The idea that AMD's Zen 6 would support AVX-512 in some fashion has never really been in question, to tell the truth. With native 512-bit vector datapaths and a nearly-complete AVX-512 implementation, AMD's Zen 5 already has the strongest AVX-512 support on client systems, but it does seem like Zen 6 is poised to expand that support considerably.
The compact PC world may just have been given a good shake up with Minisforum's new MS-R1, a mini workstation with server-grade Arm performance in an expandable desktop form factor. But hold up, the machine is also being hailed as the first of its kind in the world to support UEFI boot. With UEFI, the MS-R1 makes it as simple to install and
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautify sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a Black Friday wonderland. Wait, that's not how the song goes. However, it IS how the season goes this time of year as retailers hurl deals at pace faster than Elf (Will Ferrell version) can chuck snowballs. And right now,
At the season-ending Lamborghini World Finals at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse division unveiled the design concept for the Temerario Super Trofeo, the new track weapon set to take over the Super Trofeo championships in 2027. This sixth model in the series marks a historic transition, as it replaces
Every June and December, UploadVR connects with dozens of developers and publishers within the XR industry to highlight the best that virtual reality has to offer. It’s showcase season once again, and we’re excited to announce:
The Showcase will premiere December 5th @10am PT on the IGN and UploadVR YouTube channels.
Kudos to everyone who participated in this past summer’s event - none of this would be possible without the support of the VR community and the trust of developers and publishers who give us their secret showcase announcements. A huge thank you also goes out to last season’s sponsors: Elsewhere Electric, Dixotomia, Fruit Golf, Nightclub Simulator VR, and Virtual Skate. You have helped UploadVR continue to bring you the latest and greatest in all things VR, XR, AR, KR... ZR... (what acronyms are we supposed to use nowadays?) and supported your fellow developers by giving us the means to make the showcase. Thank you!
As always, we’re searching for exclusive content, reveals, and announcements. If you have a new game or exclusive news and you want to submit a video for this season, fill out the application!
Here’s some additional information about the UploadVR Showcase - Winter 2025:
How Do I Watch the Showcase?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications once the showcase goes live. You can also follow us on X, Bluesky, and Instagram for the latest updates.
How Do I Submit My Game to the Showcase?
To submit a game or sign up as a sponsor, please fill out this form. Applying to the showcase tells us what you intend to announce in your video, you do not need to have a video created when you apply. We will respond with our level of interest in the project, and tell you next steps for submitting your video.
How Does UploadVR Select What is in The Show?
We’re looking for originality, oddity, interest, and impact. The projects we highlight are an amalgamation of large and smaller-scale works. While some submissions may not jive with this season’s showcase, we’re always open to future submissions.
Content must be kept under an embargo so that announcements are exclusive to the premiere.
When Will I Know If My Application Was Accepted?
The UploadVR team reviews applications as they come in, and submitters can expect a reply that states our level of interest in what you've described.
The ideal deadline for videos is Thursday, November 20th, 2025. However, we will accept final video submissions until Thursday, November 27th, 2025.
Videos should be in 1080p or 4K and 30-60fps.
There is no deadline for submitting an application, although you probably shouldn't apply the morning of the show.
If your project won’t be ready by the end of November, we encourage you to submit for the next season, or chat with us about coverage and collaboration by emailing tips@uploadvr.com.
When Are Selections Made?
If your project has been accepted, we’ll be contacting you as soon as we review your application. Please wait to contact us regarding the status only if you haven’t heard from us within 7 days after submitting.
Google and Disney remain embroiled in a contract dispute that is preventing YouTube TV subscribers from accessing a litany of Disney-owned channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and several others. In the wake of the ongoing dispute, YouTube TV has begun sending out emails promising a $20 credit within the next few days. But
Apple is reportedly planning to amp up the iPhone’s satellite features from solely as an emergency-only lifeline into a connected device that keeps key features in certain major apps running: think Starlink-like connectivity for Apple Maps or WhatsApp, but with everything built into your next iPhone. If all goes as planned, this future expansion
Samsung is showing off a couple of new storage products that it plans to showcase at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2026, one of which is a cleverly designed solid state drive (SSD) with a modular aspect to it. Called the Detachable AutoSSD, the drive takes aim at automobiles and sports a modular makeup to make upgrades a little
While BioWare didn't reveal much about the next Mass Effect game during N7 Day, the company did leave a series of hints in its blogpost for fans to decode. Now, those fans have succeeded, uncovering a link to a new piece of Mass Effect 5 concept art.
