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PlayStation announces Project Defiant for PS5 and PC

Sony PlayStation has unveiled its first wireless fight stick codenamed “Project Defiant”. This new controller aims to empower fighting game enthusiasts with enhanced flexibility, offering wireless connectivity using the PlayStation Link technology and a traditional wired connection.

Project Defiant has been designed from the ground up specifically for fighting games, featuring a high-quality digital stick crafted by Sony PlayStation itself. Gamers will appreciate the toolless interchangeable restrictor gates (including square, round, and octagon options) for the stick, the buttons with mechanical switches, and even a touch pad akin to the familiar DualSense wireless controller. The controller incorporates a dedicated storage compartment for the restrictor gates and a PS Link USB converter for convenience and portability. Like DualSense controllers, Project Defiant will allow users to remotely wake up their PlayStation 5 with a press and hold of the PS button.

The new controller offers wireless connectivity using PlayStation Link technology. This proprietary wireless solution ensures ultra-low latency communication, which is critical for fighting games where every millisecond counts. Compatible with both PS5 and PC, PS Link ensures low response times to every button press and digital stick movement, allowing players to perfect their input timing. For those who prefer a traditional setup, a wired USB-C connection is also available for immediate plug-and-play functionality.

Project Defiant will have a carrying case to facilitate easy transport, thoughtfully designed with a lever gap to protect the digital stick during transit. Sony Interactive Entertainment has indicated that more information about Project Defiant will be revealed in the coming months, including its final product name and exact launch date (scheduled for 2026).

KitGuru says: Are you a fighting games fan? Have you ever bought a fight stick? 

The post PlayStation announces Project Defiant for PS5 and PC first appeared on KitGuru.
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Deathloop is free on the Epic Games Store

Each week, the Epic Games Store gives away a title or two for free to all those with an Epic Games account. During the Summer period, the digital store has been offering some pretty big games – with this week’s titles including Arkane Lyon’s Deathloop.

Available to add to your library from now until the 12th of June at 4PM UK time, Deathloop is a stylish, fun and replayable stealth-focused immersive sim from Arkane Lyon – the team behind Dishonored and the upcoming Blade (but NOT Redfall).

A spiritual successor of sorts to Dishonored, Deathloop offers similar levels of creativity and freedom while twisting the formula with a rogue-lite styled gameplay loop; making for an excellent overall experience.

Ogu and the Secret Forest meanwhile is a hand-drawn 2D adventure game in which you’ll “Befriend bouncy characters and defeat strange creatures to unravel the mystery of the charming world.”

Both Deathloop and Ogu and the Secret Forest are available to claim right now – and will remain so until the 12th of June, at which point they will be replaced by the quirky strategy-sim game Two Point Hospital.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offerings? Did you enjoy Deathloop’s gameplay ‘loop’? Let us know down below.

The post Deathloop is free on the Epic Games Store first appeared on KitGuru.
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Forza Horizon 5 has outsold Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PS5

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the biggest racing games around, with the 2021 title seeing well over 45 million players as of earlier this year. Despite its age, upon its release for PlayStation in late April the game has sold like hotcakes – with it having now surpassed the total PS5 sales of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Back in early May – mere days following the release of the game on PlayStation 5 – Forza Horizon 5 was confirmed to have sold 1 million copies on the platform. Since then, momentum has only continued, with Alinea Analytics confirming that the racing title has now sold 2.2 million copies on PS5.

While in and of itself an impressive feat, what is perhaps more surprising is that the game has now surpassed Assassin’s Creed Shadows when it comes to total units sales on the platform.

Forza Horizon Shadows

 

Despite launching a month earlier, Assassin’s Creed Shadows sales have plateaued somewhat – resting at 1.8 million copies on PS5. By the 15th of May, Forza Horizon 5 had already surpassed Shadows.

Of course, it is worth noting that these are two very different games with very different audiences (at slightly different price points), and so comparisons aren’t necessarily 1:1. Still, the rapid and continuing success of Forza on PlayStation is interesting to see.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Forza’s performance on PS5? Are you surprised by how quickly it’s selling? How many units do you think the game sold on PC / Xbox? Let us know down below.

The post Forza Horizon 5 has outsold Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PS5 first appeared on KitGuru.
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Astro Bot to get 5 new free levels next month

In the wake of its release last year, Team Asobi have kept their game of the year-winning platformer ‘Astro Bot’ fresh with new content on a semi-regular basis. Following the last free DLC released in February, the game is set to get 5 new levels added for free next month – bringing the total number to 90.

Announced during the most recent State of Play – and expanded upon via the PlayStation Blog – Team Asobi’s studio head Nicolas Doucet officially unveiled Astro Bot’s next free update, writing:

“We are delighted to announce yet more additional content landing in Astro Bot this July 10 at 2:00pm GMT. Indeed, 5 brand new levels will make their way into the game as part of the Vicious Void Galaxy, bringing the total number of levels in Astro Bot to a whopping 90+! As with our last update, these 5 levels will require you to pull every bit of skill together to complete so hang on to your DualSense Controller and dive in!”

Astro Bot Levels

Speaking of the DualSense, one of the PS5’s best limited edition controllers is set to return, with “an updated version of the Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller…launching later this year,” featuring “a new joyful twist to the touch pad!”

Astro Bot was definitely one of the most jolly games to release in 2024, and so it is exciting to see the undisputed GOTY winner get even better with time.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the new levels? What do you think the special rescue bots will be? Could the new DualSense feature animated eyes on the touchpad? Let us know down below.

The post Astro Bot to get 5 new free levels next month first appeared on KitGuru.
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Sony teases the next 3 months of PlayStation Plus titles

Sony has used its State of Play showcases in the past in order to announce and detail some of the company’s more significant PlayStation Plus titles. During the most recent event, the console maker confirmed around half a dozen classics which are set to come to the service this Summer – alongside a surprise day-one PS Plus inclusion.

During the most recent State of Play, Sony officially teased some of the games set to drop onto PlayStation Plus over the coming months. First, on the classics front, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers will receive a solid selection of titles – with the following being officially announced:

  • Deus Ex: The Conspiracy – 17th June
  • Twisted Metal 3 – 15th July
  • Twisted Metal 4 – 15th July
  • Resident Evil 2 – Summer
  • Resident Evil 3 – Summer

Perhaps the most exciting announcement however was the confirmation that Sword of the Sea – the next game from Giant Squid – will be a day-one PlayStation Plus Extra addition.

For the uninitiated, Giant Squid was founded in 2013 by Matt Nava, who served as art director for both Flower and Journey by ThatGameCompany. Since then, the team have released two projects: ABZU and The Pathless – both of which feature excellent visuals, satisfying gameplay and unique vibes.

Sword of the Sea looks to be the team’s best work yet, and so it is exciting to see that millions will be able to enjoy the game for ‘free’ when it launches on the 19th of August.

KitGuru says: What do you think of PlayStation Plus in 2025? Do you appreciate the occasional day-one addition? Which of the classics are you most looking forward to playing again? Let us know down below.

The post Sony teases the next 3 months of PlayStation Plus titles first appeared on KitGuru.
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Tetris Effect studio announces Lumines Arise

Tetris Effect is one of the most engaging games in recent history, taking the scientifically addictive and satisfying time-based puzzle stylings of the original game and expanding upon it with beautiful music, mesmerising visuals and engaging feedback. Developed by Enhance, the team are now tackling another classic puzzler with Lumines Arise.

Announced during the most recent PlayStation State of Play (and expanded upon via a blog post), Takashi Ishihara – the director at Enhance – officially unveiled their next project: Lumines Arise, writing:

“Life is rhythmic. It has a pulse. We, as living beings, experience highs and lows. Sometimes together, other times alone. Games have the power to tap directly into that rhythm, stimulating all your senses to put you into a flow state. Everything around you disappears, and you fall into the game’s world. When this happens, it’s a magical feeling that can stir powerful emotions within you. You’re going to feel that in spades with Lumines Arise.”

For the uninitiated, Lumines was a PlayStation Portable puzzler which takes clear inspiration from Tetris (with its block-styled gameplay and mechanics) while switching the formula to its side and adding a more direct rhythmic requirement.

