Amazon Prime Week has arrived. We've had a look through some of the big tech deals on offer this week. Here, we break down some of the best gaming laptop and monitor deals from Acer.

On the monitor front, there is an excellent deal available to those looking to make the jump to a 21:9 ultra-wide display. The Acer Nitro XZ342CU 34-inch Gaming Monitor boasts 3440×1440 resolution, combined with a fast 180Hz refresh rate. On sale, the price is down to £199. If you want a 16:9 option, the Acer Nitro XV27 is down to £149 and offers a 27-inch 1440p display with 180Hz refresh rate.

If you want a 4K option, the Acer Predator XB27KV3 is down to £299 and offers a 160Hz refresh rate and HDR, making for a satisfying gaming upgrade. For 1080p gamers, the Acer Nitro KG241Y S3 offers a 180Hz refresh rate and HDR for less than £80.

If you are after a pre-built gaming desktop to go with your monitor, then the Acer Nitro N50-650 gaming desktop is down to £749 and features a 13th Gen Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an RTX 4060 GPU.

There's a long list of Acer gaming laptop deals on the go this week too. Starting off with previous-gen RTX 40-equipped models, we have the Nitro V, with an RTX 4050, a FHD 15.6″ 165Hz display and a 13th Gen Core i5 CPU down to £749.99. If you want an RTX 4060 instead, you can find the Nitro V 16 with a 14th Gen Core i6 and a 16″ 165Hz WUXGA display down to £829.99.

If you want to make the jump to RTX 50, then there are entry-level RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 laptop models on sale this week. For £849.99 you can get an Acer Nitro V 15 with an RTX 5050, a 512GB SSD and a 165Hz FHD display. For £899, you can make the jump to the RTX 5060-equipped Acer Nitro V 15 instead, which has a larger 1TB SSD as well.

The new Acer Predator Helios 18 laptop is on sale this week too. The RTX 4070 version is down to £1299.99, the RTX 5080 version is down to £2999.99 and the RTX 5090 model is down to £3699.99.

You can find all of Acer's Prime Day deals HERE.

KitGuru Says:  Are you planning on picking up anything during this week's sales?

The post Acer slashes gaming laptop and monitor prices for Amazon Prime Week first appeared on KitGuru.

Following months of leaks and rumours, the long awaited follow-up to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 was officially announced in the form of THPS 3+4. With the game finally set to launch in just a couple days, early reviews for the title have gone live – revealing what looks to be a solid remake (with some caveats).

Though subject to change as more reviews are published, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 currently sits at an 83 on Metacritic, with an OpenCritic rating of 85 – just slightly behind its predecessor THPS 1+2 (89).

That said, unlike the first three titles, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 in particular shook the formula up a bit upon its original release back in 2002, adding more of a campaign mode when compared to prior entries.

Unfortunately, THPS 3+4 axed said campaign mode, instead replacing it with a challenge system more similar to that of the first 3 games – a change which according to reviews will be “disappointing” to those who enjoyed the 4th Pro Skater’s format.

All in all however, it appears as though Iron Galaxy successfully took over the reins from Vicarious Visions (who worked on THPS 1+2) for this remake.

It will be interesting to see what fans think of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 when it officially launches for everyone on the 11th of July.

KitGuru says: Have you been looking forward to THPS 3+4? What do you think of the changes to the 4th game’s campaign? Is it a dealbreaker? Let us know down below.

The post Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 reviews reveal a solid remake first appeared on KitGuru.

LC-Power is debuting some very attractive options for the budget CPU cooler market. The latest DIGI cooler embraces new technologies, such as integrated displays in the heatsink and modern heat distribution methods, while keeping the price tag fairly low. LC-Power also has new black and white air coolers joining the line-up too.

There are a few models in this series, including the DIGI LC-CC-120-DB6, which is the most expensive model, followed by the AERA LC-CC-120-B4 and W4. These two are the same cooler, but one is black and the other is white.

Focusing on the LC-CC-120-DB6 to start. This cooler is equipped with six copper heat popes, paired with aluminium cooling fins and a copper-aluminium base. The 120mm fan has a fluid dynamic bearing to ensure long-lasting and quiet operation, better yet – the fan comes preinstalled, so you won't have to waste any time while setting the cooler up. At the top of the heatsink you'll find a digital display, which can show system stats taken from BIOS readings, or it can be paired with the LC-Power companion software for further customisation.

This cooler is rated to handle up to 230W TDP and supports Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x sockets, as well as AMD's AM4 and AM5 sockets, enabling broad compatibility across multiple generations of processors. The cooler will cost £39.99 in the UK.