The art, titled “Civil War” shows a group of Krogan in the middle of a shootout, with the main focus being on this obviously older looking Krogan member in the centre:
There isn't a ton to derive from this artwork but the older looking Krogan, combined with our earlier look at an older version of Liara, suggests that the next Mass Effect game will take place many, many years after the events of the original trilogy. In the Mass Effect universe, both Krogan and Asari beings have incredibly long lifespans, so while the next game could take place centuries after the original trilogy, some characters, like Liara, could return.
As part of its N7 Day blog post, BioWare confirmed that it is still committed to Mass Effect 5, alongside publisher EA. Unfortunately, there is still no word on when we might see the game properly announced, let alone released.
KitGuru Says: The next Mass Effect is still likely years away. Perhaps we'll get some more details at next year's N7 day.
When Halo Infinite was first planned, 343 Industries had ambitions of keeping the game going for a decade. When the game ultimately failed to win over a significant number of fans at launch, those plans changed. Now, 343 Industries has been broken down and rebuilt as Halo Studios, and the team is looking to move on to other projects. As a result, support for Halo Infinite is coming to an end.
Announced during the November Community Livestream, Operation Infinite is scheduled to launch on November 18th. It will arrive with a 100-tier Operation Pass and a separate 100-tier Premium Pass, offering a range of new weapon models and armor sets. To help players finish their remaining progression, the update will also permanently increase the earn rates for both Career Rank and Spartan Points.
While internal content creation is winding down, the update will introduce new community-created maps. These include Yuletide, a holiday-themed map joining the Husky Raid queues, and Vacancy, an urban map for ranked play.
Following this update, Halo Infinite will effectively enter maintenance mode. Halo Studios has pledged to keep the servers running and will continue to rotate daily and weekly challenges, as well as the ranked playlists, throughout 2026 and beyond. However, players should no longer expect new seasons or substantial content drops.
KitGuru says: Four years after its rocky launch, Halo Infinite is winding down, and resources are now being redirected to other projects.
The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro laptop is aiming to come in cheaper than any other laptop on the market with a GeForce RTX 5080. Coming in at around $2200, it’s certainly priced very competitively. Accompanying that RTX 5080 is an Intel Core 7 240H, 32GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 5600MT/s and a 16” IPS 2560×1600 165Hz display. Can the A16 Pro deliver a solid experience while aiming to keep its price tag as low as possible?