Given its similarities to Tetris, having Enhance reimagine Lumines as they did with Tetris Effect feels like the perfect combination of developer and IP.

Arriving later this year in the Fall, Lumines Arise is coming to PS5 and PSVR2 – with a demo scheduled for some time this Summer.

KitGuru sys: What did you think of the State of Play? What was your favourite announcement? What other games would you like to see get the Tetris Effect treatment? Let us know down below.

The post Tetris Effect studio announces Lumines Arise first appeared on KitGuru.
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PRAGMATA shown off for the first time in years

When Sony first showed off the PlayStation 5 at the company’s ‘Future of Gaming’ showcase back in 2020, one of the most interesting titles announced was Capcom’s PRAGMAMA. In the 5 years since, the game has seen quite a few delays – going from a planned 2022 release, to 2023 and then an indefinite delay. Finally, PRAGMATA has resurfaced, showing off a bunch of gameplay and an official release year.

Announced during the most recent State of Play (and elaborated upon further via the PlayStation Blog), Cho Yonghee – the director for PRAGMATA at Capcom – wrote:

“To everyone who has been waiting so patiently for an update, and to those of you joining us today for the first time, it’s my great pleasure to be here with you.”

Described as “an all-new science fiction adventure with its own unique twist of action and strategy” we got our first proper taste of gameplay and how the dual protagonist mechanics will function.

As mentioned, PRAGMATA was first announced during the initial PS5 reveal event with a 2022 release year. Then, in late 2021 the game was pushed back to 2023 citing their desires to “ensure this will be an unforgettable adventure.”

Following this, Capcom delayed the game one more time, back during the Summer of 2023 – this time offering neither a release window nor even a release year.

Given how long ago the game was first announced, and the relative lack of updates, the re-announcement of PRAGMATA came as quite a surprise – but a welcome one to be sure.

Of course, development is far from over, and so there’s no point counting your chickens before they hatch. That said, given the fact that Capcom is confident enough to give PRAGMATA a release year, hopefully the game is indeed finally nearing completion.

KitGuru says: Were you looking forward to PRAGMATA when it was first announced? Will the game manage to hit its 2026 target? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post PRAGMATA shown off for the first time in years first appeared on KitGuru.
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Intel Nova Lake-S CPUs may use both Xe3 and Xe4 graphics architectures

A new report from a typically reliable Intel hardware leaker suggests that Intel's forthcoming Nova Lake-S desktop processors, slated for an early 2026 arrival, will feature a blend of integrated graphics architectures. While the inclusion of Xe3 integrated graphics for Nova Lake-S has been a long-standing rumour, a new rumour adds a detail that points towards a more sophisticated, hybrid approach.

According to Jaykhin, it appears that while the integrated graphics architecture of Nova Lake-S will indeed be rooted in the Xe3 “Celestial” GPU family, Intel is planning to integrate elements from Xe4 for the display and media engines. This is rather intriguing, as Xe3 graphics aren't even expected to hit volume production until early next year. Moreover, using Xe4 graphics architecture on the display and media engine could allow Intel to significantly boost media engine performance without inflating the cost of the entire GPU subsystem.

On the CPU side, Nova Lake-S is projected to arrive with a varied lineup across four primary SKU levels. The flagship model is expected to boast 52 cores, comprising 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and four low-power E-cores. For the high-end laptop and desktop segments, a 28-core variant is anticipated, featuring eight P-cores, 16 E-cores, and four low-power E-cores. The mid-range, targeting both lower-power desktop and laptop markets, might see a 16-core model with four P-cores, eight E-cores, and four low-power E-cores. Finally, an entry-level 8-core processor is rumoured to be equipped with four P-cores and four low-power E-cores.

While it remains to be seen if all SKUs will incorporate the Xe3 and Xe4 architectures, Intel's inherent tile-based strategy provides flexibility to mix and match GPU configurations to suit different market segments.

KitGuru says: Can Nova Lake-S put Intel back on track in the desktop PC segment?

The post Intel Nova Lake-S CPUs may use both Xe3 and Xe4 graphics architectures first appeared on KitGuru.
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Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak has sold over 10 million copies worldwide

Capcom's beloved Monster Hunter franchise continues to prove its immense commercial success. The company revealed that Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak has surpassed the 10 million copies sold since its 2022 release. This major achievement builds upon its strong performance in 2023, when it had already crossed the 5 million mark.

The success of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is particularly notable. Despite being a Nintendo Switch exclusive at launch and not positioned as the direct follow-up to the blockbuster Monster Hunter World, Rise moved 10 million copies worldwide. This strong showing from a “non-mainline” entry is a positive indicator for Capcom's broader franchise strategy.

The phenomenal performance of Monster Hunter Wilds further amplifies this momentum. The latest iteration in the series is proving to be a colossal sales driver for Capcom in 2025, having already shattered records by selling an astounding 10 million copies within its first month on the market. Wilds currently holds the title of the best-selling game in the US for 2025, and as Capcom proudly declared just weeks ago, the collective success of the Monster Hunter series, spearheaded by Wilds, has firmly set the company on a trajectory for a record-breaking sales year.

Capcom shows no signs of slowing down. The studio is expected to reveal a new mainline Resident Evil game soon, with whispers suggesting a reveal could happen sometime during the Summer Game Fest. Should Resident Evil 9 indeed see a release before the end of the year, the combined might of its Resident Evil and Monster Hunter could easily secure Capcom's most prosperous financial year to date.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of Monster Hunter? Did you get Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak?

The post Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak has sold over 10 million copies worldwide first appeared on KitGuru.
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Steelseries launches colorful Arctis Nova 3 Wireless headsets for PC and console gaming

SteelSeries today announced the arrival of its Arctis Nova 3 Wireless headset and the accompanying Arctis App, expanding its Arctis Nova family. This launch arrives as gaming continues its meteoric rise, with Newzoo forecasting nearly 2.9 billion global gamers by Q1 2025 and a sustained rebound in console gaming.

The new Arctis Nova 3 Wireless (3X and 3P) features custom-engineered neodymium magnetic speaker drivers developed in-house to deliver audio with deep bass and intricate detail. This is complemented by immersive 360° Spatial Audio, fully compatible with technologies like Tempest 3D Audio for PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound. Communication is crystal clear thanks to the new Arctis Nova 3 Wireless Series microphone with 32KHz/16-bit audio support.

Versatility is key with the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless series. A convenient quick-switch button allows transitions between 2.4 GHz wireless mode and Bluetooth 5.3. Mobile connections remain on standby during gaming, ensuring players receive call alerts, while separate EQ profiles maintain distinct settings for gaming and on-the-go audio. The compact USB-C dongle offers universal compatibility, effortlessly moving between Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, Meta Quest, handhelds, and USB-C-enabled devices.

Optimised USB-C rapid charging delivers up to 9 hours of usage from just a 15-minute charge. A full charge can provide over 30 hours in 2.4G wireless mode and over 40 hours when utilising Bluetooth. Comfort and durability are also important, so Steelseries designed these headsets with a tough yet flexible build with dual-hinged arms and breathable memory foam ear cushions. Weighing in at 260g, the Nova 3 Wireless Series uses height-adjustable arms and a flexible secondary cloth headband, distributing pressure evenly. These headsets are available in black, white, bright blue, and lavender for £99.99/$109.99/€109.99.

In addition to the new headset series, the Arctis App is being introduced as a central point for real-time audio customisation. This app provides access to over 200 game-specific audio presets, all crafted by audio engineers, esports experts, and game developers. This means players can fine-tune their sound profiles for popular titles such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, and GTA without leaving the game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: If you were to get the Steelseries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless, which colour would you pick?

The post Steelseries launches colorful Arctis Nova 3 Wireless headsets for PC and console gaming first appeared on KitGuru.
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Ghost of Yotei gameplay deep dive coming in July

Ghost of Yotei ended up being strangely absent from yesterday's State of Play stream. While we didn't get a new trailer, or really any new information, we did get an announcement for an announcement.

Ghost of Yotei wasn't a focus in last night's State of Play stream but Sony did reveal plans for a standalone stream to showcase the game. We'll be getting the big Ghost of Yotei deep dive in July, featuring an extended look at Sucker Punch's new open-world adventure.