Next up we have the new AERA LC-CC-120-B4 and LC-CC-120-W4 coolers. The B4 is the black version and the W4 is the white version. In both cases, the entire heatsink is coated, creating a cohesive look that will pair well with other system components.

The AERA coolers are designed for modern Intel and AMD systems. They use four copper heat pipes, combined with aluminium cooling fins and a copport heat spreader. The 120mm fan has a fluid dynamic bearing, ensuring long-lasting operation with minimal wear over time.

These coolers are rated to handle up to 190W of TDP and support the Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x sockets, as well as AMD's AM4 and AM5 sockets. Both coolers will be priced at £29.99 in the UK.

KitGuru Says: All three coolers here are very competitively priced and would certainly be a huge upgrade over a stock cooler. 

The post LC-Power unveils new DIGI and AERA CPU coolers first appeared on KitGuru.

While the Steam Deck and SteamOS have been taking the PC gaming space by storm over the past few years, there remains a subset of titles which struggle to run on the platform – those being games which user kernel level anti-cheat. Fortunately, it appears as though some developers are working to try and keep their multiplayer games supported on the platform, with The Finals committing to continued functionality on Steam Deck despite their newly-added anti-cheat.

As part of the latest update to The Finals, the team at Embark Studios officially detailed the game’s new anti-cheat, writing: “In the coming months, we will also begin an incremental rollout of a new kernel-based anti-cheat solution, intended to significantly raise the bar for cheat makers.”

As mentioned, most games which utilise kernel-level anti-cheat are unable to run on SteamOS due to its use of Linux. That said, Embark took to their Discord to reaffirm their commitment to the Steam Deck / SteamOS, stating:

“Hey guys! There are no plans to drop support for SteamOS/Proton/Wine and/or SteamDeck, despite us not officially supporting the platform, we will do our upmost best to maintain your ability to play.”

Adding to this, the team claimed to be “working pretty closely with CodeWeavers to QA every release we put out there since about Season 5, and I don't see a reason to stop that. It's not exactly a collaboration, but we do catch issues with SteamDeck early because at the very least they do a pass on the game before we release a patch.”

So, while it appears as though issues may arise as a result of this new implementation, the team at Embark seem to be committed to ensuring The Finals continues to run on the Steam Deck and SteamOS as a whole.

KitGuru says: What do you think of anti-cheat? How many games can’t you play on Steam Deck because of it? Let us know down below.

The post The Finals will continue to work on Steam Deck despite new anti-cheat first appeared on KitGuru.

There’s been a great deal of discussion surrounding Xbox Game Pass and its viability, with some developers expressing concerns with the subscription service’s long-term sustainability. That said, Microsoft has for quite some time claimed it to be a profitable service. While this may be true in some regard, it seems as though the console maker might have been stretching the meaning of the word somewhat.

In a post discussing the viability of Xbox Game Pass in the wake of the latest mass lay-offs at Xbox, known industry insider Christopher Dring took to Twitter to offer some clarity on the common claim that the service is profitable and has been for a while, writing:

“So costs associated with the Game Pass business is fees paid to third-parties, marketing, service costs… and by that measure, it’s profitable.”

Dring continued, “What they don’t count is the lost revenue that Xbox’s first-party studios are seeing as a result of the service. I have to imagine if first-party studios received similar compensation, that profitability might not be correct.”

Considering that Game Pass’ whole USP is the fact that all first-party games are added day-one to the service, not counting these costs feels somewhat disingenuous – and perhaps offers greater insight into how Microsoft is currently perceiving Xbox and Game Pass.

It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft will have anything to say on the matter in future.

KitGuru says: Did you believe the ‘Game Pass is profitable’ claims? Does this recent addendum make more sense? Should Microsoft stop offering first-party titles day-one? Let us know down below.

The post Game Pass isn’t as profitable as it’s claimed, according to insider first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we’re checking out the GEEKOM IT15 Mini PC – A tiny machine equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory, and a 2TB Crucial P3 Plus SSD. It features Intel Arc 140T integrated graphics, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, dual USB4 ports, and support for up to four external displays. Can this tiny PC deliver big performance?

