretty much an ‘unknown' game. Despite being a sequel, Helldivers 2 is an entirely different game to the original, evolving from an isometric twin-stick shooter to a full, third-person action game.

The Xbox launch of the game was also cross promoted by Microsoft with the addition of a HALO themed warbond, the Helldivers version of a battle pass, containing cosmetics earnable by playing the game. Helldivers is also one of the few titles to offer ‘forever' battle passes, allowing players to catch up and removing all elements of FOMO from the equation.

KitGuru Says: Did any of you pick up Helldivers 2 for the first time on Xbox last week? 

The post Helldivers 2 reached nearly 1 million players on Xbox in first week first appeared on KitGuru.

Borderlands 4 is less than a week away at this point. For those eager to get in as soon as their pre-order unlocks, Gearbox has now finalised its launch-day plans, revealing global launch times for the game on all platforms. Interestingly, PC players will get in hours earlier than those on console. 

Technically, the ‘launch time' for Borderlands 4 is 12:00AM on September 12th for all time zones. However, this only applies to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users. Those on PC will get access hours earlier, starting at 5PM on September 11th in the UK for both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Here is the full list of unlock times for Borderlands 4 on Steam and Epic Games Store:

• Wellington, New Zealand – Sept 12 at 4:00 AM NZST
• Sydney, Australia – Sept 12 at 2:00 AM AEST
• Tokyo, Japan – Sept 12 at 1:00 AM JST
• Singapore – Sept 12 at 12:00 AM SGT
• London, UK – Sept 11 at 5:00 PM BST
• New York, NY, USA – Sept 11 at 12:00 PM ET
• San Francisco, CA, USA – Sept 11 at 9:00 AM PT

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game arrives a few weeks later, on October 3rd. The game will unlock at 12AM in your local time zone on that date. The only exception is US Pacific Time, where the game unlocks at 9PM the evening before, lining up with the game's 12AM launch on the East Coast. This timing also applies to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Those who pre-order any edition of Borderlands 4 will also get the Gilded Glory Pack at launch, as well as four pieces of Legendary Gear and an extra Vault Hunter Head cosmetic.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Borderlands 4 next week? 

The post Borderlands 4 global unlock times announced – PC players get early access first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, LC-Power lifted the lid on yet another impressive monitor in its arsenal, the LC-M27UFD. This is a 27″ flatscreen monitor with Dual Mode functionality, enabling higher resolution at a lower refresh rate, or a lower resolution at a super charged 320Hz refresh rate, so you can take advantage of the screen real-estate that 4K resolution affords during work hours, and then switch to 320Hz mode when it is time to jump into some games.

The LC-M27UFD is equipped with a fast IPS non-glare panel. What truly sets this monitor apart is its dual-mode resolution capability, offering 4K at 160Hz, or 1080p at 320Hz, so you get the best of both worlds, all in one package. This is LC-Power's first monitor to reach such an extraordinary refresh rate. It's not all about extra smoothness though, a higher frame rate also lowers overall latency, so you'll get a small competitive edge in games that require quick actions from the player.

LC-Power has paid close attention to colour performance with this monitor too. It covers 95% Adobe RGB and DCI-P3, 99% sRGB, 90% NTSC and 75% BT.2020, making it a very accurate monitor, whether you are looking to make your content editing life easier, or if you just want your games to ‘pop' a bit more. The monitor also sports DisplayHDR 400 for brighter highlights, and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. Other features include 1ms OD response time, Adaptive Sync, Low Blue Light Technology, and Flicker-Free operation, as well as additional modes like Game Plus, Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture. If you want to hook up a console alongside your PC, then you'll be pleased to know that the monitor also has HDMI 2.1, so you'll get the full 4K/120Hz that the Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 all support.

The LC-M27UFD will be available soon, priced at £329 in the UK, or €339 in Europe. For peace of mind, the monitor is also backed by a three-year warranty.

KitGuru Says: We'll be reviewing this in the near future, so stay tuned for our in-depth analysis. Judging by the spec sheet and the price, it could be an incredible bargain. 

The post LC-Power’s new M27UFD monitor offers Dual Mode 4K and up to 320Hz for just £329 first appeared on KitGuru.

Gigabyte is getting in on the hardware game bundle action this month. For a limited time, anyone buying select Gigabyte graphics cards or gaming laptops will also receive a free copy of Borderlands 4, which has been garnering plenty of positive reception from early previews. 

If you buy a Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 TI or 5070, or a Gigabyte gaming laptop featuring one of those GPUs, you will also get a free copy of Borderlands 4. This also includes the AORUS line of graphics cards and laptops.