Ghost of Yotei is the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima. However, it is completely disconnected from the first game, taking place hundreds of years later and in a new region of Japan. Atsu is our new main character, along with her loyal wolf companion. Set in the Hokkaido region of Japan, Atsu will be hunting down those responsible for killing her family.

Ghost of Yotei releases on October 2, 2025 for PS5. Like most PlayStation games nowadays, it will release on PC eventually, but there is no date on that yet.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Ghost of Tsushima is one of my favourite games, so I'm looking forward to the sequel, but much of my excitement will hinge on how well this gameplay showcase goes.

The post Ghost of Yotei gameplay deep dive coming in July first appeared on KitGuru.
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Nioh 3 is coming to PC and PS5, console-exclusive demo available now

Back in the PS4 generation, many studios tried to deliver ‘Souls-like' games but few were as loved as Nioh. The IP has been dormant for most of the current console generation but last night, Team Ninja announced its return with Nioh 3.

Nioh 3 is still some ways off, as there is no confirmed release date right now. All we have is a 2026 release window, leaving lots of room for delays. The new trailer gives us a brief look at the game, but those with a PS5 can jump in right now and test out the alpha demo.

In Nioh 3, players will be put in the shoes of a young warrior looking to become the next Shogun. For the first time, players will also have access to two completely different combat styles – Samurai or Ninja. The Samurai style is similar to the combat we've seen in previous Nioh games, while the Ninja style is new and specialises in keeping enemies at a distance.

Players will be able to switch seamlessly between the Samurai and Ninja styles, so if you are having a hard time with an enemy, you can quickly change tactics to put them on the ropes.

Nioh 3 will be releasing for both PS5 and PC sometime in 2026. The demo version is a PS5 exclusive and will only be available until June 18th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is great to see PC being included in the launch plans for Nioh 3, although I do hope that Team Ninja has ironed out its quirky control schemes and optimisation issues.

The post Nioh 3 is coming to PC and PS5, console-exclusive demo available now first appeared on KitGuru.
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GeForce Now gets 25 more games this month

We've reached the first Thursday of the month, which means it is time to get a preview of what's to come for GeForce Now. There will be 25 more games added to the GFN cloud library in June 2025, including plenty of brand new titles, like Dune: Awakening, MindsEye, FBC: Firebreak and more.

Some of this month's biggest games will be available to stream via GeForce Now on day-one. This includes MindsEye, the new game from former Rockstar producer, Leslie Benzies, as well as Remedy Entertainment's first co-op focused game, FBC: Firebreak. Dune: Awakening, Rematch, Dreadzone, System Shock 2 Remastered and the Borderlands trilogy are all also set to land on GeForce Now in the weeks ahead.

As for this week, the following titles are available on GeForce Now starting this week:

  • Symphonia (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, June 3)
  • Pro Cycling Manager 25 (New release on Steam, June 5)
  • Tour de France 2025 (New release on Steam, June 5)
  • Dune: Awakening – Advanced Access (New release on Steam, June 5)
  • 7 Days to Die (Xbox)
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Epic Games Store)
  • Cubic Odyssey (Steam)
  • Drive Beyond Horizons (Steam)
  • Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
  • Sea of Thieves (Battle.net)

While GeForce Now can be accessed for free, those wanting a better experience may consider upgrading to one of the paid tiers. Currently, the Performance tier membership is 40% off for a six-month membership until the 6th of July.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of this week's additions to GeForce Now? 

The post GeForce Now gets 25 more games this month first appeared on KitGuru.
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Sapphire unveils Nitro+, Pure and Pulse RX 9060 XT graphics cards

It is AMD launch day, with the new RX 9060 XT graphics cards hitting the market. Sapphire is ready to go with three custom-cooled RX 9060 XT graphics cards, – a Nitro+ model, a Pure model and a Pulse model. 

The first reviews for the RX 9060 XT went live yesterday, including one of our own, so if you are keen to see benchmarks and performance results, be sure to check that out. As a reminder, the table below includes the reference specs for the RX 9060 XT, compared with the higher tier RX 9070 GPUs and the previous-gen RX 7600 series GPUs:

RX 9070 XT RX 9070 RX 9060 XT RX 7600 XT RX 7600
Architecture RDNA 4 RDNA 4 RDNA 4 RDNA 3 RDNA 3
Manufacturing Process TSMC N4 TSMC N4 TSMC N4 6 nm 6 nm
Transistor Count 53.9 billion 53.9 billion 29.7 billion 13.3 billion 13.3 billion
Die Size  357 mm² 357 mm² 199 mm² 204 mm² 204 mm²
Compute Units 64 56 32 32 32
Ray Accelerators 64 56 32 32 32
Stream Processors  4096 3584 2048 2048 2048
Game GPU Clock 2400 MHz 2070 MHz 2530 MHz 2470 MHz 2250 MHz
Boost GPU Clock Up to 2970 MHz Up to 2520 MHz Up to 3130 MHz Up to 2755 MHz Up to 2625 MHz
ROPs 128 128 64 64 64
AMD Infinity Cache 64MB 64MB 32MB 32MB 32MB
Memory 16GB GDDR6 16GB GDDR6 8/16GB GGDR6 16GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6
Memory Data Rate 20 Gbps 20 Gbps 20 Gbps 18Gbps 18Gbps
Memory Bandwidth 645 GB/s 645 GB/s 322 GB/s 288 GB/s 288 GB/s
Memory Interface  256-bit 256-bit 128-bit 128-bit 128-bit
Board Power  304W 220W 160W 190W 165W

Sapphire has new Nitro+, Pure and Pulse RX 9060 XT graphics cards hitting the market at launch. The Nitro+ is the flagship option, offering improved cooling through its triple-fan cooler, paired with Honeywell PTM7950 thermal interface material. Other standout features include a High TG Copper PCB and a 9-phase Digital Power Design. Out of the box, the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 9060 XT graphics card will be capable of boost speeds of up to 3320MHz and a ‘Game Clock' of 2780MHz, a significant upgrade over the standard 2530MHz speed found on reference models.

The Sapphire Pure RX 9060 XT is for those looking for a white graphics card. This model uses a smaller dual-fan cooler, with an out of the box Game Clock set at 2700MHz and boost speeds of up to 3290MHz. The Sapphire Pulse RX 9060 XT offers the same spec and features as the Pure model, but with a black shroud design instead.

In case you missed it earlier in the year, Sapphire has also gone through the effort of upgrading its TriXX software, with a fresh new UI to make overclocking easier. You can use the software to adjust clock speeds, monitor hardware stats or swap between performance and efficiency profiles. The software also lets you make changes to the included ARGB strip on Sapphire graphics cards.

All three new Sapphire RX 9060 XT graphics cards are available starting today.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking to pick up an RX 9060 XT soon? Will you be opting for a Sapphire model? 

The post Sapphire unveils Nitro+, Pure and Pulse RX 9060 XT graphics cards first appeared on KitGuru.
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Sandisk WD_Black SN8100 2TB Gen 5 SSD Review

We recently reviewed the first PCIe Gen 5.0 drives from Samsung and Kingston, and now another big hitter, Sandisk, has launched its first Gen 5 drive under the WD_Black banner – the SN8100.

The WD_Black SN8100 comes in three capacities: 1TB, 2TB (the drive we are reviewing here), a flagship 4TB drive, and two versions, one plain and one with a heatsink. An 8TB model is expected later in 2025. The drive uses a combination of a SanDisk controller and Sandisk BiCS8 218-layer TLC 3D. The controller is based on Silicon Motion's SM2508 but with Sandisk's hand firmly in charge of the firmware and feature set.

The 2TB WD_Black 8100's Sequential read/write performance is rated as up to 14,900MB/s and 14,000MB/s, respectively. Both the 1TB and 4TB have the same read rating. The 4TB drive has a write rating of up to 14,000MB/s while the 1TB drive has a up to 11,000MB/s figure.

Random 4K performance is quoted as up to 2.3M IOPS for the 2TB and 4TB drives, with the 1TB drive back at up to 1.6M IOPS. All three drives are rated as up to 2.4M IOPS for random writes.