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:52 Pricing
01:44 Hardware Specs
03:01 Memory Speeds
03:22 Drive setup
04:04 Drive speeds / slots
05:02 The Display
05:53 The Keyboard
06:34 The Trackpad
06:52 Ports and I/O / Connectivity
08:14 The Battery / Longevity
09:18 Webcam
09:30 Audio / Speakers
09:59 The Design / Appearance
10:50 Build Quality
11:17 Cooling System
11:38 Testing Methodology
12:02 GI Mate Software
13:25 Power Mode setup for Gaming
14:03 Cyberpunk 2077
14:33 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
15:07 A Plague Tale Requiem
15:32 Counter Strike 2
15:51 Forza Horizon 5
16:32 Hogwarts Legacy
17:06 Marvel Rivals
18:01 CPU Real World Operation
20:38 Thermal Camera Footage / Noise output
21:15 Closing Thoughts
Specifications:
CPU – Intel® Core 7 processor 240H
GPU – NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
Display – 16″ 16:10 – IPS WQXGA (2560×1600) 165Hz
RAM – 32GB LPDDR5x 5600MHz
SSD – 2 x Kingston 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Keyboard – 1-zone RGB Backlit Keyboard, Up to 1.7mm Key-travel
I/O
Left Side:
1 x DC-in
1 x RJ-45
1 x HDMI 2.1
1 x Type-A support USB3.2 Gen1
1 x Type-C USB3.2 Gen1 support DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0
Right Side:
1 x Type-A support USB3.2 Gen1
1 x Type-A support USB2.0
1 x 3.5mm Audio Jack support mic / headphone combo
Audio – 2x 2W speakers
Wireless Networking – WIFI 6E (802.11ax 2×2)
Wired Networking – LAN: 1G
Bluetooth v5.2
FHD (1080p) IR Webcam
Li Polymer 76Wh
240W AC Adapter
358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45~22.99 mm
Weight – ~2.3kg
Colour – Titanium Black
The core specs are confirmed in the following CPU-Z and GPU-Z screenshots:
We put the A16 Pro through a series of varying gaming tests, some of which are detailed in the screenshots below. All titles were tested at the laptop's native resolution of 2560×1600 using maximum graphics settings. Overall, the machine showed capable gaming performance in most titles, managing to maintain 60+ FPS most of the time, with occasional dips in the mid 50s. We also tested the gains on offer when enabling both DLSS at the performance preset and frame generation where possible. For full details and a more in-depth look at the gaming performance of the A16 Pro Laptop head over to YouTube and watch the video review in full.
Hogwarts Legacy (2560×1600 – Max Settings)
Hogwarts Legacy (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance, 4X Multi Frame Generation)
Forza Horizon 5 (2560×1600 – Max Settings)
Forza Horizon 5 (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance, Frame Generation On)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2560×1600 – Max Settings)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance)
Closing Thoughts
The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro is overall a decent laptop. The combination of Intel’s Core 7 240H and an RTX 5080 produce mostly good gaming results and the 32GB of LPDDR5x memory keeps everything running smoothly, though is sadly not upgradeable due to being soldered. The dual 1TB SSDs offer plenty of space, but one of the M.2 slots runs at slower speeds, which feels like a missed opportunity in an otherwise solid setup.
The 16-inch, 2560×1600 IPS panel display is decent. It offers good sharpness and smooth motion, though it lacks the contrast of pricier OLED alternatives. The keyboard and trackpad are serviceable: comfortable enough for daily use but nothing exceptional, with cramped arrow keys and a slightly hollow trackpad click. Connectivity is practical, though the left-side charging port can get in the way and an SD card reader would’ve been a welcome inclusion.
Build quality is solid but unremarkable, and battery life is respectable when used sensibly, though heavy gaming quickly drains the 76Wh battery. The cooling system does its best to keep thermals in check, but like many other high-power laptops, CPU temperatures can get to concerning levels when putting the processor under heavy load.
Overall, the A16 Pro offers genuine RTX 5080 mobile performance at a lower price than most competitors. It's not without its quirks, but is a strong contender for those who want flagship power without a flagship price.
We don't currently have information regarding UK stock for the A16 Pro Laptop, we will update the page when we know more. The US RRP is $2199.99.
Pros:
One of the most affordable gaming laptops equipped with an RTX 5080 GPU.
2TB SSD storage in the reviewed specification.
Good battery life for general use (non-gaming).
Decent native gaming performance.
Doesn’t overdo the ‘gamer’ aesthetic.
Cons:
One M.2 slot runs at roughly half speed with no way to adjust settings.
Soldered memory means no upgrade path.
High CPU temperatures when under intense workloads.
Cramped keyboard design.
Side DC in port can get in the way when not using the laptop on a desk.
KitGuru says: The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro delivers genuine RTX 5080 mobile performance at a lower price than some of its rivals. However, it does trade a few quality-of-life features and premium touches to keep that price down.
While the delay for Grand Theft Auto VI has undoubtedly disappointed many, this presents another opportunity for fans to play the now 12-year old GTA V for the umpteenth time. Fortunately, for those in such a situation, Sony is set to add GTA V to its PlayStation Plus Extra library for the 3rd time in two years.
