While predominantly seen as a console-focused studio, ATLUS announced back in 2021 that they wanted to bring more of their titles (past and future) to additional platforms. Since then, we’ve seen the likes of Persona 5, P3R, SMT V and more come to PC – to great success. In discussing last year’s Metaphor: ReFantazio, the team revealed that sales on the platform had “exceeded expectations.”
In an interview conducted by the Japanese publication 4Gamer (and translated by Automaton-Media), the director and creative producer for Metaphor: ReFantazio – Katsura Hashino – spoke on ATLUS’ shift towards simultaneous releases across multiple platforms, saying:
“Even as a developer, I believe that there is much merit in each player being able to enjoy the game in their preferred environment, and I’m glad that we were able to accomplish that.”
This new strategy seems to be paying off, with Hashino revealing that sales for Metaphor: ReFantazio on PC exceeded the team’s expectations. While we’ve not gotten any updated figures in quite some time, the game was confirmed to have been the biggest launch for ATLUS so far, selling over 1 million copies in its first day.
Considering that Metaphor: ReFantazio is a brand new IP, its success across the board is worthy of note – especially given its surprising popularity on PC. Hopefully this means all future ATLUS games will continue to release simultaneously across all platforms.
KitGuru says: What did you think of Metaphor? Was it your 2024 GOTY? Will Persona 6 come to all platforms on day-one? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Well over a decade on from its launch, GTA V remains more relevant than ever, with the game selling over 210 million copies since 2013 and continuing to see a solid 100,000+ concurrent players on PC on the daily. Beyond players themselves, GTA V continues to be one of the most-viewed games in the world, with the title topping viewership charts for Twitch in 2024.
As reported by The Verge, Twitch has released an infographic showing off various stats for the biggest games on the platform in 2024. Having a 60% market share in global gaming live-streaming, Twitch remains by far the biggest platform for insights into the general gaming landscape in this regard.
With over 15 billion hours of gaming content viewed in 2024, many games were privy to their 15 minutes of fame. That said, one title reigned supreme, with GTA V taking up almost 10% of the entire year’s views with over 1.4 billion hours watched.
Second place meanwhile went to League of Legends (1.19 billion hours), followed by Valorant (804 million hours); Fortnite (539 million hours) and rounding up the top 5 was Call of Duty with 451 million hours watched in 2024.
While yes, GTA V is one of the biggest games of all time, its continued relevance on Twitch in particular is due in part to the ongoing popularity of the game’s roleplaying servers – a function which popped up independently of Rockstar/Take-Two’s own ambitions for the game.
With GTA VI set to release at some point later this year, it will be interesting to see how the game performs both in terms of sales, but also continued livestream viewership figures.
Given the fact that no PC release has been announced yet, GTA V’s RP servers will likely remain quite popular for the foreseeable future. It will be interesting to see how the two will compete in this regard.
KitGuru says: How often do you go on Twitch? Which game do you like to watch the most? Will GTA V’s RP servers remain popular following GTA VI’s release? Let us know your thoughts down below.
In recent weeks, we've been hearing about two unannounced AMD graphics cards. The upcoming RX 9060 XT still appears to be on track for an announcement in the coming weeks, but the situation has changed for the rumoured RX 9070 GRE, which may have been delayed.
As reported by VideoCardz (via Board Channels forum), the Radeon RX 9060 XT is expected to arrive relatively soon, with reports suggesting a release in the coming weeks, placing its debut around late May or early June 2025. Some mentions point to a “product release” on May 18th, and a June launch date.
The same report also mentions the Radeon RX 9070 GRE. While specifications for this model have surfaced recently, this latest leak introduces a potential wrinkle in its launch timeline. The release date for this RX 9070 GRE has allegedly been pushed back significantly, now targeted for some time in Q4.
The RX 9060 XT is rumoured to utilise the full Navi 44 GPU configuration, reportedly packing 2048 Stream Processors. AMD is expected to offer this specific card in two memory configurations, giving consumers a choice between a more future-proof 16GB variant and a more cost-conscious 8GB option. As for the RX 9070 GRE, it is expected to feature a Navi 48 GPU with a core count of 3072, paired with a 12GB memory configuration across a 192-bit bus.
We are over a year on from the successful launch of Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, the second part in Square Enix's grand remake trilogy. Now, all attention has turned to the third and final installment, and it looks like development is already quite far along, with voice lines already being recorded.
Voice actor, Cody Christian, who voices the English language version of Cloud Strife in the remake trilogy, shared an update on social media this week, confirming that voice lines are now being recorded for the next game.
This falls in line with Square Enix's timeline. From Final Fantasy 7 Remake to Rebirth, it took Square Enix around three years of development time. With the third part of the trilogy, Square Enix is aiming for another three year timeline, which would give us a release in 2027.
Given that voice actors are now in the booth recording their lines, it is safe to say that the story is settled on and development is progressing smoothly.
It has only been around six months since Frostpunk 2 hit the market but the team at 11 Bit Studios already has its next game in the series underway. Recently, 11 Bit revealed that a new Frostpunk game was now in development, with a planned launch in 2027. Now, we know much more about that project.
The new Frostpunk game won't be Frostpunk 3 or a new standalone spin-off title. Instead, it is being referred to as Frostpunk 1886, and it is a ‘reimagining' of the original 2018 strategy title.
Frostpunk 1886 will reimagine the original game in Unreal Engine 5. By remaking the game in UE5, 11 Bit Studios will be free from the limitations of its old engine, which hampered development on additional content and led to zero mod support for the original game. All of that will be fixed with Frostpunk 1886, allowing the development team to have more ambitious post-launch plans, and allowing modders to add their own content to the game.
While Frostpunk 1886 does not appear to be the priority for 11 Bit Studios, that doesn't mean work on Frostpunk 2 is ending. The company has promised to work on both platforms simultaneously, so we should still see future content for Frostpunk 2.
KitGuru Says: It seems a little soon to be going back in time to Frostpunk 1, but the technical aspects of the remake are appealing. After all, many strategy sim games like this get a ton of extra life from mod support and the original game unfortunately lacked that.
Supermassive Games, the studio known for Until Dawn, The Quarry and The Dark Pictures Anthology, has unfortunately had its next game cancelled. It turns out, this studio had been working on a Blade Runner game, which has now been cancelled before it could even be announced.
According to sources speaking with Insider Gaming, the game was set to be titled ‘Blade Runner: Time to Live', and was set to be a character-focused action-adventure game. The single-player campaign would have been around 12 hours long, according to pre-production documentation detailing the studio's plans for the game.