The 2TB drive's power consumption figures are quoted as 6.5W for average active reads and 7.0W for active writes, with a PS4 sleep rating of 5mW. The 2TB version of the WD_Black SN8100 has an endurance rating of 1,200 TBW, and the drive is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Physical Specifications:

  • Usable Capacities: 2TB.
  • NAND Components: BiCS TLC 3D CBA NAND.
  • NAND Controller: Sandisk (Silicon Motion SM2508).
  • Cache: 2GB.
  • Interface: PCIe Gen 5 x4, NVMe 2.0.
  • Form Factor: M.2, 2280.
  • Dimensions: 80 x 22 x 2.3mm.
  • Drive Weight: 7.5g

Firmware Version: 810YRC03.

The post Sandisk WD_Black SN8100 2TB Gen 5 SSD Review first appeared on KitGuru.
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Arc System Works is working on a Marvel fighting game for 2026

The fighting game specialists at Arc System Works have a new game on the horizon. This time around, we're getting a 4v4 brawler, based on Marvel superheroes.

There have been some legendary Marvel fighting games over the decades, but Arc System Works brings a certain level of magic to the table. Their new title, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is based on 4v4 tag team battles, featuring characters like Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Starlord, Doctor Doom, Spider-Man and Storm.

Speaking on the game's development, director Kazuto Sekine explained that while typically a tag team fighter would require a player to master multiple characters, the addition of ‘modern' control schemes allows inexperienced players to jump into the fray with simpler combos.

Arc System Works says Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will be releasing in 2026, so we'll get more news on mechanics and the character roster in the months ahead.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Dragonball FighterZ was my favourite fighting game of the Xbox One / PS4 generation. Hopefully Arc System Works can turn Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls into a staple of the genre for the PS5 generation.

The post Arc System Works is working on a Marvel fighting game for 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.
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Final Fantasy Tactics returns this year for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch

In recent years, we've heard repeatedly that Square Enix is working on a Final Fantasy Tactics remake. Last night, the game was officially announced and better yet, it is coming out in just a few months. 

Last night during Sony's State of Play stream, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles was announced. The trailer gives us a look at the graphical upgrade from the original 1997 game and the new version:

Unfortunately, the term ‘remake' seems a bit strong here. This appears to be more in-line with the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, with sharper sprites and backgrounds and reworked UI elements. If you were hoping for a more complete graphical overhaul here, then you are out of luck.

Final Fantasy Tactics first released for the PS1 back in 1997. The game returned on PSP in 2007 but we've had nothing since. This will be the first time that Final Fantasy Tactics is playable on a non-PlayStation console, with the game set for PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch at launch on the 30th of September.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The rumour mongers need to do a better job of differentiating between remakes and remasters. As exciting as the return of Final Fantasy Tactics is for fans of the original, the fact is, it still looks like a game from the 90s and that will put a lot of younger fans off. 

The post Final Fantasy Tactics returns this year for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch first appeared on KitGuru.
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007 First Light trailer gives us our first look at IOI’s James Bond in action

The IOI Showcase isn't due to go live until tomorrow but in the meantime, the studio made a quick appearance during Sony's State of Play stream last night. Ahead of tomorrow's showcase, we now have a new trailer for 007 First Light, IO Interactive's original James Bond game. 

The announcement trailer is quite lengthy, coming in at over 3-minutes long. It is a cinematic trailer, but there are some small snippets of gameplay thrown in.

Based on the trailer, we'll be picking up at Bond's earliest days as a spy, going through training before setting out on a mission to capture 009, a rogue agent. The game looks to promise car chases, stealth sections where you'll make use of your spy gadgets and both gun fights and fist fights.

We'll be getting more information on 007 First Light at the IOI Showcase tomorrow. Alongside the James Bond game, IO will be showing off the latest updates for HITMAN: World of Assassination, as well as MindsEye, a new game from former Rockstar producer, Leslie Benzies, developed by Build a Rocket Boy and published by IO Interactive.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What did you think of the 007 First Light announcement trailer? 

The post 007 First Light trailer gives us our first look at IOI’s James Bond in action first appeared on KitGuru.
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No Man’s Sky Beacon Update available now

Following their last major patch in late March, Hello Games is back with another massive free update to No Man’s Sky. Available right now, the Beacon Update brings with it settlement overhauls; building improvements and much more.

Available to download right now for free (as always), the Beacon Update focuses on No Man’s Sky’s building and settlement systems, with just some of the change/additions including:

  • The ability to oversee 4 different settlements
  • Historical records for your settlements
  • New Pyrotechnic spectacles for settlements
  • Rare Autophage settlements, populated by secretive robotic lifeforms and assembled from scrap and crystal
  • Inspect building details
  • Weathered construction materials
  • Completely reworked settlement systems offering greater choice and depth
  • Settler personalities

It continues:

  • Citizen disputes have been completely reworked and expanded
  • Expanded settlement customisation
  • New Autophage settlers
  • Settlement squadrons
  • New exosuit voice options
  • Settlement fishing
  • Richer citizen guidance
  • Custom resource production
  • Player voice options
  • New base parts
  • Much, much more

As with most No Man’s Sky updates, Hello Games have focused on one of the game’s many aspects and overhauled it to the nth degree. With so many of the game’s elements being improved, it feels as though there is very little else that Hello Games can do to enhance the experience further.

As we’ve seen for almost a decade now however, the journey of No Man’s Sky continues.

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KitGuru says: What did you think of the settlement mechanics previously? Are you excited to check out the update? What else does Hello Games have left to add to No Man’s Sky? Let us know down below.

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Playground Games founder claims Forza has made more money than GT, NFS and F1 combined

Though not the face of the Xbox brand, the Forza series is certainly one of Microsoft’s biggest – with Forza Horizon 5 alone seeing over 45 million players. According to the former co-founder of Playground Games, Forza has made more revenue than “Gran Turismo, F1, Need For Speed and The Crew put together.”

In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, discussing their latest creative endeavour with Lighthouse Games, the former co-founder and studio head of Playground Games – Gavin Raeburn – offered an interesting perspective on the success of the Forza Horizon series, claiming:

“The racing market now is very healthy, it's very good, it's doing well. But if you look at the market, you look at Horizon…the number of people I've spoken to who’ve played Horizon who would say, ‘I didn't think I like racing games, but I love Horizon' – it's been hugely successful.”

Playground Games Forza

According to Raeburn, “If you look at the revenue earning of that game now, it beats Gran Turismo, F1, Need For Speed and The Crew put together. That's before Horizon went over to PlayStation. That's massive. I think what that’s done to the market, though, [is] all the other racing developers are now copying a lot of that Horizon formula.”

While the former head of Playground Games would certainly have greater access to the sales and revenue of the Forza series (and maybe even its contemporaries), it is left unclear as to how this was calculated – especially with a majority of the 45 million players likely having done so through Game Pass.

Regardless, there’s no denying that Forza Horizon is a massive series by this point. It will be interesting to see how the inevitable Forza Horizon 6 performs.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of these claims? What’s your favourite current-gen racing game? Does it make sense to compare sim-racers and arcadey open-world racers? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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40% of iOS Fortnite players are using Epic’s payment system

All the way back in 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from its iOS app store following Epic’s inclusion of an alternative in-app payment system. This of course led to years of legal back and forths, with Fortnite finally returning to Apple devices last month. It seems as though all the trouble Epic went through might have been worth it, with millions of iPhone users flocking back to the game.

In an interview (conducted by The Verge) with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, it was revealed that in the time since Fortnite was re-added back to the iOS App Store on the 20th of May, the game has already amassed 10 million downloads.

Far more interesting however is the revelation that 40% of these 10 million users have opted for Epic’s own in-app payment system over Apple’s. Considering the fact that the entire legal battle between Epic and Apple surrounded these payment systems, it is likely a relief for them to see the system actually being used. Of course, the added incentives which Epic gives you for using their payment system likely helped out.

Fortnite iOS

That said, Sweeney appears to have greater ambitions still, telling The Verge: “As we get more players to associate payment methods with their Epic accounts, we’ll see a higher rate of adoption, and I would hope that it would be above 50 percent.”