Given this, it is highly likely that you’ll have around 6 months to enjoy the current-gen version of GTA V and Online before it is taken away once again.
While there is an understanding that game subscription services add and remove titles on a regular basis, it is far less common to see a game removed, brought back; taken away and then added again. That said, it is GTA V and so Rockstar will likely always make its inclusion a limited-time affair.
KitGuru says: Will you be hopping back into GTA V now that the sequel has been delayed? How many times have you completed the main story at this point? Let us know down below.
Dragon Ball is undeniably one of the most popular anime/manga franchises of all time, with the series having a long and successful library of video games released over the past many decades. One of the franchise’s most anticipated games in recent years was Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – a successor to the much-loved Budokai series. Following strong initial sales, the game has continued to perform well for Bandai Namco.
As part of Bandai Namco’s most recent financial report, the publisher revealed that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero had sold 5.4 million copies as of the 31st of March 2025 – roughly 5 and a half months following its launch in early October 2024.
As such, while it is unlikely that Sparking! Zero has hit any major sales milestones since the 31st of March, it will be interesting to see how the game performs in the wake of its Nintendo Switch launch in just a few days’ time.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Sparking! Zero one year on? Is it the Budokai successor you were hoping for? Could the game reach 10 million sales given enough time, as many other Dragon Ball games have managed? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Black Friday has come early at a lot of of places here in the UK. Today, PCSpecialist unveiled its round of deals for the rest of the month, discounting three pre-built gaming PCs and a custom gaming laptop, with options for Intel or AMD based systems, as well as GeForce RTX or Radeon graphics cards.
The Vortex is built around AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and paired with an ASUS PRIME B850 motherboard. It comes with 32GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5 running at 6000MHz, an NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, and a 2TB Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD. Originally priced at £2,098 (depending on current stock pricing on PCSpecialist's configurator), it’s discounted to £1,799.
The Fusion also uses an ASUS PRIME B850 board but swaps in the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU. It has the same 32GB of Corsair DDR5 memory, but graphics are handled by AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 XT. Storage is again a 2TB Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD. Its price drops from £1,882 to £1,599.
The Ignite is an Intel-based option, powered by the Core i7-12700F and an ASUS PRIME B760 motherboard. It includes 32GB of PCS PRO DDR5 memory, an NVIDIA RTX 5060 GPU, and a 1TB Crucial P310 Gen 4 SSD. The system is reduced from £1,123 to £999.
Finally, the Ionico Ultra is a laptop with a 16-inch matte QHD+ 180Hz display. It runs on Intel’s Core Ultra 9 275HX, with 32GB of Crucial DDR5 memory, an NVIDIA RTX 5060 GPU, and a 1TB Crucial P310 SSD. Its price is cut from £1,503 to £1,399.
Each PCSpecialist system also comes with a 1-month subscription to PC Game Pass, granting access to a library of hundreds of games through the Xbox PC app. This also includes day-one titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, so you'll be able to get right into a number of games as soon as your system arrives.
You can find all of the PCSpecialist Black Friday deals, HERE.
KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up anything new during the Black Friday deals this month?
Inu Atsume VR is a virtual pet simulator by Hit-Point, creators of the popular cat-collecting game Neko Atsume Purrfect, and it's launching on Quest soon.
Similar in style to the studio's feline-filled experience, Neko Atsume Purrfect, Inu Atsume VR offers puppy-loving players the chance to complete a Dog Encyclopedia and compete with their newfound companions across three competitions. It's playable in both VR and MR, with the mixed reality mode allowing pups to roam freely around your living space without running the risk of a mess.
To find new pets, you can visit a park called the “Square,” where you can throw frisbees to earn the attention of your desired pet and play together. By continuously showering the pup with praise and attention, it will gradually inch closer and eventually become your new friend.
From here, the canine companions can be trained up and taught tricks like Shake, all while receiving gifts that fill out the virtual space. Those with a keen eye for interior design can also customize their in-game home by tweaking the colors of walls and doors.
While the store page lists a 'November 2025' release window, the official website confirms Inu Atsume VR will make its Quest debut on November 20 for $14.99.