The game had only entered development in September 2024 and was quickly cancelled by the end of the year. If the project had gone ahead, it would have been targeting a 2027 launch for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Those who had worked on the project labelled it as ‘impressive' but unfortunately, an issue between Supermassive Games and Blade Runner rights holder, Alcon Entertainment, led to plans for the game being scrapped. The title would have apparently cost $45 million to make.
KitGuru Says: Game development rarely goes entirely to plan, so I have my doubts that this game would have been all wrapped up in just three years, but as the relationship between the studio and the IP owner went south almost instantly, we will never know for sure.
Nvidia has announced the next round of titles for GeForce Now. This week, eight more games will join the cloud gaming library, including Bethesda's surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered launched on Tuesday this week for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. The remaster uses an Unreal Engine 5 layer to handle all of the game's visual elements, allowing for a total transformation of the game, without having to rebuild all of the game's functions and mechanics. The game is available day-one on GeForce Now and if you have a Game Pass subscription, you can link your Microsoft account with your GeForce Now account for instant access, without having to make an additional purchase.
Here is the full list of titles joining GeForce Now this week:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, April 22)
Sunderfolk (New release on Steam, April 23)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, April 24)
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (Steam and Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store)
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Demo (Steam and Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store)
Hot on the heels of the announcement of Intel's 200S Boost technology, MSI has now stepped forward with an extensive list of motherboards that support the new feature. The entire lineup of MSI Z890 series motherboards will offer complete, out-of-the-box support for Intel 200S Boost.
Intel 200S Boost functions as a clever memory and interconnect enhancement technology, designed to reliably push DDR5 memory performance and related CPU fabrics beyond standard specifications. To ensure this works flawlessly for users, MSI has not only enabled the feature but also established partnerships with key memory manufacturers and conducted extensive testing. This work means a wide array of DDR5 modules have been certified to meet Intel's 200S Boost specifications, promising improved performance straight out of the box.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect for enthusiasts, gamers, and creators is the sheer ease of use. Once you have the compatible Core Ultra 200K CPU and a tested DDR5 memory kit installed on your MSI Z890 board, activating the 200S Boost is designed to be incredibly straightforward. Users can quickly and easily enable the profile using MSI's Click BIOS X interface, bypassing the need for time-consuming manual tuning and requiring no deep technical expertise.
To ensure users can immediately benefit from this technology, MSI has already gone live with the latest BIOS updates across its entire Z890 motherboard range. Users are strongly encouraged to visit MSI's official website and check the product pages for their specific Z890 model to download and install the most recent BIOS version. The full list of Z890 motherboards supporting Intel 200S Boost can be found below:
As the excitement builds around Intel's recently unveiled ‘200S Boost' performance profile, G.Skill is stepping forward with their memory compatibility details. The company has announced that it has a comprehensive list of its DDR5 memory profiles ready and verified to work with Intel's new feature, ranging from DDR5-6000 up to DDR5-8000 speeds.
Intel's 200S Boost is designed to enhance performance specifically for platforms equipped with unlocked Intel Core Ultra 200S series desktop processors and a compliant Intel Z890 motherboard. The feature itself leverages Intel's XMP 3.0 memory overclock profiles and automatically adjusts other crucial CPU parameters in tandem for improved overall system performance when enabled in the motherboard BIOS.
To take full advantage of the 200S Boost, you'll need a Core Ultra 200K CPU, a compatible Intel Z890 board (such as the ones MSI has announced support for), and validated DDR5 memory kits. Intel's requirements for this validation include supporting an Intel XMP 3.0 profile with speeds up to DDR5-8000 and operating at a maximum rated voltage of 1.4V. Given their long-standing focus on performance and compatibility, G.Skill has been proactive, verifying numerous memory models against these criteria since the 200S Boost program was introduced, ensuring builders have plenty of compatible options.
For builders keen to utilise G.Skill's DDR5 memory kits with Intel 200S Boost, they should check the official list of validated memory kits on Intel's website and download the list. Once downloaded, the necessary details confirming which specific G.Skill kits are validated for 200S Boost can be found by referencing the dedicated sheet within the spreadsheet labelled ‘ARL 200S Boost'.
As prices continue to surge, we welcome the arrival of budget components such as the MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard which supports Intel Core Ultra 200S processors. Or rather we welcome them in theory, but the practice looks somewhat more messy. This B860 Tomahawk has cut a bunch of features from the Z890 yet the price has barely changed, and that seems utterly bizarre.
Time stamps
00:00 Start
01:07 B860 & Z890
06:23 Pricing
07:12 B860 Features
09:31 Test System / BIOS
11:56 Cinebench 2024 Multicore
12:16 Geekbench 6 Multicore
12:35 CPU Power Consumption
13:00 Far Cry 6 1080p
13:14 Far Cry 6 1440p
13:29 Assassins Creed Mirage 1080p
13:39 Assassins Creed Mirage 1440p
13:46 Cyberpunk 2077 1080p
13:53 Cyberpunk 2077 1440p
14:03 Total War Pharaoh 1080p
14:13 Total War Pharaoh 1440p
14:24 Closing Thoughts
Key features
Flagship VRM Design: 12+1+1+1 Duet Rail Power System – 60A Smart Power Stages.
EZ PCIe Release:- An easy to access physical button release mechanism that can help remove any PCIe card with a single tap.
EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II: MSI’s exclusive EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II makes M.2 installation seamless.
Fast and Future-ready Storage: Triple M.2 connectors – 1x Gen 5 M.2 and 2x Gen 4 M.2
Ultra Connect: Thunderbolt 4, 5G LAN and Wi-Fi 7
Specification: Chipset: Intel B860 CPU Support: Intel Core Ultra ( Series 2) LGA 1851. VRMs: 12+1+1+1 x60A Smart Power Stages
Monolithic Power MP29005-A controller and MPS2414 MOSFETs
Memory support:
4 DIMMs, Dual Channel DDR5, Maximum Memory Capacity 256GB
Max. overclocking frequency:
1DPC 1R Max speed up to 9200+ MT/s
1DPC 2R Max speed up to 7200+ MT/s
2DPC 1R Max speed up to 6400+ MT/s
2DPC 2R Max speed up to 5600+ MT/s
Expansion slots:
1x PCIe Gen 5.0 x16 slot
1x PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 slot
1x PCIe Gen 4.0 x1 slot
Storage:
1x M.2 Gen 5.0 x4 (from CPU)
2x M.2 Gen 4.0 x4 (from chipset)
4x SATA 6Gbps
USB support:
1x Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps Type-C
1x USB 10Gbps Type-C (Rear)
1x USB 10Gbps Type-C (Front)
4x USB 10Gbps Type-A (Rear)
2x USB 5Gbps Type-A (Front)
4x USB 2.0 (Rear)
4x USB 2.0 (Front)
Ethernet: Intel Killer E5000B 5Gbps LAN Wireless: Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750x, Bluetooth 5.4 Audio: Realtek ALC892 7.1-Channel Audio PCB: 6-layer Form Factor: ATX 244mm x 305mm
Performance and Testing
Test system Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Motherboard: MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk Memory: 48GB G.Skill Trident Z5 CK CUDIMM DDR5-8200 CPU Cooler: MSI MAG CoreLiquid i360 Graphics card: MSI RTX 4090 Ventus 3X 24GB Power supply: Seasonic Focus ATX3.1 GX-1000 Gold SSD: 1TB Crucial T700 M.2 NVMe OS: Windows 11 24H2
Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
In Cinebench 2024 Multi Core the MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk WiFi performs well and is level pegging with the much more expensive MSI MEG Z890 Ace.