While ultimately the legal battle bottled down to a Trillion Dollar and a Multi-Billion Dollar company wanting to make more billions, the results are interesting to see nonetheless.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you one of the 10 million new Fortnite players on iOS? How do you think the ratio between Epic and Apple’s services will shake out in the long-term? Let us know down below.

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Undead Labs tease State of Decay 3 ahead of Xbox Showcase

With the Summer game announcement season officially underway, many studios have begun to tease their plans for the coming weeks. Ahead of the impending Xbox Games Showcase, Undead Labs – the team behind State of Decay 3 – have released a cryptic teaser image online.

Publishing a cryptic image to its social media pages, the team behind State of Decay 3 – Undead Labs – appear to be hinting at their presence during Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Games Showcase; set to go live on the 8th of June at 6pm BST.

Though the image in question gives very little away (aside from being stylised similarly to the studio's revamped logo), one reply translated the runes as stating “LOOK BEYOND TO UNDERSTAND” – though regardless this is clearly teasing State of Decay 3.

Undead Labs State of Decay 3

Announced all the way back in 2020, we’ve seen very little from State of Decay 3, with the most significant being a cinematic trailer during last year’s showcase.

Given how long ago it was announced, hopefully the team at Undead Labs are ready to show off State of Decay 3 with a bunch of gameplay – and maybe even a release date. We won't have to wait long to find out.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the Xbox Showcase? What game are you wanting to see the most? Could State of Decay 3 arrive this year? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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Corsair HX1500i (Gen 4 2025) Power Supply Review

3 years have passed since my review of the HX1500i power supply and today we take a look at the updated 4th Generation unit for 2025. These new units are Platinum Certified, fully modular and are clearly targeting the high end audience rocking an RTX 5090 or similar graphics card. Corsair are offering two models, a 1200W and a 1500W – the latter of which we are reviewing today.

As well as a new modified design, Corsair have updated the 2025 model with braided cables with low profile combs and the PSU ships with dual 12V-2×6 cables.

Both of these new 4th Generation HXi power supplies have achieved the excellent Cybenetics Platinum certification – which is a much more important certification than the dated 80 Plus platform. Both supplies are ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 ready and feature a 140mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan as well as 105c rated Japanese capacitors. Corsair are offering a full 10 year warranty with both of these new power supplies.

If you don't know already, the ‘i' in the product name means they support iCUE (Corsair Software) so you can get full Digital control through the desktop software.

This software allows you to override the default settings and create custom fan profiles as well as monitoring power settings. You can also use the software to switch between single or multi rail overcurrent protection (OCP). Corsair are working with Channel Well Technology (CWT) as the OEM manufacturer of these power supplies, in partnership with their own engineering team behind the scenes.

Includes:

  • Compatible with next-gen GPUs
  • Dual 12V-2×6 cables
  • Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan with Zero RPM mode
  • 105°C rated 100% Japanese electrolytic capacitors
  • 10-year warranty
  • Intel® ATX 3.1 certified, PCIe 5.1 compatible
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Nvidia’s rumoured Arm-based APU might debut in Alienware gaming laptops

Nvidia's long-rumoured Arm-based PC APU might finally see the light of day in Alienware laptops as early as this year. Based on the latest rumours, the green team's new chip could potentially cause a seismic shift in the Windows on Arm landscape, currently dominated by Qualcomm.

According to a report from the United Daily News, Nvidia is collaborating closely with MediaTek to forge an APU that blends an Arm-based CPU with Nvidia's Blackwell GPU architecture. Dell is reported as one of the first customers, with claims of an Alienware laptop being one of the first products to hit the market.

Currently, the Windows on Arm market primarily relies on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, so if the claims are true, Nvidia could be the first major competitor. The addition of Nvidia graphics could also help solve some lingering compatibility issues with some games on Arm devices.

Speculation around Nvidia's Arm-based CPU first surfaced in 2023, hinting at a direct challenge to Intel's established desktop chips and Qualcomm's Arm offerings. However, Nvidia isn't the sole contender eyeing Qualcomm's current lead in the Arm-based PC CPU/APU segment. MediaTek is also rumoured to be developing its own Arm CPU for PC, and recent reports claim AMD is also working on an Arm-based chip specifically for Microsoft Surface computers.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Can Nvidia's new APU change the gaming laptop landscape?

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Razer HyperFlux V2 offers wireless mouse charging through the mouse mat

Razer has unveiled its new wireless charging system: the Razer HyperFlux V2. This unique charging solution liberates gaming mice from docks and cables, offering continuous wireless power directly from the mouse mat, similar to how Logitech Powerplay works.

The HyperFlux V2 wireless charging system delivers a consistent power flow straight through the mouse mat, ensuring your mouse is ready for action, allowing you to maintain focus on the game without distractions. Understanding that every gamer has their preference, the HyperFlux V2 system offers two distinct surface options. The Hard Surface Edition is engineered for effortless glides, providing minimal friction for swift swipes. For those who demand meticulous control and pixel-perfect precision, the Cloth Surface Edition offers a more tactile experience.

Beyond its core charging innovation, the HyperFlux V2 boasts intelligent features designed for seamless integration. Expect effortless auto-pairing, where simply placing your mouse on the mat instantly establishes a connection with no additional setup required. Furthermore, the HyperFlux V2 brings HyperSpeed Multi-Device Support, allowing your compatible Razer mouse and keyboard to connect directly to the mouse mat, consolidating your wireless ecosystem. A clear LED charging indicator shows battery levels, enabling users to charge their mouse to their preferred capacity and extend its lifespan. Finally, an anti-slip rubber base ensures its stability, keeping the mat firmly in place while gaming.

While the HyperFlux V2 offers seamless multi-device communication for compatible Razer mice (including the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, V3 Pro, Cobra Pro, and Naga V2 Pro) and select Razer keyboards (Razer BlackWidow V4 Mini HyperSpeed, Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro, Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro, and Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro Tenkeyless), the wireless charging functionality is exclusively for the mice. The HyperFlux V2 wireless charging system is now available for £119.99/$119.99/€139.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: The HyperFlux V2 wireless charging system looks like a very cool product, but for that price, it seems it's not for everyone.

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Thermaltake’s new MAGFlow Ultra AIO coolers promise striking visuals and peak performance

Just two weeks on from Computex, Thermaltake has new products to launch. This week, Thermaltake has unveiled the new MAGFloe 360 Ultra ARGB Sync and MAGFloe 420 Ultra ARGB Sync AIOs, which promise to combine striking visuals with peak performance. 

The centrepiece of the MAGFloe Ultra series is its 3.95-inch square LCD with a 480×480 resolution. This full-colour panel transforms your cooler into a dynamic canvas for personal expression, as users can keep a real-time eye on CPU and GPU metrics, display system information, or even add a touch of flair with GIFs, personal photos, and videos. This is easily managed through Thermaltake's TT RGB Plus software or TT PlayLink mobile app, adding personality and practical utility to any high-performance build.

In a pioneering move for Thermaltake AIOs, the MAGFloe Ultra introduces swappable reversed fan blades. This design allows builders to alter airflow direction without purchasing additional fans, simplifying push-pull configurations and adapting to various case layouts. It's a thoughtful touch that reduces cost and clutter and ensures optimal cooling performance and visual harmony within a meticulously crafted system. Further streamlining the building process is the updated MagForce 2.0 magnetic connection mechanism. Fans can now be daisy-chained with a single cable, while upgraded pogo-pin contact pads deliver enhanced stability and signal integrity for a clean and reliable installation.

Available in black and white finishes, the MAGFloe 360/420 Ultra coolers use 27-mm-thick radiators, a powerful yet low-noise pump, and a precision-engineered copper cold plate that work in unison to dissipate heat efficiently. Even at their peak 2000 RPM, the included fans maintain a commendable level of quiet operation. Lastly, these new AIOs are fully compatible with the Intel LGA1851 and AMD AM5 sockets.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the new MAGFloe AIO coolers? Would you like one of these for your rig? 

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Asus launches new TUF Gaming Series Five QHD and WQHD gaming monitors

Asus has just revealed its brand-new TUF Gaming Series Five displays. These are the 27-inch VG27AQML5A QHD monitor and the VG34WQML5A UWQHD monitor, both of which offer high refresh rates, low response times, and a suite of gaming features for users to explore.