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:40 Specs and Pricing
04:01 Inside / Ports I/O
05:46 Size and Build Quality
06:53 Cooling and setup
07:25 Light Gaming
09:38 Productivity
10:42 Fans and Noise
11:09 Power / Heat / Clock Speeds
13:15 Thermal Camera
13:58 Closing Thoughts

Specifications

• Form Factor – 117 × 112 × 45.5 mm w/ rubber foot
• CPU – Intel® Core Ultra 9-285H
• GPU – Integrated Intel® Arc 140T GPU
• Memory – Dual-channel DDR5 262PIN 5600 MHz SODIMM, up to 64 GB
• Storage – Crucial P3 Plus M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 2TB SSD
• I/O Port –
  • 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A (back panel)
  • 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, supports S5 power delivery
  • 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (front panel)
  • 2 × USB4, one support PD (back panel)
  • 1 × 3.5mm stereo headset jack (front panel)
  • 1 × 2.5G RJ45 (back panel)
  • 2 × HDMI(back panel)
  • 1 × DC in (back panel)
  • 1 × Power Button
  • 1 × Kensington Lock
  • 1 × SD Card 4.0 Reader
• Internal Connector
  • 1 × M.2 key-M slot for PCIe ×4 Gen 4 NVMe SSD, 2280
  • 1 × M.2 key-B slot (SATA), 2242
  • 1 × M.2 key-E slot for CNVi/PCIe WIFI, 2230
  • 1 × FAN
  • 1 × 5 ping header for SATA/HDD LED
  • 1 × USB 2.0 pin header
  • Ethernet – Intel 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps RJ45
  • Wireless LAN – Intel M.2 Wi-Fi 7 , Bluetooth 5.4
  • Adapter – 19V power supply adapter (120W) with geo-specific AC cord (IEC C5)
  • Operating system – Microsoft Windows*11 pro 24H2(64-bit)
  • Accessory – VESA Mount

Coupon code 10% Off: IT15KT10

This exclusive coupon will remain valid till August 2025 UK buy link direct: https://tinyurl.com/ylfggovl US buy link: https://tinyurl.com/yufdkmdv

Amazon UK buy link: https://tinyurl.com/yv9xuujp (Seems to be £854 – we dont know for how long). US buy link: https://tinyurl.com/yufdkmdv

KITGURU MAKES NOTHING from sales of PC's from either link above.

The model featured in the review has a full RRP of £1299 but is currently on sale for £999 (as of 04/07/25) – GEEKOM are running special pricing for Amazon Prime Day 2025 and have provided our readers with an extra 10% off on their website using the code: IT15KT10

Pros:

• Extremely small form factor
• Solid build quality with inner metal frame
• 32GB of DDR5 memory on all models
• 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD included with the model we reviewed
• Great for light 4K editing
• Decent gaming performance in titles that support Intel XESS
• Spare M.2 slot for additional storage (Sata speeds)
• Easy to disassemble and upgrade

Cons:

• Hampered by thermal throttling and triple digit CPU package temperatures when under sustained CPU intensive workloads
• Expensive for the top spec model

KitGuru says: The IT15 is a useful, powerful and compact computer. Unfortunately it is hampered by very high CPU temperatures when under intensive CPU workloads. 

 

The post GEEKOM IT15 Mini PC Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Deep Rock Galactic Survivor has been one of my most played games on Steam Deck over the past year, even in its early access state. Now, the extremely fun spin-off is nearing its full release.

Deep Rock Galactic Survivor is heading towards V1.0, which will also mark the end of its time in Early Access. The Survivor team is preparing a whole new gear system for the 1.0 launch, which will provide a lot more variety to your builds with each run. With the release version, gear will be divided up into six types – armour, mods, canisters, gadgets, tools and chips.

Armour will give you more health and damage resistance, mods will alter your guns to do various types of damage, canisters alter explosion potency and radius, gadgets improve your mining skills, tools improve your weapon reload speed and range, and chips will make changes to drones.

This isn't the only major change coming with V1.0, but we'll hear more about other additions in the weeks leading up to launch. Deep Rock Galactic Survivor is launching on September 17th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you tried Deep Rock Galactic Survivor since the early access launch? Are you looking forward to V1.0? 

The post Deep Rock Galactic Survivor leaves Early Access in September first appeared on KitGuru.

Borderlands 4 is just a couple of months away. The $80 launch disaster has been avoided and 2K is slowly revealing more details about the game. In a new deep-dive video, developers give new insight into the history and lore of Kairos, the new planet where the events of Borderlands 4 take place. 

On Kairos, players will encounter a number of key factions, including the Outbounders, Augurs, and Electi. Each one of these factions controls their own piece of the map, but the true bad guy for this game is the tyrannical Timekeeper.