Far Cry 6 at 1080p
In Far Cry 6 at 1080p the MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk WiFi performs well at 1080p but takes a small hit compared to our previous testing.
Far Cry 6 at 1440p
Stepping up to 1440p in Far Cry 6 helps the MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk WiFi. This might be due to a shift in load from the CPU to the GPU with high resolution but whatever the reason, the B860 performs well.
Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p
In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p the B860 Tomahawk does a good job and cannot be separated from the Z890 Ace,
Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p
It is a similar story in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p as the two MSI motherboards deliver near-identical performance, regardless of the gulf in cost.
Closing Thoughts
In principle we like the idea of budget chipsets and motherboards, provided you get a reasonable set of features and a sensible approach to pricing. It is clear that MSI was thinking along these lines with the Z890 and B860 Tomahawk models as there was clear separation between the two motherboards in terms of features and price. The snag is that the Z890 Tomahawk has been discounted and that renders the B860 irrelevant.
The upshot is that the MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi is a good motherboard with loads of interesting features and a decent level of connectivity, however it is beaten in every department by MSI's own MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi. Our advice is to skip the MSI Tomahawk and instead buy the MSI Tomahawk!
You can buy the MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk WiFi for £229.99 inc VAT HERE
Pros:
EZ DIY features make the build process easy.
Excellent cooling on VRMs and M.2 SSDs.
Smart styling and neat design
Cons:
The tiny price difference between B860 and Z890 Tomahawks make no sense.
Rear I/O panel has four USB 2.0 ports instead of USB 3 and a single Thunderbolt 4
The idea of a budget motherboard is to save money but MSI has crammed in too many features!
KitGuru says: MAG Z890 Tomahawk offers more features than B860 for a mere £20 extra
With the Nintendo Switch set to launch in a couple months’ time, we have started to hear an increasing number of previously-released 3rd-party titles being announced for the sequel system. One launch-day game which new Switch 2 owners will be able to enjoy right from the get-go is last year’s Sonic x Shadow Generations.
Nintendo is slowly but surely collecting a solid list of games set to drop alongside the Switch 2 on the 5th of June. Amongst the likes of Cyberpunk 2077; Mario Kart World; Street Fighter 6 and more, SEGA has now officially confirmed that Sonic x Shadow Generations will also be available for Switch 2 on day-one.
For the uninitiated, Sonic x Shadow Generations is a remaster of the much-loved 2011 2D/3D platformer, featuring a ton of throwback levels, fun mechanics and plenty of replayability.
As expected, the remaster adds the titular Shadow the Hedgehog as part of his own Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury styled spin-off add-on.
While a remaster of a decade old game may not be the best way to showcase the power of Switch 2, Sonic x Shadows Generations is still a good get for the system.
KitGuru says: What did you think of Sonic x Shadow Generations? Was the new content as good as the original? Which 3rd party Switch 2 launch title are you most looking forward to? Let us know down below.
In an interview with Variety, Sucker Punch directors Nate Fox and Jason Connell sat down to discuss all manner of topics, including Ghost of Yōtei's points of focus as a sequel; the open world and much more.
In talking about the evolution of the weapons being used in Yōtei (some of which was shown off in the trailer), Nate Fox had this to say: “We have the benefit of gunpowder being part of the combat mix. While the Katana is still the most valuable weapon, having some more opportunities to blow things up is never a bad addition for a video game.”
Beyond this, the team have confirmed that Ghost of Yōtei will feature the kusarigama (chain-sickle); dual wielding swords; a yari (spear) and more – all of which are said to be organically implemented while featuring their own benefits.
One of the best aspects of Ghost of Tsushima was its combat and so in building on top of what was already there, Yōtei looks set to not only be a visually stunning time, but a mechanically fun one as well.
KitGuru says: Are you excited for Ghost of Yōtei? What did you think of Tsushima’s combat mechanics? How would you like to see it evolved for the sequel? Let us know down below.
Late last year Sony pushed out an update to all PS5 users adding a bunch of themes based on the company’s prior consoles. Though a limited-time feature created solely to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, reception towards the themes saw Sony promise to bring them back in an enhanced form later down the line. Finally, the day has arrived.
Making the announcement on the PlayStation Blog, Shuzo Kikuchi – the VP of Product Management at SIE – wrote “We continue to work behind the scenes to bring new enhancements to the PS5 experience, and today we are excited to announce two key additions based on player feedback – audio focus and the return of the classic console designs for the PS5 UI.”
While the UI customisation is easily the more exciting of the two additions, the new Audio Focus mode is certainly worth checking out.
Upon enabling it, this new mode toggle is said to ‘increase immersion’ by “providing presets to amplify soft sounds to meet your hearing preferences, ensuring a clearer audio experience when using headphones or headsets.”
Now labelled as ‘Appearance and Sound’ this new settings sub-menu will let you pick between the visual and audio aesthetics of the PSOne, PS2, PS3 or PS4 – giving you just a hint of nostalgia no matter your generation of choice. Hopefully Sony chooses to expand this feature further over time.
KitGuru says: Are you glad to see these themes return? Which is your favourite? What other customisation options would you like to see added/introduced? Let us know down below.
Earlier this year we got our first taste of what might be an early game of the year contender in the form of Hazelight Studios’ Split fiction. Not to be outdone, new studio Sandfall Interactive’s hybrid turn-based RPG ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ has now snatched the crown for the highest rated game of 2025 so far.
With a Metacritic score of 92 and an OpenCritic rating of 91, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is officially the highest rated game of 2025 so far – taking the number 1 spot from Josef Fares and Hazelight Studios’ Split Fiction.
As mentioned, Sandfall Interactive is a brand new studio, with Clair Obscur representing their very first game. Despite this, the team seems to have stuck lightning right from the off, with praise being given to pretty much all aspects of the title – from its unique hybrid turn-based combat; to its visuals; voice acting; story and more.