Starting with the TUF Gaming VG27AQML5A, this 27-inch QHD IPS monitor boasts a 300Hz refresh rate and a 0.3ms response. If you value the immersion offered by curved monitors, you'll likely choose the VG34WQML5A, a UWQHD VA panel that delivers a 250Hz (OC) refresh rate and a 0.5ms response time. Both models benefit from the full suite of Series Five enhancements, ensuring an exceptional visual and interactive experience.

These enhancements include Adaptive Sync technologies like Nvidia G-Sync (VG27AQML5A only) and AMD FreeSync Premium, Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) Sync, and Gaming AI features, such as a dynamic crosshair (adjusts its colour to contrast with the background), Dynamic Shadow Boost, and the DisplayWidget Centre software. Both monitors also cover 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and are VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified.

These two monitors come with HAS stands with tilt, swivel, and pivot capabilities. Each model also has a VESA 100×100 mounting point and a pair of 2W speakers. As for connectivity options, the VG27AQML5A has a DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, an audio jack, and a USB-C 3.2 Gen1 port. On the other hand, the VG34WQML5A has 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, an audio jack, and a USB hub with 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen1 ports.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Which of the two new TUF Gaming Series Five monitors do you prefer?

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Activision says COD loadout screen ads were from an internal test

Earlier this week, fans spotted new advert slots within the loadout screen in Call of Duty. The move quickly sparked backlash but now, Activision has backtracked, claiming that it was all just a test that wasn't supposed to go public.

On the official Call of Duty Updates channel, Activision released the following statement: “A UI feature test that surfaced select store content in the Loadout menus was published in the Season 04 update in error. This feature has now been removed from the live game.”

Fans should no longer see the in-store item adverts in the loadout menu anymore. However, the fact that something like this already exists means there is a chance that it will return in some form or another. Call of Duty already has ads for store items in the splash screens when you first launch the game, but it seems clear that Microsoft wants to find more ways to convert players into premium skin buyers.

Of course, this year's COD is now in its final few months, as COD 2025 will be announced later this month. COD 2025 is expected to be one of the first Microsoft games sell for $80 at launch, following in Nintendo's footsteps with Mario Kart World.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There would be reasons for a free to play game to do this but Call of Duty is a full-priced title each year and is filled with microtransactions.

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AMD RX 9060 XT 16GB Review ft. ASUS

Following on from the RX 9070 and 9070 XT that hit the market earlier this year, AMD's RDNA 4 architecture is now going mainstream with the release of the RX 9060 XT. Just like the RTX 5060 Ti, this GPU is available in both 8 and 16GB variants, but it is the latter we are focused on today. With an MSRP of £315/$349, it is the only current-gen GPU to offer more than 12GB VRAM for less than £400, while it's still cheaper than even Nvidia's 5060 Ti 8GB. Interested? Let's take a closer look…

Just like the RX 9070 and 9070 XT, there's no reference (or MBA) card for the RX 9060 XT 16GB, and instead AMD sampled us with the ASUS Prime model. This card does come factory overclocked, but as regular readers will know, we manually test all GPUs at reference specifications for these day one reviews, so we can ensure that all testing is ‘apples to apples.'

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:48 9060 XT recap, specs
01:49 Test setup
02:46 Alan Wake 2
03:16 Black Myth: Wukong
03:43 Cyberpunk 2077
04:15 Dragon Age: The Veilguard
04:48 Final Fantasy XVI
05:10 Ghost of Tsushima
05:37 Horizon Forbidden West
06:12 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
06:45 Plague Tale: Requiem
07:04 Ratchet and Clank
07:40 Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
08:08 Starfield
08:49 Performance summary
10:31 Cost per frame analysis
11:36 Ray tracing benchmarks
14:38 FSR 4
16:02 Meet the ASUS Prime model
16:46 Clocks, thermals, acoustics
17:52 Power draw + efficiency
19:36 Closing thoughts

 

RX 9070 XT RX 9070 RX 9060 XT RX 7600 XT RX 7600
Architecture RDNA 4 RDNA 4 RDNA 4 RDNA 3 RDNA 3
Manufacturing Process TSMC N4 TSMC N4 TSMC N4 6 nm 6 nm
Transistor Count 53.9 billion 53.9 billion 29.7 billion 13.3 billion 13.3 billion
Die Size  357 mm² 357 mm² 199 mm² 204 mm² 204 mm²
Compute Units 64 56 32 32 32
Ray Accelerators 64 56 32 32 32
Stream Processors  4096 3584 2048 2048 2048
Game GPU Clock 2400 MHz 2070 MHz 2530 MHz 2470 MHz 2250 MHz
Boost GPU Clock Up to 2970 MHz Up to 2520 MHz Up to 3130 MHz Up to 2755 MHz Up to 2625 MHz
ROPs 128 128 64 64 64
AMD Infinity Cache 64MB 64MB 32MB 32MB 32MB
Memory 16GB GDDR6 16GB GDDR6 8/16GB GGDR6 16GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6
Memory Data Rate 20 Gbps 20 Gbps 20 Gbps 18Gbps 18Gbps
Memory Bandwidth 645 GB/s 645 GB/s 322 GB/s 288 GB/s 288 GB/s
Memory Interface  256-bit 256-bit 128-bit 128-bit 128-bit
Board Power  304W 220W 160W 190W 165W

First, let's take a quick look at the specs. The RX 9060 XT is built on the new Navi 44 die, measuring just 199mm², and it's worth pointing out this is a monolithic chip, so AMD is not using a chiplet-based design as per RDNA 3. In total, Navi 44 silicon packs in 29.7 billion transistors.

As a full implementation of Navi 44, the RX 9060 XT packs in 32 Compute Units, and each CU houses 64 Stream Processors, for a total of 2048 shaders. There's also 32 Ray Accelerators – one per CU – and 64 ROPs.

As for clock speed, the RX 9060 XT has the highest speeds of any RDNA 4 GPU so far, given it sports a rated game clock of 2530MHz and a boost clock of up to 3130MHz.

The memory configuration offers either 8 or 16GB of GDDR6 memory clocked at 20Gbps, operating over a 128-bit memory interface, for total memory bandwidth of 322 GB/s. 32MB of Infinity Cache is also present.

Power draw for the RX 9060 XT is rated at 160W Total Board Power (TBP), but we are using our updated GPU power testing methodology in this review, so read on for our most detailed power and efficiency testing yet.

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The Witcher 4 gameplay demo created separately from main game

Yesterday during the State of Unreal livestream, CD Projekt Red showcased a healthy chunk of gameplay from The Witcher 4. The tech demo showcased Ciri on a monster contract mission in the region of Kovir, which has not appeared in any of the previous games.

While CDPR did use this opportunity to confirm that The Witcher 4 will, at least in part, take place in Kovir, the tech demo was an isolated build, so it didn't contain any content actually taken from the game. Instead, what we saw is supposed to represent the level of fidelity and performance that the team is aiming for.

“This is a tech demo, and a first look at the cutting-edge technology powering The Witcher 4 – but not The Witcher 4 itself”, a CDPR spokesperson told VGC. “It showcases the powerful foundation we’re building in close collaboration with Epic Games to push open-world design further than ever before and the core systems and features we’re developing using Unreal Engine 5.”

It is worth noting something similar to this took place with The Witcher 3. An E3 tech demo showcased a version of the game that did not line up with the final product. The art and assets for the game are likely to be heavily tweaked throughout development.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What did you think of the tech demo? Do you think we'll get a similar level of fidelity and performance in the final game?

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SEGA announces Sonic Blitz for iOS / Android

Back in 2023, SEGA announced that they had acquired Rovio – the team behind the classic smartphone game Angry Birds. It appears the studio has been hard at work under SEGA, with a new collectible card game – Sonic Blitz – having been officially announced for mobile devices.

Making the announcement via a press release, SEGA officially detailed the previously-leaked Sonic Blitz, writing:

“Sonic Blitz is a collectible card game with an emphasis on lightning-fast gameplay that is easy to jump into at any time. Sonic Blitz draws on the rich roster of characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe to create a diverse pool of cards that players can collect, upgrade, and assemble into strategic decks to take on opponents in fast-paced one-on-one battles that unfold in a matter of minutes.”