Here is a piece of the new teaser for Borderlands 4:

“Kairos is hungry for a revolution. There are various factions vying for survival. The Outbounders, a group that crashlanded on Kairos and have not been able to leave, the Augurs, descendants of the first miners sent to acquire resources on behalf of the Timekeeper, and the Electi, the Kairos elite who are locked out of the city walls are all learning to survive. The Vault Hunters are thrown into this unstable world of Kairos – and all roads lead to the Timekeeper, who maintains control through cybernetic implants called Bolts”.

Borderlands 4 launches worldwide on September 12th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. It will also be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 later in 2025.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to Borderlands 4? 

The post Borderlands 4 dev diary gives us a deep dive into Kairos, enemy factions and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Monster Hunter Wilds has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons recently. While the announcement of the game's new free content update should have been a celebrated moment, the lack of any performance improvements led to a flurry of negative reviews. Now, Capcom has been forced to address the elephant in the room.

Capcom has finally addressed the on-going complaints around optimisation in Monster Hunter Wilds. Since launch, the game has had performance problems on both PC and console. Now that the game has drifted to an ‘Overwhelmingly Negative' user score on Steam, Capcom executives have finally had to face the music in the most recent shareholder meeting.

As reported by PCGamer, one shareholder asked Capcom's board if the development staff was ‘aware of the feedback' around optimisation and content volume in Monster Hunter Wilds. In response, Capcom said that it is “committed to enhancing user satisfaction” with future updates for the game.

It is a fairly standard response, but it is an interesting turn. Capcom has mostly received praise in recent years for its quality releases. The fact that shareholders are asking questions about optimisation and content volume shows that standards have slipped with recent projects like Monster Hunter Wilds, and that will need to be corrected for upcoming releases for games like Resident Evil Requiem.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you tried Monster Hunter Wilds since it came out? Does the game run well on your system?

The post Capcom questioned by shareholders over poor optimisation in Monster Hunter Wilds first appeared on KitGuru.

A handful of classic games were announced for Nintendo Switch Online as part of the Switch 2 launch. Now, as we near the next Nintendo Direct showcase, it looks like fans have figured out what new titles will soon be announced for the service, including Smash 64. 

The next Nintendo Direct may include a new wave of Nintendo 64 classics for the Switch Online library of games. ImakuniVT and AndreSegers of GameXplain both went viral on social media this week with claims that the original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 will be joining the Switch Online library based on a Switch Online bug that placed the box art for the game within the app.

The bug also showed boxart for Donkey Kong 64, Forsaken 64 and Glover, so these should be the other Nintendo 64-era games joining the Switch Online library. Fans are also anticipating the release of Pokémon Coliseum for the Switch Online GameCube emulator sometime this month.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There are so many classics in Nintendo's library that have yet to appear as part of the Switch Online service. A Donkey Kong 64 announcement this month would be very fitting, as a new 3D Donkey Kong game is launching for the Switch 2 later this month. 

The post Smash Bros, Donkey Kong 64 and more to join Switch Online library first appeared on KitGuru.

CPU-Z has been updated to version 2.16 for Windows x86/x64, bringing with it support for lots of newly launched hardware. This update is particularly significant for enthusiasts following the latest developments from both AMD and NVIDIA. 

Regarding AMD, the Ryzen Z2 and Z2 Extreme CPUs, which are frequently known by their codename “Strix Point,” are now fully supported by CPU-Z 2.16. These processors are already appearing in devices like the Legion Go S and were created especially for portable gaming devices. Additionally, the update expands its compatibility to the Dragon Range refresh lineup, correctly identifying SKUs like the Ryzen 9 8945HX and 8940HX and Ryzen 7 8840HX and 8745HX, which are 55W processors targeted at the high-end laptop market.

Nvidia's latest GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs are also now correctly detected. CPU-Z 2.16 includes support for the Radeon RX 9060 XT and Nvidia's recently launched RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5060, and RTX 5050. The complete list of all new devices supported by CPU-Z version 2.16 can be found below:

• AMD Ryzen Z2 and Z2 Extreme (Strix Point).
• AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, 8940HX, Ryzen 7 8840HX, 8745HX (Dragon Range refresh).
• Improved support of AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and Ryzen AI 5 340 (Kraken Point).
• Zhaoxin KaiXian KX-U6780A and KX-U6580 (LuJiaZui, 8 cores).
• AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT (Navi 44).
• NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (GB206), RTX 5060 (GB206), RTX 5050 (GB207)

Those interested in downloading the latest CPU-Z version can do so HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you use CPU-Z? Have you gotten a system with any of the new stuff supported by CPU-Z 2.16?