This bundle offer will be available until September 22nd and you will need to go through the redemption process before September 30th to receive your game code. You can find a list of eligible retailers for each region and full redemption instructions HERE.

Borderlands 4 officially launches on September 12th. However, PC players get early access starting on September 11th. You can see the full list of global launch times for the game HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up a new GPU or laptop upgrade this month? Will you be taking advantage of the free Borderlands 4 code? 

The post Gigabyte is offering up free copies of Borderlands 4 with GPUs and laptops first appeared on KitGuru.

Last year, PowerColor entered the gaming peripheral market with its new brand, Alphyn. The launch kicked off with two great products, the PowerColor Alphyn AM10 wireless mouse and the Alphyn AH10 wireless gaming headset. We gave both positive reviews when they launched at their initial MSRPs of £99 and £79, but now, you can get them for up to 40% off compared to launch.

The Alphyn AM10 is designed to deliver everything you need from a gaming mouse. From the classic ergonomic palm-grip shape to the ultra-high 8000Hz polling rate, ensuring minimal latency between your mouse clicks and the PC. Using a PAW3395 sensor, you'll get top-tier accuracy with up to 26,000 DPI and 650 IPS tracking, blending speed and precision.

The Alphyn AH10 also delivers in spades as far as features are concerned. It comes with three hardware-tuned audio modes – Theater, Gaming, and Music. Through the accompanying Keystone software, you can also access DTS-tuned audio profiles, or create your own personalised EQ settings, making it an ideal pick up for those who use their PC for all forms of media and entertainment.

As previously mentioned, the Alphyn AM10 mouse launched at £99 and the AH10 headset normally goes for £79. However, currently both have had their prices slashed at Overclockers UK, bringing the price down to £59.99 for the mouse (also available in white) and £59.99 for the headset.

KitGuru Says: Are you in the market for a new mouse or headset? How much are you looking to spend on peripheral upgrades?

The post PowerColor brings big discounts to Alphyn gaming peripherals first appeared on KitGuru.

Cougar has unveiled the FV150 Mini RGB, a new compact case that joins the popular trend of panoramic showcase chassis. Designed for Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX builds, this new case features a pillarless, dual-chamber design and is available in three colours: black, white, and pink.

Measuring 285 x 436 x 365mm, the FV150 Mini RGB offers a seamless panoramic view, achieved with tempered glass panels on the front and left side that meet without a corner pillar. This is paired with a dual-chamber layout that hides the PSU and storage drives behind the motherboard tray. The case also offers full support for rear-connector motherboards, allowing for a build with fewer visible cables in the main chamber.

Despite its compact size, the case offers some serious cooling potential. It supports up to a 360mm radiator in the top and a 280mm radiator on the side simultaneously. To get you started, Cougar includes three ARGB fans out of the box: one standard 120mm fan for rear exhaust and two 120mm reverse-blade fans for side intake.

There's plenty of room for high-end hardware too, including graphics cards up to 400mm long, CPU air coolers up to 170mm tall, and standard ATX PSUs up to 200mm long. The front I/O is also up to date, featuring a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a 3.5mm headset jack.

KitGuru says: Would you like to build a new PC inside one of these? 

The post Cougar launches compact FV150 Mini RGB PC case first appeared on KitGuru.

The Zotac RTX 5070 Solid is a great alternative to the NVIDIA Founders Edition. It comes at only a small price increase over MSRP, yet offers a good cooling experience with very quiet noise levels. Thanks to the compact dual-slot form factor it will fit into most cases easily.

Noctua has just updated its public product roadmap, providing a clearer, albeit slightly delayed, timeline for its most highly anticipated products. While there have been a few more shifts, we now have a firm release window for the company's first-ever AIO liquid cooler.

The roadmap (via Tom's Hardware) shows the closed-loop liquid cooler is now officially scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2026. The cooler is based on the Asetek G8 V2 platform but has been heavily customised by Noctua's engineers. These enhancements include the use of their new premium NF-A12x25 G2 or NF-A14x25 G2 fans, a custom pump-noise absorber, the high-end SecuFirm 2+ mounting kit, and a unique 80mm fan attachment on the pump block designed to provide direct airflow over the motherboard's VRMs.

On the air cooling front, the NH-D15 G2 chromax.black has been pushed back slightly from Q3 but is now slated to arrive in Q4 2025. Alongside it, Noctua is also expected to release the chromax.black versions of the NF-A14x25 G2(r) fans, allowing PC builders to create a complete cooling setup using Noctua's upcoming components.