Sonic Blitz SEGA

Seemingly inspired by the success of Marvel Snap, Pokemon TCG Pocket and the like, SEGA isn’t wasting any time in getting the game in the hands of users, confirming that Sonic Blitz “will move into a technical launch in the Philippines starting today. During the technical test period, the game will be available for download on iOS and Android devices directly from the App Store and Google Play Store in the Philippines.”

Curiously, though unlikely to be the case, the company seems to suggest that a global launch is not guaranteed, writing: “The purpose of the limited technical test is to identify and resolve potential issues that may arise, as well as identifying gameplay improvements and evaluating the overall player experience. During this period, the Sonic Blitz developers will be actively looking into the game’s metrics and performance to determine its potential for a future global launch.”

Sonic has a massive roster of popular characters within its IP, and so creating a digital card game makes sense. Whether it will see the same success as Pokemon TCG Pocket and Marvel Snap, we will have to wait and find out.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Sonic Blitz? Is SEGA jumping on the bandwagon too late? Who’s your favourite Sonic character? Let us know down below.

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Hollow Knight Silksong Steam page updated for the first time in over a year

It’s become a bit of a joke at this point to speculate on the release date for Hollow Knight Silksong, given how we’ve been waiting for more than 6 years now since its initial announcement. That said, it seems as though finally – FINALLY – Silksong could be almost upon us, with the game’s Steam page currently seeing a ton of behind-the-scenes activity.

As discovered by ResetEra user CommodoreKong, the Steam page for Hollow Knight Silksong has seen a bunch of changes over the past day, with SteamDB noting 3 separate updates to Silksong’s package in the past 24 hours.

Prior to this, the last package update was roughly a year ago – though no real activity has occurred since all the way back in 2019 when the game was first announced and added to the database.

Silksong Hollow Knight

As mentioned, rumours have persisted for years regarding when we might finally get to play Hollow Knight: Silksong. That said, the stars do seem to be finally aligning, with the game being present at the Switch 2 Direct alongside a 2025 release year – as well as a slight tease from Xbox in recent months.

Could this all be hopium? Maybe, but given the fact that we are about to enter ‘not-E3’ season, now would be the time for an announcement.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you still excited for Silksong? Can it live up to the half a decade of hype? When do you think the game will launch? Let us know down below.

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Rumoured God of War spin-off is reportedly a 2.5D metroidvania

Earlier this year, a rumour popped up claiming that God of War was set to receive a surprise spin-off title some time in 2025. Though little else was known at the time, insiders have now revealed it to be a 2.5D metroidvania.

In the wake of the announcement that Sony would be hosting a State of Play on the 4th of June, known industry insider Tom Henderson was asked about the rumoured God of War spin-off and whether it will be present at the show.

In response, Henderson claimed to be “Hearing a lot of scuttlebutt about the 2.5D/metroidvania game or whatever it will be, yeah” – indicating that it could indeed be announced at the State of Play.

Interestingly however, the insider added that the game “Seems to be much smaller in scale than what I initially thought,” though no further elaboration was made.

God of War Metroidvania

Despite persisting for over two decades now, the God of War franchise has remained mostly static in its presentation and genre – with the original trilogy and its spin-offs being hack and slash spectacle fighters with a slight emphasis on puzzles and platforming.

Of course, we’ve since gotten the God of War soft ‘reboot’ in 2018 followed by Ragnarok in 2022 – both being over-the-shoulder action-adventure oriented titles with a more Souls-like inspired combat alongside RPG elements.

That said, a 2.5D metroidvania God of War could actually work really well, especially if it leans more closely to the original trilogy’s gameplay. Regardless, it will be exciting to see exactly what Sony Santa Monica has in store.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for a potential metroidvania God of War? Do you welcome a more small-scale experience? What other popular franchises would work well as a metroidvania? Let us know down below.

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Studio behind Tales of Kenzera: ZAU announces first-person horror game ‘Dead Take’

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an underrated side-scrolling metroidvania which released back in 2024 as the debut title from Surgent Studios. In a surprising move, the team’s follow-up project is perhaps the furthest thing from a side-scrolling metroidvania – having now announced ‘Dead Take’: A first-person Psychological Horror.

Making the surprise announcement, the team at Surgent Studios and Pocketpair Publishing officially unveiled Dead Take: a first-person survival horror experience in which “you play as an actor who becomes uneasy when your friend won't answer the phone. Delve into the gilded rot of the entertainment industry and show up at the last place he was before he went quiet: a dark, opulent mansion.”

While certainly different to Tales of Kenzera, Dead Take continues in the steps of Surgent Studios’ first title with an emphasis on a single-player story which is “shaped by real experiences” – this time in the entertainment industry.

Though far from the best metroidvania around, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU represented a great start for the studio, especially being the team’s first game. It will be interesting to see how Dead Take is received when it arrives some time later this year. Full details on the game can be found HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Tales of Kenzera? Are you surprised by the shift in genre for Surgent Studios’ follow-up game? Let us know down below.

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Early RX 9060 XT overclocking benchmarks spotted

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT has reportedly become available early through unofficial channels. Redditor “uesato_hinata” shared images and screenshots of the card running with a modified driver.

Initial findings regarding the card's overclocking capabilities suggest that users won't be able to increase the VRAM speed, as the Reddit user could not exceed 2538MHz without crashing. However, the GPU frequency was boosted by 200MHz with a -40 mV voltage offset and a 10% increase in power limit. The card has a maximum Total Board Power of 182W, but after overclocking and undervolting, the user achieved 3.46GHz at 199W. In terms of performance, the RX 9060 XT scored 17,069 in Time Spy, putting it at the same level as a Radeon RX 7700 XT.

 

Moreover, another Reddit user (via VideoCardz) shared the results of a leaked review, giving a better picture of how the upcoming Radeon RX 9060 XT compares against other GPUs. Compared to the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, the RX 9060 XT 16GB was 3.5% faster in 1% lows but 3.6% slower in average FPS at 1080p. In 1440p, the RX 9060 XT was 7.8% faster in 1% lows but 5.6% slower in average FPS. Lastly, with ray tracing at 1080p, the RX 9060 XT was notably slower, with 1% lows being 10.5% lower and average FPS 10.1% lower than the RTX 5060 Ti.

AMD plans to release the Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards on June 5th. These cards are expected to be cheaper than the RTX 5060 Ti, going for £269.99 for the most affordable 8GB cards to £359.99 for the 16GB models.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do these performance figures match your expectations for the Radeon RX 9060 XT? Are you thinking about getting one?

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Sony will host 40-minute PS5 State of Play stream tomorrow

It looks like Sony is looking to make some new headlines ahead of the Switch 2 launch later this week. Today, Sony confirmed that a new State of Play stream is due to take place, airing tomorrow, June 4th. 

The next PlayStation State of Play stream will be taking place tomorrow at 10PM BST. The stream will be over 40 minutes long, which means we will be getting quite a few substantial announcements for upcoming PS5 titles.

The stream will give us a preview of what is coming to PS5 in the months ahead. Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country are two titles likely to get a trailer. The big focus is likely to be Ghost of Yotei, the long-awaited sequel to Ghost of Tsushima.

It is unclear if Bungie will have much of a presence during this stream. While Marathon was poised to launch in September, the recent alpha playtest led to mixed reception and on top of that, Bungie was found to have been using stolen art … again. With all of the negativity surrounding Bungie at the moment, we'll either see things going quiet on Marathon for a while, or Sony will attempt to override the recent bad press with fresh new headlines about the game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Will you be tuning into this week's State of Play stream? Are there any already announced games you're hoping to get an update on?

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Computex 2025: Montech’s most ambitious line-up yet

Montech has released some very interesting cases in recent years. This week at Computex, Leo stopped by their booth to get a look at all the latest in PC cases, as well as some new coolers and peripherals.