The post CPU-Z adds support for RX 9060 XT, RTX 5060, RTX 5050 and Ryzen Z2 first appeared on KitGuru.

For years now, a Final Fantasy 9 remake has been rumoured. When Square Enix announced plans for a special 25th anniversary event for the game, an announcement became widely anticipated. However, the stream came and went this week with absolutely no mention of a new Final Fantasy 9 game.

The Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary stream included new merch, some fancy new character art, but no mention of a new game. Leaker NatetheHate, who has spoken about the Final Fantasy 9 Remake in the past, claims to have heard that the game was ‘in trouble' recently. However, other outlets like VGC report that the game is still in development.

Final Fantasy 9 first released for the PS1 in 2000, before re-releasing in 2010 for more modern platforms of the time, like the PSP and PS3. The game is also available today on newer consoles, mobile devices and PC.

We first learned of plans for a Final Fantasy 9 remake in 2021, when a GeForce Now database leak revealed project names and working titles for hundreds of unannounced games. Many of the games first spotted in this leak were later confirmed, including Square Enix titles like Chrono Cross Remastered, Kingdom Hearts 4 and the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

If the remake is still in development, then we should get some kind of nod towards it from Square Enix at some stage this year. However, the company has been reluctant to confirm it so far, although producers like Naoki Yoshida have commented on the idea in interviews before.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The stream last night will have been disappointing to anyone who has been following the remake leaks in recent years. I do wonder if the lower-than-expected sales for Final Fantasy Rebirth could have given Square Enix cold feet. In all likelihood, Final Fantasy 9 Remake would have been split up into multiple parts too. 

The post Final Fantasy 9 Remake a no show at 25th anniversary stream first appeared on KitGuru.

MSI Afterburner has forgone support for AMD's most recent Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards, in large part due to the fact that MSI does not make any. Now, the developer behind Afterburner is correcting this with a new beta update, which brings support for RDNA 4 graphics cards. 

The most recent beta versions of MSI Afterburner, specifically Afterburner 4.6.6 Beta 6 Build 16591, and its companion program, RivaTuner Statistics Server Beta 7 Build 28220, now support RDNA 4 GPUs. These builds can be found in Guru3D (via UNIKO's Hardware), but they are not yet accessible on the official Afterburner website.

The official patch notes for MSI Afterburner v4.6.6 Beta 6 Build 16591 can be found below:

• Extended +3000MHz memory clock overclocking range tweak for NVIDIA RTX 5000 series graphics cards, which was available as separately downloadable hardware database for the previous beta, is now integrated into distributive.
• Added some future NVIDIA RTX 5000 series GPUs to hardware database.
• Added unofficial AMD RDNA4 GPU family support
• Relaxing preemptive sleep delay is now excluded from cumulative polling time displayed by performance profiler on Overdrive8 capable graphics cards to avoid confusing beginners.
• Fixed missing CPU Power sensor on Intel Arrow Lake CPU family
• RivaTuner Statistics Server has been upgraded to v7.3.7 beta 7

Note that compatibility for “future GPUs from NVIDIA” is also mentioned in the changelog for this beta update. Although this might be a reference to the recently released RTX 5050, it also raises the possibility that there are other unannounced Nvidia products in the works.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: This update offers the much-needed support for RDNA 4 graphics card users who rely on Afterburner to adjust GPU settings, apply custom fan curves, or prefer the powerful overlay features offered by RTSS.

The post MSI Afterburner beta introduces Radeon RX 9000 series support first appeared on KitGuru.

The Stop Killing Games petition has surpassed one million signatures in the EU, meaning the movement may soon move towards next steps to getting new consumer protection laws in place targeting the video game market. As a result of this, a lobbying group backed by Ubisoft, Take-Two, WB, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, and Nintendo, has spoken out against the petition.

Video Games Europe is a lobbying group backed by some of the biggest publishers across the industry. Its entire goal is to get involved with politics to ensure laws remain in line with industry interests. In a statement sent to press outlets like VGC, Video Games Europe makes it clear that it does not support the Stop Killing Games movement:

“We appreciate the passion of our community; however, the decision to discontinue online services is multi-faceted, never taken lightly and must be an option for companies when an online experience is no longer commercially viable. We understand that it can be disappointing for players but, when it does happen, the industry ensures that players are given fair notice of the prospective changes in compliance with local consumer protection laws”.