For the uninitiated, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is described as “a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever” where you “explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.”
The game is officially available from today for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
KitGuru says: Was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on your radar? Is it now? What do you think the 5 highest rated games of 2025 will be when all is said and done? Let us know down below.
Intel is introducing a neat new feature called ‘200S Boost', an officially sanctioned and optimised overclocking profile designed to be integrated directly onto all Z890 motherboards.
Intel's new technology isn't about complex, manual tweaking that risks voiding your warranty. The core appeal of 200S Boost is that it provides consumers with a straightforward and easy-to-access method to enhance their system's performance. Intel has confirmed that utilising the 200S Boost profiles is fully covered by their standard three-year guarantee, meaning it's essentially a “free” performance uplift.
According to HotHardware, 200S Boost provides notable clock speed uplifts within the CPU, specifically boosting the ‘fabric' and ‘die-to-die' connections. Enabling this feature is expected to increase the fabric speed from a base of 2.6GHz to 3.2GHz (VccSA ≤ 1.20V), while simultaneously enhancing the die-to-die link speed from 2.1GHz to 3.2GHz (VccSA ≤ 1.20V). Additionally, memory speed will be increased to up to 8000MT/s (VDD2 ≤ 1.4V, VccSA ≤ 1.20V, and module VDDQ and VDD ≤ 1.4V).
However, this performance boost isn't universally compatible across the entire product stack. Intel has stated that 200S Boost functionality is exclusive to the Core Ultra 200K series processors, leaving the non-K variants out of the equation. Similarly, its support is strictly limited to the Z890 motherboards. While Intel indicates that all Z890 boards should technically support the technology, various factors might influence whether motherboard manufacturers enable it on every single model. Therefore, it's always a good idea to consult your specific motherboard manufacturer's support resources to confirm compatibility. As of now, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASRock have already confirmed their motherboards will support the feature.
Getting this boost up and running is relatively user-friendly. Once your motherboard manufacturer releases the necessary BIOS update for your board, the process involves accessing the BIOS settings and locating the “Intel 200S Boost” option, which may vary depending on the manufacturer. After selecting it and restarting your system, Intel recommends verifying stability by using tools such as Cinebench for stress testing and Intel XTU for monitoring temperatures and voltages.
Some media outlets, such as Tom's Hardware and Der8auer, have already tested the new technology, and the performance improvement is noticeable. While the average is only about 7% over stock settings, there are cases where the performance uplift is nearly 20%.
Bethesda's solid relationship with mod creators continues to put the rest of the industry to shame. Upon last night's launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda reached out to the team of fans behind the Skyblivion project, offering them all codes for the new remaster. Hundreds of mods for the new remaster version of Oblivion have also begun hitting the web.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is an official remake of the original 2006 game. Development was led by Virtuos, with assistance from Bethesda. The remaster works by running the Creation Engine, with Unreal Engine 5 on top, allowing for the game to run and work as originally intended, with UE5 handling all of the game's visual aspects. The end result is a stunning recreation of Oblivion, while maintaining the ‘magic' Bethesda was known for during this era.
The Skyblivion team confirmed on social media that Bethesda had reached out about the remaster and supplied the team with game keys. It is also worth noting that while there is an official remaster now, it does not have ‘official' mod support and due to the added complexity of the UE5 layer of the game, it is unlikely that the Oblivion remaster will reach Skyrim-status in terms of mod support.
With all of that in mind, there is still very much a place for the Skyblivion project and the team behind it continues to go on as planned. Additionally, while The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered does lack official mod support, mod makers are indeed supporting the game, with over 100 mods now available just 24 hours after launch. Most of these mods make minor changes, such as removing weight limits, adjusting in-game balance, cheat tools and a selection of modded save files.
Earlier this week, Nvidia confirmed its plans for Computex 2025, with a keynote speech set to take place. Now, AMD has thrown its hat into the ring, with its own Computex keynote set to take place on May 21st.
AMD will indeed return to Computex this year. The company will be hosting a press conference on Wednesday, May 21st at 11AM UTC+8, which works out to 4AM for the UK. Don't worry though, a replay will be available to watch at more sensible viewing hours and we'll be reporting the news on KitGuru too.
The event will showcase AMD's latest advancements with AI in gaming, as well as in PCs and professional workloads. AMD Senior VP, Jack Huynh, will take the stage for the announcements. AMD CEO, Lisa Su, will be hosting a separate press conference in June, focused further on AI advancements.
Last year, Nintendo officially filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocket Pair, the studio behind Palworld. Now after months of preparing for a war in the courts, we know a bit more about Pocket Pair's defence, which argues that Nintendo shouldn't have been awarded the patents in question.
As reported by Games Fray, Pocket Pair is challenging Nintendo's patent applications. Nintendo filed patents for monster-catching mechanics and monster-riding mechanics back in 2024, in the months immediately following Palworld's January 2024 launch. The legal team representing Pocket Pair argues that these patents should not have been granted to Nintendo, as even before Palworld, there were many games on the market using similar mechanics.
The defence argues that titles like Ark: Survival Evolved, Pocket Souls, Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy 14, Far Cry 5, Octopath Traveler, Monster Hunter Ultimate and Nintendo's own IP, Pikmin, all exhibit mechanics that could breach Nintendo's newly filed patents.
As all of these games have been out prior to Nintendo's patent filings, the patents Nintendo holds should be invalid, and it is not illegal to infringe on an invalid patent.
Currently it is still early days in the Nintendo v Pocket Pair lawsuit but there should be more updates in the months ahead. Assuming the lawsuit isn't scrapped or settled beforehand, we should get a trial start date this year.
KitGuru Says: This is something that many gaming experts pointed out last year, when Nintendo's patents were first uncovered. Whether or not the argument holds up in court still remains to be seen.
Jonsbo is once again dipping its toes into the less common cubic configuration with its new V12 chassis. This layout, although perhaps less mainstream today, positions the motherboard horizontally above the power supply and storage areas, allowing for some visually striking systems.
Measuring in at a rather petite 280mm wide, 301mm deep, and standing just 275.5mm tall, the new V12 manages to pack support for Micro-ATX motherboards and offers four PCI expansion slots. This compact footprint underscores its potential, as there's enough internal volume to house some powerful components.
Ventilation is handled by a pair of 120mm fans mounted at the front of the case. However, due to the V12's constrained dimensions, fan options elsewhere are limited to smaller diameters. You'll find space for a 92mm fan beneath the motherboard tray and an 80mm fan at the lower rear section. CPU cooling is also somewhat restricted, with a height limit of 145mm. AIO liquid coolers appear to be out of the question for this chassis.