Exploration sim Cave Crave added an arcade mode and new horror map in its latest update, and a PC VR release will follow soon.
Developed by 3R Games, Cave Crave sees you exploring tight tunnels and caves as you try to find an escape, marking walls with chalk and using various tools. While this update will arrive “soon” on PS VR2, Quest players can now jump into a new Arcade Mode that turns this into a competitive race against time, where you aim for the quickest run on the online leaderboards.
As for Cave Crave's optional Horror Mode, that's been updated with a brand new map called 'Abyss,' where your goal is to simply make it back alive. 3R Games states that it's been “inspired by cosmic dread and subterranean monstrosities straight out of a Lovecraftian nightmare,” warning of something “ancient and malevolent” hiding in the dark.
This follows the recent addition of Utah's Nutty Putty Cave as a free update on both platforms, a real-life cave closed in 2009 after the death of John Edward Jones. 3R Games says this was recreated using the official cave map and additional data without gamifying it, stating its aim to offer a “respectful, authentic way” to explore this permanently closed site.
Cave Crave is out now on PlayStation VR2 and Quest, while the Steam version is “scheduled to launch within the next few weeks.”
Less than a week since arriving in early access, VR FPS Forefront took #6 for top-earning games by weekly revenue on Quest.
Launched on November 6 in early access, Forefront is a 16v16 VR shooter from Triangle Factory that features semi-destructible maps where you split into four-person squads. Four days after that initial launch, it's reached #6 at the time of writing with a 4.6-star rating on the Meta Horizon Store after 490 user reviews, while Steam lists a “very positive” rating at 298 reviews.
Elsewhere in the charts, the top 10 earners this week remain a mostly familiar sight that's a mix of paid apps and free-to-play titles. UG is at #1 and now boasts the most user reviews on the Horizon Store at 172k. That now surpasses Gorilla Tag, which is currently at 164k user reviews.
Meta Horizon Store: Top-earning games this week by revenue as of November 10, 2025
Beat Saber holds #2, which we'd speculate was further boosted by the recent Spooky Scary Skeletons DLC for Halloween, and that's followed respectively by Animal Company, VRChat, and Gorilla Tag. Rounding out the top 10 in order after Forefront are Blade & Sorcery: Nomad, PokerStars - Vegas Infinite, and Bonelab. #10 keeps changing between FitXR and Golf+, so we cannot determine which one officially holds that position.
We'll continue monitoring these standings, and this list may evolve as the week goes on. You can find the full charts here, which cover the top 50 games and account for all forms of revenue. It's a different approach to the top 50 best-selling Quest games of all time charts, which only factor in paid app sales without including DLC, and that recently saw Assassin's Creed Nexus join the list.
This article was updated shortly after publication when the top 50 games became viewable instead of the top 49. #10 was briefly listed as FitXR but this was changed to Golf+ after the stats were refreshed.
Ever since the arrival of Demon’s Souls, FromSoftware have gone from strength-to-strength, with each new release seemingly not only being better than the last (with few exceptions) but seeing an ever-increasing rise in popularity – culminating with the juggernaut that was Elden Ring. Even so, the original Dark Souls Trilogy has continued to find new fans, with the series having now surpassed 40 million copies sold.
As part of Bandai Namco’s latest fiscal report, the publisher revealed updated sales stats for many of its most popular franchises. Alongside confirmation that their Tekken franchise had passed 60 million total sales, Bandai confirmed (as reported by Tech4Gamers) that the Dark Souls Trilogy has reached a total of 39.71 million copies sold as of the end of March 2025.
Given that the Souls series has been self-published by FromSoftware in Japan (with Bandai handling the rest of the world), the trilogy has in total easily surpassed the 40 million mark.
Of course, Elden Ring would not have been nearly as successful had it not been for the ever-growing rise of the Dark Souls series (as well as Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne) putting FromSoftware on the map. It will be interesting to see if FromSoft ever returns to the Dark Souls series in particular – or whether 2016’s DS3 marked the definitive conclusion to this beloved franchise.