In response to those wanting the option for private servers, the group claims it is “not always a viable alternative option”, claiming that the lack of protections against illegal or unsafe content would leave the rights holder legally liable. In a response video published this afternoon, Ross, the creator of the Stop Killing Games petition, disputed the claim that rights holders would be legally liable for content found on privately hosted servers for an unsupported, End-of-Life game.

In his response video, Ross also disputes other portions of the Video Games Europe statement, reaffirming the stance that no developers will be forced to continue supporting their online games indefinitely, which the Video Games Europe statement seems to imply would be a problem if new game preservation laws were to go into effect.

The Stop Killing Games petition has reached its target number of signatures in the EU and UK, but more signatures are needed as there will inevitably be a number of signings that get discounted as being illegitimate.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It doesn't surprise me that games industry executives don't want new laws that would impact the ways they currently do business. However, there is growing concern around the industry's continued efforts to erode the rights of video game buyers, so something needs to change. 

The post Video game industry pushes back as Stop Killing Games petition gains traction first appeared on KitGuru.

Windows 11 has finally surpassed Windows 10 as the most popular Microsoft operating system, almost four years after its initial release in October 2021. Given that Windows 10's official end-of-support date of October 14th, 2025, is approaching, this change is not particularly surprising.

This marks a significant turning point for Microsoft, which has observed a relatively gradual adoption rate for Windows 11 over the past few years. However, as of July 2025, data from StatCounter (via PCGamer) indicates that Windows 11 now accounts for over 50% of all Windows PCs, finally surpassing Windows 10's market share (by about 6%).

Image credit: StatCounter

Given that almost all new Windows laptops sold since 2021 have Windows 11 pre-installed, this accelerated rise can surely be partially attributed to the natural cycle of hardware upgrades. As a result, some of the increase is just due to consumers buying new devices. But it's anticipated that more and more Windows 11 users will be “reluctant converts” from Windows 10 in the upcoming months, mainly because security updates will soon stop.

Although Microsoft recently provided a limited reprieve, offering a way to get a free extra year of Windows 10 security updates in exchange for signing in with a Microsoft account and backing up PC settings to the cloud, this is only a temporary fix. It is generally not recommended for individual users to continue using Windows 10 after security updates expire due to increased vulnerability, even though enterprise users have options to maintain older Windows versions beyond official support.

Users do have good options if Windows 11 isn't a good fit. Switching to a Linux distribution might be a wise decision, particularly for users with outdated hardware that doesn't support Windows 11's compatibility requirements. For gamers, excluding games that use kernel-level anti-cheat, the majority can now run smoothly on Linux thanks to Steam's Proton compatibility layer.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you already on Windows 11? How has your experience been up to now?

The post Windows 11 has more users than Windows 10 for the first time first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo has stayed away from the console wars for quite a few generations, especially when it comes to the power/performance of said consoles – instead opting for relatively modest hardware. With the Switch 2 having now been out in the wild for a bit however, we’re seeing more and more developers weigh in on the system’s capabilities and potential.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is an interesting handheld/console hybrid, with the system being far more powerful than 2017’s Switch 1 while also taking advantage of bespoke upscaling techniques such as DLSS.

That said, in terms of raw horsepower, the sequel system is seemingly still quite behind its contemporaries, with the studio behind the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta – Virtuos – telling WCCFTECH:

“GPU-wise, the Switch 2 performs slightly below the Series S; this difference is more noticeable in handheld mode. However, the Series S does not support technologies like DLSS, which the Switch 2 does. This makes the GPU capabilities of the two consoles comparable overall.”

Unfortunately, it seems as though Switch 2’s CPU is where the console falls behind the most, with the team continuing: “CPU-wise, there is a clearer distinction between the two consoles. The Switch 2 is closer to the PlayStation 4 in this respect, having a CPU just a bit more powerful than the PS4's.”

Offering some context for what this means with current-gen games, the team claimed “Any game shipping at 60 FPS on the Series S should easily port to the Switch 2. Likewise, a 30 FPS Series S game that's GPU-bound should also port well. Games with complex physics, animations, or other CPU-intensive elements might incur additional challenges in reaching 30 or 60 FPS or require extra optimization during porting.”