Available in black and white, the V12 sports a unique material combination. The top panel is a practical mesh to aid airflow, while the lower section, which conceals the storage compartment, features an eye-catching 8mm-thick panel of real walnut wood. The case also features a double-curved tempered glass side panel, offering a stylish view of your components within.
The V12 supports graphics cards up to 260mm in length in the upper compartment. Things become a little more limited in the lower compartment, where the PSU and storage options will be mounted. There is a dedicated 2.5″ SSD slot located next to the PSU area, along with a two-slot drive cage. This cage is versatile, capable of holding one 3.5″ drive and either a second 3.5″ drive or a 2.5″ drive. However, populating this drive cage introduces a constraint on PSU length, limiting you to power supplies no longer than 140 mm. If you choose to remove the drive cage, you can use longer PSUs up to 220mm.
The race to the bleeding edge of silicon fabrication is intensifying, and it looks like TSMC is hitting its stride. The Taiwanese foundry giant is reportedly advancing its ambitious plans for high-volume production of its next-generation 2nm process technology, with a significant ramp-up targeted for H2 2024.
Unsurprisingly, major players are already lining up. AMD has already confirmed its intentions, but a report from Trendforce (via TechPowerUp) claims that Intel has also secured a spot among TSMC's initial 2nm customers. While Intel is already a key client for TSMC's advanced nodes, utilising different processes like N3B, N5P, and N6 for compute tiles found in the current Core Ultra 200 series, the latest whispers suggest their 2nm focus might be on the desktop front.
Though official comments from both companies on these specific 2nm orders are scarce, the industry rumour mill strongly hints at cooperation for a component of Intel's rumoured ‘Nova Lake' desktop processor lineup, expected to debut sometime next year. Like the current chips, Nova Lake-S is expected to feature a tile-based design, reportedly comprising two clusters of 8x ‘Coyote Cove' P-cores alongside 16x ‘Arctic Wolf' E-cores, plus 4x LPE cores integrated into a separate SoC tile. Moreover, the upcoming desktop series is expected to be based on a new platform, potentially using an LGA 1954 socket. Leaker ‘Kepler' has previously claimed that low-end Nova Lake chips will be based on Intel 18A, while high-end chips would be based on the TSMC N2 node.
Meanwhile, AMD has been clearer about its adoption of the 2nm node in the high-performance computing space. They've already confirmed that their next-generation EPYC server processor, codenamed ‘Venice', will be among the first high-performance chips fabricated using TSMC's 2nm process. AMD has even gone so far as to validate this critical enterprise silicon at TSMC's cutting-edge Arizona facility, keeping them firmly on track for a planned launch in 2026.
Thermaltake has expanded its entry-level cooling solutions with the introduction of the UX400 series of CPU air coolers. This new lineup comprises three models: the standard UX400, the UX400 ARGB Sync white, and the UX400 ARGB Sync black.
The Thermaltake UX400 was quietly revealed on Thermaltake's website this week. It is a compact, single-tower cooler with a slim profile, meaning it will have no issues with RAM compatibility. For efficient cooling, the heatsink has four 6mm heat pipes that run from the CPU block all the way to the top of the heatsink. The high-performance 120mm fan on the front then blows that heat away.
The Thermaltake UX400 series is equipped with a 120mm fan that operates with PWM speed control, ranging from 700 to 1800 RPM. This fan is capable of delivering an airflow of 62.72 CFM with a static pressure of 1.47mm-H2O, while maintaining a noise level of 25.0 dBA. The UX400 ARGB Sync fan features nine ARGB LEDs, allowing users to customise various lighting effects via motherboard RGB software from major manufacturers, including Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock.
All models in the UX400 series come with universal mounting brackets, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Intel and AMD CPU sockets, including the latest LGA1851 and AM5 platforms.
KitGuru says: There have been some impressive coolers in the entry-level market in recent years. The UX400 could be another solid option for those looking for a simple air cooler.
The Hinomi X1 is an ergonomic office chair that wouldn’t look out of place on the bridge of a spaceship. With its split backrest, 6D armrests, built-in footrest and mesh finish – it definitely isn’t your typical ‘gaming chair’ – but can this £579 seat keep you comfortable through long work days and sweaty gaming nights? Today we put it to the test and find out.
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:39 Pricing
01:33 Warranty and showroom
02:11 Appearance / Sizings
02:56 Split Design
03:35 Comfort / Adjustablity / Ergonomics
04:52 Headrest / Armrests
06:16 Mats real world thoughts
08:23 Foot rest
08:57 Putting it together
09:17 Is it worth it?
Specifications
Chair Height
Small – 41.7″ – 53.5″ – 106 – 136 cm
Medium – 43.3″- 55.9″ – 110 – 142 cm
Large – 44.1″- 56.6″ – 112 – 144 cm
Floor to seat base
Small – 17.3″ – 20.1” – 44 – 51 cm
Medium – 18.9” – 22.4″ – 48 – 57 cm
Large – 19.7″ – 23.2″ – 50 – 59 cm
Armrest lowest to highest
Small – 26.8″ – 32.7″ – 68 – 83 cm
Medium – 29.1″ – 35.8″ – 74 – 91 cm
Large – 29.9″ – 36.6″ – 76 – 93 cm
Recommended for users
Small – 5'1″- 5'6″ tall – 155 – 170 cm tall
Medium – 5'6” – 6'1″ tall – 168 – 185 cm tall
Large – 5'9″ – 6'6″ tall – 178 – 200 cm tall
Frame construction: Aluminium Alloy (ADC12)
Chair base: Aluminium Alloy (ADC12)
Hydraulic gas piston: Class 4
Upholstery: Wear-resistant mesh
Assembly required: Yes
Package size:
(Length x Width x Height) 30.3″ x 27.6″ x 21.6″ – 77 x 70 x 55 cm
Item weight: 73 lbs | 33.1 kg
Weight capacity: 330 lbs | 150 kg
You can buy the X1 ergonomic office chair directly from Hinomi HERE. UK buyers can also use code HinomiUK to get a further £20 – but please note this not an affiliate code and we do not profit from any sales.
Pros:
Modern, clean design that will suit office and gaming environments alike.
Wide range of adjustability.
Good quality footrest.
Sturdy and comfortable footrest.
Hinomi have a showroom located in London for trying products before purchasing.
Cons:
Flimsy armrests which rotate far too easily.
Headrest height adjustment needs to have a locking mechanism.
Click lock mechanisms on the back and headrest do not feel very good quality.
KitGuru says: The X1 may be the most adjustable chair we've ever tested, but it's let down by flimsy armrests and headrest.