The updated roadmap also indicates that the Noctua Editions of the Pulsar Feinman mouse and the Antec Flux Pro chassis have experienced a slight delay, as the company moved their release from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026. Lastly, in Q2 2026, Noctua plans to launch a new USB fan controller, a 140mm desk fan, and the Seasonic Prime PX HPD Noctua Edition PSU.

KitGuru says: Can Noctua mark its place in the AIO liquid cooler market as well as it did in the air cooling one?

The post Noctua will release its long-awaited AIO liquid cooler in 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.

It looks like Valve may be preparing to re-enter the living room hardware space, as new trademark filings suggest the company is working on a new console. A recently discovered submission to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) shows Valve has trademarked the name “Steam Frame”, and the description points directly to a spiritual successor to the original Steam Machine concept.

The evidence comes from two separate (1, 2) but related filings (via Reddit). The first one covers categories such as “computer hardware” and “streaming devices”, while the second is more specific, explicitly covering “computer game consoles” and “video game consoles”. Taken together, this strongly suggests the Steam Frame is not a peripheral but a standalone piece of hardware designed for gaming.

Assuming it will follow the same logic as the Steam Machines, the Steam Frame will be a dedicated, pre-built PC that boots directly into SteamOS. It would offer the same seamless, controller-first experience that has made the Steam Deck so successful, but optimised for your TV. It would be the realisation of the original Steam Machine dream, but this time backed by a much more refined version of SteamOS.

By leaving the portable form factor and its thermal constraints behind, a dedicated console could also house a significantly more powerful APU. This could enable Valve to target higher framerates and resolutions, which the Steam Deck is not designed for.

KitGuru says: A trademark filing is not a product announcement, and we should keep our expectations in check until we hear something official. However, this is the most concrete evidence yet that Valve is making a second attempt at establishing itself in the home console market.

The post Valve nears new hardware launch as Steam Frame trademark uncovered first appeared on KitGuru.

Bungie is in a bit of an odd spot currently, with the future of Marathon sitting in limbo while Destiny 2 seemingly continues to haemorrhage players on a consistent basis. That said, Destiny 2 is still trucking along, with the team at Bungie announcing that their next expansion – Renegades – will be shown off early next week.

Making the announcement via BlueSky, the team at Bungie confirmed the date for their next developer livestream, writing: “Join us next Tuesday, September 9, at 9 AM PT as our development team previews Destiny 2: Renegades and the new Ash & Iron Major Update.”

For the uninitiated Renegades will mark the second major expansion for 2025, following on from July’s Edge of Fate. Ash and Iron meanwhile serves as the mid-season refresh for The Edge of Fate expansion. The former is set to launch later this December, with the latter set to go live in the immediacy following the livestream.

As mentioned, neither Bungie nor Destiny 2 are in the greatest of spots currently, with the game teetering on the edge of having its lowest concurrent player count ever on Steam (sitting at just 20k CCU). That said, Renegades will be one of Destiny 2’s more curious expansions as it is being developed in partnership with LucasFilms, giving the expansion a heavy dose of Star Wars iconography.

Whether this will be enough to entice players to return, we will have to wait and see. That said, Bungie will need to offer more than just a Star Wars themed paint-job with the Renegades expansion if they wish to revive Destiny 2. We won’t have to wait long to find out what Bungie is planning.

KitGuru says: What are your thoughts on Destiny 2 in 2025? Can Renegades save the game? What do you think of the recent Light Level changes? Let us know down below.

The post Destiny 2 Renegades Expansion will be officially shown off next week first appeared on KitGuru.

Today's monitor may not be the newest kid on the block given it launched last year, but recent price cuts mean it is now offering a high refresh-rate 4K IPS panel for just a smidge over £300. I'm talking about the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCS, which also packs in a claimed 1ms response time, HDMI 2.1 connectivity and adaptive sync support. Let's see how it performs at this attractive price point.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:44 Pricing and product details
01:17 Design + build
02:10 I/O and OSD
03:39 Default panel performance
05:32 sRGB mode and calibration
06:46 Response time testing
08;34 Motion clarity
09:55 Real-world gaming experience
11:28 Closing thoughts

We had a lot of positive feedback following on from our AOC U27G4R review, given the combination of 4K resolution and 160Hz refresh for less than £300. Today's monitor isn't quite so cheap at around £319, but offering the same key specs and potentially some extra polish we associate with the ROG brand could see the XG27UCS come away a winner. Let's dive in and find out just how good it is.