As always, even the most powerful console can run games poorly assuming the title was not optimised (cough cough MindsEye cough cough), and so the relative power of the Switch 2 functions more as an interesting anecdote. It’ll be curious to see just how much power developers manage to squeeze out of the Switch's successor throughout its lifecycle.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Switch 2's performance so far? Are you impressed by its power? How long will it take for the system to get its first ‘impossible port’? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post MGS Delta studio compares Nintendo Switch 2 CPU to PS4 and GPU to Series S first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the years, there has been a ton of back and forth discussions surrounding Microsoft’s subscription service Xbox Game Pass and its impact on the industry. While some have claimed it to be a net negative – others state the opposite. Now, the founder and ex-CEO of Arkane Studios has weighed in on the matter, calling it “unsustainable.”

Raphael Colantonio was the founder and CEO of Arkane Studios from its inception back in 1999. Since then, Colantonio co-created the excellent immersive sim series Dishonored as well as Arkane Austin’s Prey reboot – before ultimately departing in 2017.

Currently working on a new immersive sim at WolfEye Studios, Colantonio took to Twitter to offer some thoughts on Xbox Game Pass and its model, stating:

“I think Gamepass is an unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade, subsidized by MS’s ‘infinite money’, but at some point reality has to hit. I don’t think GP can co-exist with other models, they’ll either kill everyone else, or give up.”

Of course, this comes at a time when Microsoft just fired over 9000 employees; shutting down game studios while also gutting others; cancelling a bunch of titles and more. As such, the frustration felt by Colantonio is understandable.

Whether Game Pass is truly unsustainable, we will have to wait and see, but given the fact that Microsoft willingly shuts down successful endeavours it’s anyone’s guess what the future of Game Pass looks like.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Game Pass as a consumer? Will the service survive long enough to reach its 10th birthday? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Arkane founder claims Game Pass “has been increasingly damaging the industry” first appeared on KitGuru.

Rust needs little to no introduction, with the PC-focused multiplayer survival game taking over Steam when it launched in Early Access back in 2013. Created by the maker of Garry’s Mod, Rust has seen just as much success – having now officially sold over 20 million copies on Steam alone.

Releasing a video to YouTube recapping the past 6 months of additions and events in Rust, the team at Facepunch revealed that the game has now officially sold over 20 million copies. What’s more, this represents Steam users exclusively, meaning that the game has likely sold millions more when accounting for players across PlayStation and Xbox.

As mentioned however, Rust is a PC focused title, with the game being exclusive to the platform from its Early Access launch back in 2013 up until 2021.

Still, even without the added console players, Rust is easily one of the best selling games around – sitting only slightly behind the studio’s other success story ‘Garry’s Mod’ (which surpassed 25 million copies late last year).

With the recent release of the Friends with Benefits update, it is clear that Facepunch has no plans to slow down its support for Rust. It will be interesting to see whether Rust manages to break its peak CCU which it achieved right at the tail-end of last year.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Rust in 2025? When did you first try it? Do you still return to the game from time to time? Let us know down below.

The post Rust has sold over 20 million copies on Steam alone first appeared on KitGuru.

Ever since the release of Final Shape, Destiny 2 has been in a bit of a limbo. That said, with the game’s next big expansion set to arrive in a little over a week’s time, the team at Bungie are enticing both old and new players alike to hop back into the live-service looter shooter with an open access period. Starting from tomorrow, all of Destiny 2’s expansions (alongside other additional content) will be free to play for the next two weeks.

Making the announcement as part of the company’s This Week In Destiny blog post, the team at Bungie offered a ton of new details surrounding the upcoming Edge of Fate expansion – including new weapon tuning for different archetypes; exotics; economy updates; quality of life improvements and much more.

Those who haven’t played Destiny 2 in a while however will have quite a bit to catch up on. Fortunately (and in a rather rare move for the game), Bungie announced that Destiny 2 is getting an ‘open access’ period – writing:

“Starting July 8 and until July 22, all currently available Destiny 2 Expansions will be available for free on all supported platforms Additionally, all three currently available Episodes will also be free for all supported platforms until July 15.”

Of course, the base Destiny 2 is a free-to-play experience, however many of the game’s best aspects are locked behind its expansions/episodes.

As such, if you’ve been away from Destiny for a while, now might be the best time to check back in and see whether the new content is for you or not.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Open Access periods? Are Destiny 2’s expansions too expensive? Do you have high hopes for Edge of Fate? Let us know down below.

The post Destiny 2 announces Open Access trial featuring all expansions first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we’re taking a detailed look at the OXS Thunder Pro+ — a Dolby Atmos 7.1.2-channel soundbar designed for desktop use. Featuring ten drivers, a detachable control dial, multiple connectivity options, and an optional wireless neck speaker for rear-channel audio, the Thunder Pro+ aims to deliver immersive sound without the need for a traditional multi-speaker setup – Can it surround us with enough sound to match it’s premium price tag?