Last year, Sucker Punch officially announced the long-awaited sequel to its open-world action game, Ghost of Tsushima. Today in a surprise announcement, a new trailer for the game dropped, alongside confirmation of an October release date.
Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, takes place 300 years after the events of the first game, featuring a new protagonist and a whole new story. Some gameplay elements from the first game will carry over but in terms of narrative, there will be no connection between the two games, meaning anyone who missed out on Ghost of Tsushima can jump into Ghost of Yotei without any homework required.
The new trailer for the game, titled “The Onryo's List”, introduces us to several of the different factions we will encounter throughout the game. The trailer features a mix of cinematic and gameplay moments.
While the original game took place on Tsushima Island, Ghost of Yotei will take place around the Hokkaido region.
Ghost of Yotei releases for PS5 on the 2nd of October 2025. The game should come to PC next year, although it could slip to early 2027.
KitGuru Says: Ghost of Tsushima was my favourite game of the PS4 generation, so I'm looking forward to the sequel, although this time around I'll likely be waiting for it to land on PC first. Did many of you play Ghost of Tsushima when it came to PC in 2022? Will you be picking up the sequel?
After many years of false starts, the film and TV industries seem to have figured out (for the most part) how to adapt a video game into other mediums. One publisher which has seen success is SEGA with their Sonic the Hedgehog series. It seems the company is looking to expand its film repertoire further, with Michael Bay now set to direct a film based on the 80s racing game OutRun.
According to the report, Michael Bay (known for his work on Transformers) will direct a film based on SEGA’s classic racing IP OutRun.
Alongside Bay, Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, Anyone But You) is joining the crew as a producer – with Jayson Rothwell tasked as scriptwriter.
While an undeniable classic, choosing to adapt OutRun in particular is interesting as the series is not known for its story chops. Of course, this does mean that Universal can do much more with the adaptation without impacting the lore of the games.
Still, whether there is any interest in an OutRun film, we will have to wait and see. At the very least, with Michael Bay set to direct, it will hopefully be an action-packed and visually stimulating time.
While Montech are best known for their range of PC cases, today we take a look at one of their new power supplies in their ‘Gold' range – the Century II 1050W. This unit is very competitively priced at around £100 in the UK and around $110 in the USA. This power supply offers ATX 3.1 support and is 80 Plus Gold / Cybenetics Platinum Certified.
The Century 1050W power supply has full support for ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards and operates with Smart Zero Fan Technology utilising a Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan (FDB). Montech also claim the unit is packed with high specification Japanese Capacitors and we will take a closer look at that later in the review. Safety features incorporate OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OTP and OPP. All of the three units in this range (850W, 1050W and 1200W) ship with 10 Year Warranty protection.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach marks one of the biggest PlayStation 5 console exclusives set to release in 2025. Ahead of its official launch this June, fans will get the chance to hear more from the game when the preview embargo is lifted early next month.
Though little else has been shared for now, the outlets confirmed that previews for the upcoming sequel will go live on the 8th of May.
Of course, this is just the preview event, meaning full reviews won’t be out until much closer to its official release. Still, it is exciting to be getting a ton more information about Death Stranding 2 early next month.
While we have seen plenty from the game already, as is the case with Kojima titles, there is always much more than meets the eye – and so hopefully we’ll hear more about what separates DS2 from its predecessor in a couple weeks’ time.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Death Stranding 2? How do you think Kojima will evolve the Strand genre? Will you check out the previews, or go into the game blind? Let us know down below.
Following the successful launch of Persona 3 Reload last year, we began to hear rumours that SEGA/ATLUS was working on a similar remake for Persona 4. Further evidence popped up in March when the domain name P4RE.JP was registered. Almost exactly a month later, the site has been updated – hinting at what could be an upcoming announcement.
Back on the 20th of March, Twitter user ScrambledFaz discovered a recent registration for the domain name P4RE.JP, indicating that the rumoured Persona 4 remake could be gearing up for a possible announcement.
Though nothing official has come to pass yet, fansite PersonaCentral has now reported that the domain has since been updated in a similar manner to the likes of Persona 3 Reload ahead of its official announcement.
In the many years since the initial launch of Persona 5, ATLUS/SEGA have released a ton of different titles and spin-offs, including Persona 5 Royal; Persona 3 Reload; Persona 4 Golden remaster; P5 Strikers; Tactica and Dancing in Starlight – to name a few.
Assuming they maintain their previous release strategies, then the rumoured Persona 4 remake could be coming out quite soon. We (hopefully) won’t have to wait long to find out.
KitGuru says: Did you play Persona 4 back in the day? Would you welcome a P3R-styled remake? When will Persona 6 finally be announced? Let us know down below.
Following months of leaks and rumours, the long-awaited and much anticipated Elder Scrolls Oblivion remaster/remake is finally here. Despite little to no official lead up to the game’s release, the title has proven to be an immediate hit – amassing well over 100,000 concurrent players in mere hours.
As of writing, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remastered has seen an immense number of players flock to the game in the immediacy following its official launch, with the title currently sitting at over 147,000 concurrent players on Steam.
For comparison, another major single player game released this year was Assassin’s Creed Shadows – and while it has so far been a hit for Ubisoft, the game achieved less than half the peak concurrent players of Oblivion on Steam (64,825 CCU).
Of course, the original Oblivion was a rather PC-centric title, and so it is likely that a solid percentage of players do hail from the PC space. Even so, there is no denying that the Oblivion remaster is already a success.
It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft chooses to share game sales data or not and how this will impact their other future plans.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the Remaster so far? Is it living up to your expectations? Is Fallout 3 next in line to receive such a remaster? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Devolver Digital, the publisher behind indie hits like Hotline Miami, Cult of the Lamb, and The Talos Principle, has revealed the impressive financial performance of some of its key titles. According to its FY24 investor presentation, Cult of the Lamb, along with its released DLC content, has generated over $90 million in lifetime revenue, making it the highest-revenue IP in the company's portfolio.
According to Devolver Digital's investor presentation (via PC Gamer), the action roguelike from Massive Monster, which debuted in 2022 and has enjoyed consistent post-launch support with four DLC expansions released and numerous free updates, has become a standout success in Devolver Digital's portfolio. Notably, the release of the Pilgrim Pack DLC in August 2024, which included a new interactive digital comic, triggered a significant 280% surge in income for that month.