Specification:

• Panel Size (inch): 27
• Pixels Per Inch (PPI): 163
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Display Viewing Area (H x V): 596.73 × 335.66 mm
• Display Surface: Anti-Glare
• Backlight Type: LED
• Panel Type: Fast IPS
• Viewing Angle (CR≧10, H/V): 178°/178°
• Pixel Pitch: 0.155mm
• Resolution: 3840×2160
• Color Space (sRGB): 130%
• Color Space (DCI-P3): 95%
• Brightness (HDR, Peak): 450 cd/㎡
• Brightness (Typ.): 400 cd/㎡
• Contrast Ratio (Typ.): 1000:1
• Display Colors: 1073.7M (10 bit)
• Response Time: 1ms (GTG)
• Refresh Rate (Max): 160Hz
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) Support: HDR10
• Flicker-free: Yes
• Trace Free Technology: Yes
• GameVisual: Yes
• Color Temp. Selection: Yes (8 modes)
• Color Adjustment: 6-axis adjustment (R,G,B,C,M,Y)
• Gamma Adjustment: Yes (Support Gamma 1.8/2.0/2.2/2.4/2.6)
• GamePlus: Yes
• HDCP: Yes, 2.3
• Extreme Low Motion Blur: Yes
• ELMB Sync: Yes
• VRR Technology: FreeSync & G-SYNC® Compatible
• GameFast Input technology: Yes
• Shadow Boost: Yes
• DisplayWidget: Yes, DisplayWidget Center
• Low Blue Light: Yes
• Multiple HDR Mode: Yes
• I/O Ports
  • USB-C: x1 (DP Alt Mode)
  • DisplayPort 1.4: x1
  • HDMI (v2.1): x1
  • Earphone Jack: Yes
  • USB-C Power Delivery: 15W
• Mechanical adjustment:
  • Tilt: Yes (+20° ~ -5°)
  • Swivel: Yes (+45° ~ -45°)
  • Pivot: Yes (+90° ~ -90°)
  • Height Adjustment: 0~120mm
• VESA Wall Mounting: 100x100mm
• Kensington Lock: Yes
• 1/4″ Tripod Socket: Yes

The post ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCS Review (Budget 4K/160Hz IPS) first appeared on KitGuru.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was one of Ubisoft’s more underrated titles in recent years, with the side-scrolling Metroidvania becoming the 2nd highest rated entry in franchise history. Unfortunately, sales for the game did not meet Ubisoft’s expectations, leading to the cancellation of a potential sequel. It seems as though Ubisoft may have jumped the gun a little bit, as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has since gone on to be experienced by millions  – pushing total players past 3 million.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the official Prince of Persia page wrote the following: “Over 3 million Immortals have embarked on this epic journey through Mount Qaf. From every leap across deadly traps to every perfect parry, your skill has brought Sargon’s adventure to life. Thank you for being part of the Prince of Persia legend.”

As always, it is worth noting that 3 million players does not equate to 3 million copies sold, especially as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was dropped onto PlayStation Plus Extra back in March.

That said, prior to its PS Plus addition, the game was confirmed to have sold over 1.3 million copies – meaning it very well could be nearing 2 million copies SOLD by now.

Of course, until we hear it from the horse’s mouth, nothing is confirmed, and so as of right now all that can be stated is that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has officially exceeded 3 million total players. It will be interesting to see what player counts look like once The Lost Crown is inevitably removed from PlayStation Plus.

KitGuru says: What do you think of The Lost Crown? Is the game underrated? How many copies do you think it has actually sold so far? Let us know down below.

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown officially exceeds 3 million players first appeared on KitGuru.

Since the launch of Shadow of the Tomb Raider back in 2018, the Lara Croft series has been relatively quiet – with its primary release in the years since being the animated Netflix show Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Following its release last year, the series was confirmed to be getting a second season. Unfortunately, it seems as though Lara Croft’s stint on Netflix will cease with the conclusion of Season 2 this December.

As reported by the publication Variety, Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will officially conclude with the arrival of Season 2 on the 11th of December.

In case you missed it, the first Season launched back in October 2024 to pretty solid critic reviews – though a far less favourable user score.

Still, Haley Atwell has served as a solid voice actor for Lara Croft, and while it is a shame to see the show ending after just two Seasons, many Netflix projects barely make it past a single season. Hopefully Season 2 of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft manages to end on a conclusive note.

The synopsis for Season 2 reads as follows: “When adventurer Lara Croft discovers a trail of stolen African Orisha masks, she joins forces with her best friend Sam to retrieve the precious artifacts. Lara’s thrilling new adventure takes her around the globe as she delves deeper into the hidden secrets of Orisha history, dodging the machinations of a dangerous and enigmatic billionaire who wants the masks for herself, while discovering these relics contain dark secrets and a power that defies logic. Power that may, in fact, be divine.”