Timestamps:

  • 00:10 Intro
  • 00:31 AIO’s and Air Coolers
  • 02:44 Ten Chassis
  • 04:34 Sky 3 Glass
  • 05:41 X5 / X5M
  • 06:36 King 45
  • 07:39 HS02 3D
  • 08:17 Air 2000
  • 08:54 Power Supplies
  • 09:53 Mice and Keyboards
  • 10:22 King 15

After walking past the pyramid of fans, Leo makes his way to the new Montech Hyperflow AIO liquid coolers. These coolers are available in 240mm and 360mm radiator sizes. Joining the line-up in Q3 is the brand new Hyperflow Digital 360, which has an embedded display over the pump block. It is a trend we've seen a lot of this year, but Montech has included thicker 28mm fans, rather than the standard 25mm for improved performance. Later in the year, the Cyberflow 360 will also hit the market, which Montech claims will improve cooling by as much as 20 percent compared to some current models.

For air coolers, Montech offers the NX600 and NX400, with or without ARGB lighting. The NX600 has a dual-tower heatsink, making it more appropriate for higher-end, power-hungry CPUs, while the NX400 is a single-tower heatsink, making it good for compact builds and mid-range processors.

On to cases and the first on our list is the Montech Ten, which is still in pre-production, so it won't be available anytime soon. It is a small form factor chassis, aimed at those who want a sensibly-sized and easily movable gaming system for the living room, or events like LANs. The SKY 3 Glass, however, is coming soon and it looks as nice as you would expect based on its name. This is a case all about showing off hardware and ARGB lights. A mesh version is also going to be available but unfortunately the sample for Computex was damaged in transit and as a result, we did not get to see it.

The Montech X5 looks to be the new go-to for anyone looking for a larger tower case without breaking the bank. We're told it will cost around £65, which is a good deal for the amount of space you get, with plenty of room for fans and cooling hardware. A Micro-ATX version, the X5M, is also available for those looking for something a bit more compact, but still in the traditional desktop tower style.

The King 45 is one of Montech's pricier cases at $120, but it comes with four ARGB fans, three in the floor of the case for GPU cooling and one in the rear for exhaust. That leaves the roof open for a 360mm radiator for the CPU, giving you everything you need for a high-end gaming PC. The King 15 is now also on the way, offering the same aesthetics in a smaller package for more compact PCs.

The Montech HS02 is another noteworthy case, as we reviewed a previous version of the case fairly recently. Two things have changed in the HS02, for starters, the rear panel is now glass, and secondly, they have made some extra space in the roof for AIO cooler installation.

The final case on our tour of Montech is the AIR 2000, which is coming in Q2 next year, so this is a very early look. This is a mid-tower case with a mesh front panel and other mesh cutouts, a large tempered glass window on the side, and below that, a digital LCD screen. The twist here is that the digital display can also be used as a fan controller, with buttons to raise or lower speeds.

We've been impressed by the Montech Century II power supply. In 2026, Montech will be adding the Gamma 3 PSU to its roster, which offers compliancy for the latest standards like PCI 5.1 and ATX 3.1, all the cables you'll need and an 80Plus Gold efficiency rating. These will be a decent and inexpensive option, as we're told the 650W version will be priced at $60, or $70 for the 850W version.

KitGuru Says: What did you make of Montech's massive Computex line-up? Is there anything here you'll be looking to get your hands on for a new PC build?

The post Computex 2025: Montech’s most ambitious line-up yet first appeared on KitGuru.
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Computex 2025: Antec debuts 20th Anniversary 900 case, Core Micro handheld and more

At Computex this week, Mat hit up the Antec booth to check out the latest cases and coolers. In this video, he goes over all the noteworthy additions to the line-up. 

@kitgurutech

ANTEC @ Computex 2025 – New 900 Case, handhelds and PSU's #antec #computex2025 #antec900

♬ original sound – KitGuru – KitGuru

On the AIO cooler front, Antec is going big and bold with the Vortex View. Announced slightly before Computex, this AIO cooler takes the idea of an integrated display to the next level with a massive 5-inch IPS display.

The Antec 900 case has its 20th anniversary this year, so the case is back on the market in a new range of colours, complete with the dual 200mm fans in the front panel. In the video above, you can see some example builds to showcase everything you can do with this case.

The Antec Core HS Handheld has arrived, using an Intel Core 8840U processor and Xe integrated graphics for handheld PC gaming. Thanks to the updated chip and design tweaks, the Core HS has improved thermals and battery life compared to its predecessor.

The Core Micro is another interesting handheld. This one is shaped a bit more like a GameBoy Advanced Micro, but slightly larger and you get the benefit of dual analogue sticks. This is an Android handheld, intended for playing retro games and, well, anything you can get to run from the Google Play Store.

KitGuru Says: With a few easily sourced emulators, the Antec Core Micro could be a killer little handheld for retro games. 

The post Computex 2025: Antec debuts 20th Anniversary 900 case, Core Micro handheld and more first appeared on KitGuru.
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Computex 2025: Cooler Master brings back the Cosmos

This week at Computex, Mat took a quick trip to Cooler Master HQ. Here, we get a preview of the next-generation Cosmos case, as well as new Freeform 2.0 modular case designs and even a Cooler Master graphics card.

@kitgurutech

Cooler Master @ Computex 2025 – they made a GPU?! #computex2025 #coolermaster #pcgaming #cases #coolers #argb

♬ original sound – KitGuru – KitGuru

The Cosmos 2025 is in pre-production, so what we showed in our video above is a mock-up. However, it does look fantastic with its convex front panel, and the interior is absolutely massive, so you'll have plenty of space to work with when putting together a build or upgrading.

The MasterFrame series of PC cases is getting a refresh under Cooler Master's new Freeform 2.0 initiative. We got to see the MasterFrame 600 and 400 up close, both based on modular parts, so builders are free to move things around and swap out panels and parts as necessary.

On to air coolers, and we find that Cooler Master has a new slate of V-series CPU coolers. They all feature 3D heat pipes, which runs the heat pipe through the middle of the fin stack to better distribute heat. This new heatpipe design will be used in the massive Cooler Master V8 GTS cooler, and the more tame V4 cooler.

Another area of focus for Cooler Master this year is a complete refresh of its Elite series of PC cases. The new versions will be more budget-friendly compared to the earlier cases we looked at. The new line-up comes with fans pre-installed and the goal is to have each Elite series case hit $100 or less.

Finally we have this unique Cooler Master graphics card. What we see on the video is an ROG Astral RTX 5090 graphics card, with the plastic shroud replaced with a Cooler Master shroud with new fans. Cooler Master uses these to replace the shrouds in GPUs shipped in its pre-built PCs.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of Cooler Master's new line-up for 2025? Will you be keeping your eye on anything for an upcoming build?

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Computex 2025: Sudokoo shows off new flagship coolers and fans

At Computex this week, Mat met with the cooling specialists at Sudokoo. In this video, we check out their flagship CPU cooler, as well as a few other upcoming products.

@kitgurutech

Sudokoo @ Computex 2025 – new coolers and fans! #computex2025 #sudokoo #proteus360 #aio #rgb

♬ original sound – KitGuru – KitGuru

Our first point of call is Sudokoo's new flagship air cooler, the SK620V. This cooler is available in black or white and currently only comes with mounting hardware for AMD motherboards, so you'll want to pair this with an AM5 socket CPU. One of the standout features is a slide rail for the front fan, so you can move it up or down depending on how much room you need for RAM. The SK700V is a more expensive version of the cooler with a digital display embedded in the top shroud.

Sudokoo has its own case fans too. The Mach 140 and Mach 120 are 30mm thick, and the panels around the fan shroud can be replaced, so you can 3D print your own for a personalised touch.

As for liquid calling, Sudokoo's flagship AIO cooler is the Proteus 420, which is still a work in progress. However, the Proteus 360 is currently available on the market, featuring those same Mach fans detailed above. It also has a fully removable and rotatable pump cap.

Tying the whole Sudokoo ecosystem together is the Mastercraft software, which is used to control the displays and the lighting on various products. They've got plans to add more advanced fan curves in the future, so expect feature updates over time.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see more CPU air coolers with displays along the top of the heatsink?

The post Computex 2025: Sudokoo shows off new flagship coolers and fans first appeared on KitGuru.
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