Beyond Cult of the Lamb, the sandbox adventure game Astroneer has also proven to be a strong performer, generating nearly $80 million in lifetime revenue. Astroneer became a first-party brand for Devolver Digital following the acquisition of its developer, System Era Softworks, in November 2023. The game's first paid DLC, Glitchwalkers, launched in 2024 and contributed to a 20% year-over-year increase in Devolver Digital's overall back catalogue sales, demonstrating the continued revenue potential of established titles through paid expansions. Stronghold, a franchise developed by Firefly Studios and acquired by Devolver Digital in 2021, has also achieved significant financial success, generating over $50 million in lifetime revenue. Other IPs from Devolver include Serious Sam, Gungeon, Shadow Warrior, Hotline Miami, The Talos Principle, Reigns and Gorn (in descending order for highest revenue).
A key insight from the presentation is that Devolver Digital has observed a trend that gamers are spending more time on known IPs as opposed to new IPs, which has already been claimed in various circles. As a result of this observation, the company has announced a strategic shift towards further investing in its popular IPs in various capacities, suggesting a focus on building upon established successes rather than primarily pursuing entirely new intellectual properties.
KitGuru says: Were you surprised by the list of highest revenue IPs from Devolver? Have you already tried Cult of the Lamb?
The day has finally arrived – the official reveal trailer for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has released, better yet, the game is available right now on PC, PS5 and Xbox.
In a behind-the-scenes development video, Todd Howard reflected on Oblivion's 20-year history and the game's position as a defining point in the franchise. The new version aims to keep some of the original's “old charm” intact, according to Todd. The game has a completely fresh look though, with Unreal Engine 5 graphics. The reveal includes comparison footage between the original 2006 game and the new version.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will include the story expansions Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, delivering the complete experience from beginning to end. The team at Virtuos describes the remaster as a love-letter to the original and based on the gameplay footage shown, it does look like an impressive upgrade.
Aside from the graphical upgrades, animations have been updated, the UI and UX have been overhauled, combat has received new tweaks and VFX upgrades and some new lines of dialogue have been recorded to aid in differentiating all of the races present in Oblivion.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S now. It is also available via Game Pass.
We've known for a few years now that Remedy has been working on a multiplayer spin-off set in the Control universe. Last year during the Xbox Partner Preview, that game was officially announced as FBC: Firebreak. Now as we approach launch, Remedy has released the second trailer for the game.
FBC: Firebreak will see teams of three FBC employees taking down threats throughout The Oldest House. The game's director, Mike Kayatt, was quick to set expectations – this is less of a ‘Control spin-off' and more of its own fully formed game. It just happens to take place in The Oldest House setting.
The new gameplay trailer showcases various weapon types at the player's disposal. In a squad, players will be tasked with keeping the anomalies housed in The Oldest House at bay.
FBC: Firebreak will release on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year. A release date announcement could be coming soon though, as Remedy will be holding a livestream at 6PM BST on the 24th of April.
KitGuru Says: Will you be giving FBC: Firebreak a chance when it drops in a few months' time?
DeepCool has its new CH260 & CH270 DIGITAL Micro-ATX cases ready for launch. These are larger versions of the CH160 and CH170 Digital Mini-ITX cases, presenting a larger but still compact solution for enthusiasts balancing performance with space efficiency.
The CH260 & CH270 DIGITAL offer an expanded form factor that accommodates full-size GPUs up to 388mm (413mm without front fans) and ATX-sized power supplies, supported by a removable mounting bracket. Wrap-around mesh panels ensure airflow to all components and there is room for a 360mm radiator, so you can fit a high-performance AIO cooler in. The CH270 DIGITAL is equipped with a vertical base, with a digital display bar integrated at the base of the case to monitor your system vitals in real time. The status mode can switch between CPU, GPU, and PSU.
Key Features Include:
Enhanced compatibility: Compact size with Micro-ATX support.
Superior Airflow: Mesh panels and six fan mounting positions ensure efficient cooling.
Spacious Interior: Room for full-size GPUs and ATX PSUs.
Max Cooling: Support up to 360mm radiators.
Modern Ports: Dual USB 3.0, USB Type-C Gen2, and an audio/mic combo jack.
The CH260 will be available in black or white, priced at €64.99 and €69.99 respectively. The CH270 DIGITAL is priced at €84.99, or €89.99 for the white version.
KitGuru Says: Would you like to build a system in one of these?
Every week, Nvidia announces new games getting DLSS support. Things aren't slowing down any time soon, with six more titles set to sport Nvidia's highly-rated upscaling technology.
The big highlight this week is Steel Seed, a stealth-action adventure game set in a dark Sci-Fi world. The game will support DLSS, Frame Generation (RTX 40 only), Multi-Frame Generation (RTX 50 only), and Nvidia Reflex to keep system latency as low as possible.
Tempest Rising, the new RTS game from Slipgate Ironworks, is also getting support for DLSS Super Resolution and Frame Generation.
The newly released remake of one of the 2010s best indie games, The Talos Principle: Reawakened, gets support for DLSS and Frame Generation, but not Multi-Frame Generation. The Early Access release of RuneScape: Dragonwilds has support for DLSS and Frame Generation, and DLAA.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Commandos: Origins round out this week's list of games to get DLSS support.
KitGuru Says: Are you installing any of this week's new releases?
A week ago, be quiet! launched its new line-up of gaming peripherals but the announcements aren't stopping there. To cap off a busy April, be quiet! has now launched its new System Power 11 series of power supplies, which are said to be best for efficiency-oriented busy builders.
The new System Power 11 power supplies come available in 450W, 550W, 650W and 750W capacities. They are also built with the latest standards in mind, so you'll get ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compatibility. On the efficiency side, all models are 80Plus Bronze certified. Each model, with the exception of the 450W model, comes with a 12V-2×6 connector too, so it is ready out-of-the-box for new-gen graphics cards.
Speaking on be quiet's new entry-level PSU line-up, be quiet! CEO, Aaron Licht, said: “System Power 11 brings the latest power standard to an extremely competitive segment. By combining ATX 3.1 readiness, solid efficiency, and the whisper-quiet operation our brand is known for, we’re giving builders everything they need for modern systems”.
All System Power 11 models feature a temperature-controlled 120mm fan that provides optimal cooling while maintaining the low noise levels be quiet! is renowned for. A comprehensive set of safety protections including overcurrent (OCP), overvoltage (OVP), undervoltage (UVP), overload (OPP), short-circuit (SCP), and overtemperature (OTP) helps safeguard valuable components.
be quiet! System Power 11 power supplies will be available starting on the 6th of May, priced at €49.90 for the 450W model, and going up by €10 for each subsequent model, up to €79.90 for the 750W version.
KitGuru Says: The System Power 11 series looks to be very builder-friendly with compliancy for all of the latest standards, a 5-year warranty and a low price tag to suit builds on tighter budgets.