KitGuru says: What did you think of the first Season? Did it scratch that Tomb Raider itch? Are you interested in Amazon’s live-action adaptation which is currently in the works? Let us know down below.

The post Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft concludes with Season 2 this December first appeared on KitGuru.

Following half a decade of hype, excitement and anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally officially released. Given just how long fans have been waiting, it was clear that the indie title was going to have a massive launch. Even so, Silksong seems to be exceeding all expectations – having peaked at over half a million concurrent players on Steam alone within hours of its arrival.

With a peak concurrent player count of 535,213 users on Steam, Hollow Knight: Silksong is already one of the biggest games on the platform’s history CCU-wise, currently sitting as the 18th most played game ever on Steam – resting between the Battlefield 6 open beta (521,079) and Path of Exile 2 (578,569 players).

Perhaps even more impressive however is the fact that upon its official launch at 2PM UK time yesterday, Silksong managed to break Steam; the Nintendo eShop; PSN and the Xbox Store – likely due in part to the game lacking any pre-orders (meaning fans were hammering each respective store as soon as the game went live).

It was recently announced that the original Hollow Knight had sold over 15 million copies since its arrival back in 2017. Given just how big Silksong’s launch appears to be, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the sequel hit 10 million copies within its first month.

Regardless, after 7 or so years of waiting, Silksong is actually finally officially here.

KitGuru says: Did you run into any issues trying to purchase Silksong? Were you expecting the launch to be this massive? How long do you think it’ll take Silksong to reach 15 million copies? Let us know down below.

The post Hollow Knight: Silksong launches to over half a million concurrent players on Steam alone first appeared on KitGuru.

When Samsung announced their new 9100 PRO lineup back in February we were eager to get our hands on the company's first PCIe 5.0 SSD, and we were not disappointed.

Featuring ARGB lighting, a pump-mounted IPS display and clean aesthetics, the MSI MPG CORELIQUID P13 360 presents a visually stunning package. When you add in impressive performance on Intel systems, it becomes an all-in-one liquid cooler worth considering.

In a presentation at IFA 2025 in Berlin, Acer has given us a glimpse into the future of thin-and-light laptops. The laptop manufacturer has revealed the new Swift 16 AI, the very first notebook to be powered by Intel's upcoming “Panther Lake” CPU architecture.

The Acer Swift 16 AI is powered by an Intel Panther Lake CPU, built on the company's highly anticipated 18A process node, paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Moreover, the upcoming laptop features a high-resolution 16-inch, 3K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with some innovative features, all packed into a chassis that weighs less than a kilogram.

Another distinctive feature on display is the redesigned, oversized haptic trackpad, which supports active stylus input, enabling creatives to sketch or take notes directly on the large touch surface. This new, larger pad has prompted a redesigned chassis that still manages to come in at under 1 kg in certain configurations. The laptop doesn't skimp on connectivity either, offering two Thunderbolt 4 ports for high-speed transfer and docking, alongside USB-A, HDMI, and a microSD card slot.

While Acer is planning a more extensive showcase for CES 2026, the company confirmed that the Swift 16 AI is expected to launch before the end of this year.

KitGuru says: What are your expectations for Intel Panther Lake?

The post Acer announces the world’s first Intel Panther Lake powered laptop first appeared on KitGuru.

Following its announcement at Computex 2025, Intel has officially released the new Arc Pro B50. This is the first workstation card based on the “Battlemage” architecture, and it's aimed squarely at the compact, small-form-factor professional market, where power and size are key considerations.

The Arc Pro B50 (via VideoCardz) is built on the “BMG-G21” silicon and features 16 of the new Xe2 cores. This is paired with a generous 16GB of GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gbps on a 128-bit bus, which provides a total of 224 GB/s of memory bandwidth. For AI workloads, Intel rates the card for a respectable 170 TOPS of INT8 compute performance.

The Arc Pro B50 features a board power of just 70W, which means it draws all of its power directly from the motherboard's PCIe slot, eliminating the need for external power connectors. The card itself is a dual-slot, low-profile design, making it ideal for SFF workstations. It connects via a PCIe 5.0 x8 interface and features four mini DisplayPort outputs, making it suitable for multi-monitor setups.

Intel has announced a suggested retail price of $349 for the card, which will be available both as a standalone product and in pre-built systems.

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KitGuru says: Although it won't top performance charts, the Intel Arc Pro B50 appears to be worth considering if you're looking for an entry-level workstation card.

The post Intel officially launches Arc Pro B50 graphics card first appeared on KitGuru.