KitGuru says: When did you get into FromSoftware games? What’s your favourite Dark Souls entry in the trilogy? What about your least favourite? Let us know down below.
Black Friday deals continue to roll in well ahead of the actual day. This week, CyberPowerPC has rolled out its own deals, available over the next few weeks, offering up gaming PCs based around RTX 5060, RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards, as well as discounts on several popular laptop models.
The CyberPowerPC Ultra 85 Black Friday Gaming PC comes in at £799, offering up an RTX 5060 graphics card, paired with an AMD Ryzen 5 8400F processor, 32GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. A step above that is the Ultra 75 Black Friday Gaming PC, which uses a Ryzen 5 7500F instead, but bumps the graphics card up to an RTX 5070, perfect for those looking to achieve higher frame rates and move beyond 1080p.
The final desktop system on sale this month is the Ultra 87 Black Friday Gaming PC, which comes in at £1499, packing a Ryzen 7 8700F processor, 32GB of DDR5 memory, a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD and an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, making it ideal for high refresh QHD gaming, or running AAA titles at 4K.
If you need a monitor to go with your brand-new desktop, then CyberPowerPC also has discounted prices on two excellent monitors. The MSI MPG 272URX and MPG 321URXW both sport QD-OLED panels with lightning fast response times and a high 240Hz refresh rate. The key difference between them is that one is 4K at 27-inches, giving more pixel density, while the other is 4K in a larger 32-inch size. The former is now discounted to £549 while the latter is available for £698.
On the laptop side, the MSI Cyborg 15 B2RWEKG-021UK is available for £949, down from £1,099. It offers a 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz display, Intel Core 7 240H processor, RTX 5050 graphics, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD, perfect for entry-level gaming on the go. For £999, you can get the Cyborg 15 B2RWFKG-020UK, which upgrades the GPU to an RTX 5060, allowing you to achieve higher graphics settings and frame rates.
The final laptop being discounted today is the MSI Katana 15 HX B14WGK-053UK, which is now £1,329, down from £1,499. It features a 15.6-inch QHD 165Hz panel, Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, RTX 5070 graphics, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The upgrade to an RTX 5070 will allow you to make full use of the QHD display. With DLSS 4, you should be able to max out the display's refresh rate in supported titles too.
CyberPowerPC is also running a ‘win your money back' promotion, so one lucky buyer will get their PC for free. The company also has a set of peripheral bundles available too, so you can get yourself a mouse, keyboard and headset all in one package to ensure you are good to go as soon as the PC arrives.
You can find all of CyberPowerPC UK's Black Friday deals, HERE.
KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up anything during the Black Friday sales this month?
If you've ever wanted to review tech, then this is a perfect opportunity as we are now hiring for a new reviewer to join our team! Prior experience is not strictly necessary, but we would like to see some example works from applicants.
We are looking for someone who will be able to produce reviews of a range of tech gear in video format and in the KitGuru style. Any experience in this sector is beneficial, however we are open to all applicants provided you can give us a sample of your written and video work so we can assess your abilities.
KitGuru is a great company to work with, we are all tech enthusiasts who enjoy gaming, so we all have very similar interests. Behind the scenes it is very close-knit environment and many of our team have been with us for several years.
To be considered for this position you need:
Skillset to present well on camera – and in English.
The ability to meet tight deadlines.
Strong communication skills.
Some knowledge of video editing would be useful, but we have that capability in-house if we find the right candidate.
Strong writing ability.
This is a freelance position.
The successful applicant must be based in the United Kingdom, and we pay very well for this kind of work. If you are interested and feel you can meet the criteria above and want to work in this fast-moving sector then please send your CV along with any samples of your work to our Editor in Chief, Allan Campbell – allan(at)kitguru.net.
KitGuru says: We look forward to receiving your application!
Each month, Amazon offers a number of games for free to all those with a Prime Gaming (now Amazon Luna) subscription. For the month of November, members can claim a baker’s dozen worth of games, including Fallout 76; New Tales from the Borderlands; Gas Station Simulator and more.
Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 6 Collector's Edition [Legacy]
While far from the strongest of months, those wanting to beef up their GOG libraries will have plenty to look forward to. In addition, Fallout 76 is arriving just in time for the live-service game’s big ‘Burning Springs’ expansion/update arriving in early December.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this month’s offerings? Have you been trying to use GOG more? Let us know down below.
Thrasher receives its remastered edition with a visual update, flatscreen mode, and more today on Steam.
Released on Quest and Apple Vision Pro last year, Thrasher is a cosmic action racer that tasks you with controlling a space eel through obstacle-filled levels, and we previously named it our favorite Apple Vision Pro game of 2024. Following September's PC VR demo release, developer Puddle has launched it today on Steam, with a price drop to $9.99 on all platforms.
As detailed in September, Thrasher's remastered Steam release promises improved visuals compared to standalone platforms. Puddle states the new PC VR controls are more responsive too, letting you pick either controllers or hand tracking support. UX and UI changes are also included, there's an optional flatscreen mode on PC with gamepad and mouse controls, and Steam Deck compatibility at 90 FPS.
Other changes include a new Play+ mode that aims to provide a harder challenge for advanced players, while Time Trials test your speed at clearing levels with no combo bonuses. When asked by UploadVR if these modes will eventually come to Quest or Apple Vision Pro, Puddle advised it has no updates to share about other platforms at this time.
The Steam release also follows Puddle releasing Thrasher's remastered version as a launch title for Samsung Galaxy XR, joining the list of Android XR games currently available. Much like the Steam edition, this also runs at 90 fps on Samsung's headset with the new modes and support for both hand tracking and controllers.
This article was updated shortly after publication with a response from Puddle and following the official launch of a Samsung Galaxy XR port. It was updated again when the Steam release launched.
Constellations: Touch the Stars lets you scan the night sky with a connect the dots experience.
It's the latest experience from developer Grant Hinkson via Parietal Lab, who previously released Connectome earlier this year using the same “connect the dots” engine. Constellations: Touch the Stars includes all 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), letting you trace and connect each constellation until the pattern is complete.
It's been designed using a “hands-first” philosophy with hand tracking support, using a thumb tap motion to bring constellations forward. The sky is positioned based on the user’s location to determine which constellations you see, and Constellations: Touch the Stars comes with fully immersive environments in early access.
Further updates are planned following the initial launch, such as a mixed reality stargazing mode that sees stars overlaid against their real positions. This pulls up constellation names and data using the immersive view's overlay. Other promised features are a 'lie-back' mode for looking up at the stars while lying down, social stargazing with friends, and creating your own constellation patterns.
Constellations will launch in early access on Meta Quest 3/3S, arriving in the first half of December. Pre-early access builds are also available by joining the official Discord server.
Retro-futuristic puzzler UnLoop reaches PC VR in early access next week.
Published by CM Games (Into the Radius) and developed by Superposition NULL, UnLoop is a sci-fi puzzle game built around self-cooperation and time manipulation that's reminiscent of We Are One. Set on a remote space station called the Temporal Research Hub, you create copies of yourself each loop and replay your past actions in real time as you retrieve data.
Following its full release on Quest and Pico, CM Games has chosen early access on Steam to gather feedback about “optimization, player experience, graphics, and to address possible PCVR-related feature requests.” It still contains content parity with the standalone edition, and a Version 1.1 update is planned this December that promises new puzzles and a story continuation.
On the hardware side, UnLoop on Steam will initially support using Quest, Pico, and Valve Index headsets. A Steam FAQ confirms the developer will explore compatibility with additional headsets and controllers depending on community feedback, and PC VR visual improvements are also planned.
We had positive impressions in our UnLoop hands-on back in September, considering it a “clever self-co-op experience” held back by a “few rough edges.”
UnLoop looks to be a promising head-scratcher for players who love time-looping puzzles and self-orchestrated hijinks. Its core concept is compelling and clever, but a few rough edges keep it from being a standout recommendation just yet. With a bit of polish and hopefully some patches, this could be one to loop back to.