G.Skill has just revealed an absolute monster of a memory kit. They're rolling out a massive 256GB capacity DDR5 set, comprised of four high-density 64GB modules, validated to run at DDR5-6000 with CL32 timings.
This kind of capacity and speed is becoming increasingly crucial for the most demanding computing tasks. As content creation workflows become more complex and AI development accelerates, the need for vast pools of high-speed memory becomes vital. G.Skill's high-speed, high-density 64GB modules packed in this 256GB kit directly address this.
G.Skill has already subjected this kit to rigorous stress testing on AMD's latest hardware. They've successfully validated the DDR5-6000 CL32 256 GB kit, configured with AMD EXPO memory overclock profiles. For testing, G.Skill used an Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor, and the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WIFI motherboard alongside an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X.
G.Skill is already working on making high-capacity kits even faster, with DDR5-7000 at CL38 being a possibility.
KitGuru says: If you needed this much DDR5 memory, would you consider G.Skill's new 256GB memory kits?
GAMEMAX is showcasing its most ambitious PC chassis yet. The new Blade Concept ATX PC case is designed for high-end gaming builds, with a striking lion-inspired design and a semi open-frame layout.
The Blade is GAMEMAX's new flagship case. It features an eye-catching front panel with perforations for airflow, along with a dust filtering mechanism to keep dirt and debris from getting through. The chassis is precisely constructed with all-metal CNC machining, laser cutting and molding.
Instead of a side-panel window, there is a cut-out for an open-frame approach to cooling, this also makes your hardware easily accessible for maintenance, cleaning and future upgrades.
For connectivity, GAMEMAX has equipped the Blade chassis with a modern swappable I/O panel that can be placed on either the left or right side of the case. It is installed on the left by default, but the option is there for someone with a reverse layout in mind. The I/O panel includes dual USB 3.1 ports and one Type-C Gen2 port.
The BLADE CONCEPT supports up to ATX motherboards with an included PCIe 4.0 PCIe Riser for vertical graphics card mounting. The chassis supports up to 360mm radiators and is designed with custom liquid cooling in mind. When the case hits stores, it will cost around $240.99.
KitGuru Says: Would you like to build a new gaming rig in one of these?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched around a month ago to solid reviews and strong early sales – representing one of the better entries in the series for quite some time. Though yet to be officially announced, it is all-but-confirmed that Ubisoft’s latest AC title is set to come to the Nintendo Switch 2.
As discovered by ResetEra user ‘–R’ the PEGI (Pan European Game Rating) board seemingly confirmed that the recently-released Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to come to Nintendo Switch 2.
Though not available on the page listing itself, in going to the board’s homepage it can be seen that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated for Nintendo’s upcoming console.
Back In January, ahead of the official Switch 2 reveal, a leaker claimed that both Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Shadows will be coming to Nintendo’s upcoming sequel system.
Neither Ubisoft nor Nintendo have announced either title, but considering the fact that the PEGI board has Shadows listed for the platform, it is likely only a matter of time before we get an official announcement.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the Switch 2’s launch line-up so far? How much do you think Shadows will cost? What about AC: Mirage? Let us know down below.
Last month, Sony announced that they would begin allowing prospective PS5 players to lease a console for a monthly fee in the UK. While we’ve yet to receive any data on how this new program is progressing, a similar service in Japan has proven to be a major success.
As reported by the publication ItMedia (and translated by ResetEra user Neha), Geo Corporation’s PlayStation rental service in Japan is an early success, with the retailer reporting that “nearly 100% utilization is being achieved at roughly half of the stores” – averaging out to around 80% utilisation.
Speaking on this new service, Yusuke Sakai – the manager of GEO's Product Division 1 – claimed “It's been more successful than we expected,” adding: “We started discussing whether we could use our existing rental infrastructure to rent out PS5 consoles. Since GEO also buys used PS5 units, we already have the know-how for maintenance. Launching a PS5 rental service didn't require additional labor or training costs. We can offer it at the industry's lowest price.”
Of course, it is worth noting that Japan and the UK are two very different markets and so the success of a program in one region does not dictate its potential in another.
Still, with video game consoles, accessories and titles continuing to increase in price, renting out a console might become the most cost-effective way to engage with video games. We will have to wait and see how the program performs in the UK.
Throughout this most recent console generation, we have seen an increasing shift in the adoption of digital gaming media, with physical disc sales continuously falling with each passing year. That said, there remains a strong sect of players who still prefer to purchase their games physically – with as much as 80% of sales being physical in some situations.
According to Dring however, in comparing the digital-physical split only using titles which offer both methods of purchase, the ratio is quite different – with new Nintendo games reaching 80% physical in Europe.
Of course, Nintendo is known for its dominance in the physical realm. That said, even in looking at PS5, the stats are somewhat surprising with 64% of all games sold in Europe being physical (up from 55% in 2023).
That said, such splits are affected by the type of game in question, with single-player titles seeing more physical sales. For example, Helldivers II sales were said to have been just 10% physical in the UK, while Astro Bot reached up to 55% in the region (and 60% physical in Europe).
A full breakdown of all the different games and their sales ratios can be found HERE, but in essence, it seems clear that there is still a massive market for physical game purchases – especially in the single player space. Hopefully this means that Sony won’t be ditching their disc-drive with the inevitable PlayStation 6.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this breakdown? Are you surprised by the ratios? How often do you buy games physically nowadays? Let us know down below.
Escape From Tarkov is an interesting title. While the game has received its fair share of criticism over the years, no other title has managed to directly compete with the hardcore extraction shooter. Almost a decade on from its closed beta launch, Escape From Tarkov will finally enter 1.0 later this year.
Between now and August, Tarkov is set to receive monthly patches, bringing new events; optimisations; balance changes; AI tweaks and more. By far the biggest news however is the fact that at some point after August – but before the end of 2025 – Tarkov will finally leave its closed beta, officially reaching 1.0 status.
Offering more details on the rollout, the team confirmed that their side project ‘Escape from Tarkov Arena’ will come to Steam ahead of the main game’s 1.0 release. That said, the full Tarkov experience won’t come to the platform until after the 1.0 update has launched.
Finally, when the PvE mode does eventually leave beta it will be met with its first and only inventory wipe in order to facilitate a fair day-one experience for everyone.
With the game first being made available back in 2017, it seemed as though Escape From Tarkov would never see a full release. That said, assuming things continue as planned, Tarkov’s 1.0 launch could eat into other upcoming extraction shooters such as Bungie’s Marathon. We will have to wait and see.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the roadmap? Will the team manage to hit 1.0 this year? Will Tarkov’s full release affect the hype for Marathon? Let us know your thoughts down below.
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