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:48 Pricing / Design
02:25 Lighting and Controls
03:28 Connectivity and Specifications
05:14 Satellite Neck Pillow Speker
05:42 Battery Life
06:08 Real World / Audio Testing
10:06 Software
11:19 Remote control
11:43 Closing Thoughts

Specifications

System Configuration – Dolby Atmos® 7.1.2

Drivers

• • • 2 * 0.75″ Tweeter
    • 2 * 2.5″ Full-range Driver
    • 4 * 1.5″ Full-range Driver
    • 2 * 1.5″ Full-range Driver (Neck Speaker)

EQ-Mode

• • • FPS, RAC, MOBA, Standard

Connectivity

• • • Bluetooth 5.0
    • AUX IN
    • HDMI IN, HDMI eARC
    • USB-C, USB-A for Neck Speaker
    • 3.5mm MIC-in, 3.5mm stereo jack

Power (Soundbar)

• • • Output Power: 80 watt
    • Peak Output Power: 160 watt

Power (Neck Speaker)

• • • Output Power: 10 watt
    • Peak Output Power: 20 watt

Frequency – 75Hz – 20kHz

Sound Level – 96dB

Distortion – <1%

Battery (Neck Speaker)

• • • Capacity: 2400mAh
    • Play Time: 12Hrs
    • Charging Time: 2Hrs
    • Quick Charge Time: 10Mins for 2Hrs
    • Input: 9V 1.7A

Functionality

• • • DSP
    • Multi-device Compatible
    • Channel Volume Adjust

Dimension

• • • Soundbar: 608 x 122 x 78 mm (23.9″ x 4.8″ x 3″)
    • Neck Speaker: 294 x 171 x 112 mm (11.6″ x 6.7″ x 4.4″)

Package Weight: 7.06 KG

What's in box (Soundbar)

• • • 1 * Main Soundbar
    • 1 * Toggle Control
    • 2 set * Detachable feet for angle adjustment
    • Adapter
    • User Manual
    • Remote Control (2* AAA battery included)
    • HDMI Cable, USB-A to C Cable

What's in box (Soundbar)

• • • 1 * Satellite Neck Speaker
    • 1 * USB-A Dongle (5.8G)
    • 1 * USB-C to C Cable

You can buy the Thunder Pro+ Soundbar either on its own or as a bundle with the neck pillow – starting from £599.99 either directly from OXS Audio HERE or on Amazon UK HERE

Both are currently on offer for Amazon Prime Day 2025 – The full bundle is currently £549.99 and the standalone soundbar is £449.99

Pros:

• Great spatial audio from the soundbar
• Satellite neck pillow adds a lot of immersion to gaming and media
• Wide range of connectivity options
• Neck pillow is comfortable
• Good build quality and premium feel

Cons:

• Lacks a bit of bass
• No customisable EQ control
• Expensive

KitGuru says: The Thunder Pro+ and neck pillow combo has great surround sound and spatial audio performance but lacks a true low end bass. That being said, the level of immersion it adds to gaming is thoroughly impressive and brings games and movies to life. 

The post OXS Thunder Pro+ Spatial Audio Sound System Review first appeared on KitGuru.

With the release of the most recent version of its DLSS plugin for Unreal Engine, Nvidia has full support for DLSS 4 in Unreal Engine 5.6. With the help of this updated SDK, developers can more easily incorporate Nvidia's state-of-the-art AI-powered upscaling and frame generation technologies into games and apps created using the game engine from Epic Games.

As of right now, this plugin works with Unreal Engine versions 5.2 through 5.6; official support for earlier versions is no longer offered. This release comes after Unreal Engine 5.6 made its debut last month, and the first DLSS UE5 plugin was released in February. Recall that Unreal Engine 5.6 was used for The Witcher 4 tech demo, demonstrating the engine's new version capabilities. Comparisons between the Paris Tech demo built with UE 5.2 and 5.6 have also been made, where we can see notable FPS (average and low) improvement.

A wide range of features are supported by the DLSS plugin, such as Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing (DLAA), Ray Reconstruction, Super Resolution, Multi-Frame Generation, Transformer upscaling model, and standard Frame Generation. With the help of the plugin, developers can now easily incorporate these DLSS features into their Unreal Engine projects. It is important to note that the GPU architecture of the player will determine whether or not each particular DLSS feature is available.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Most games in development using Unreal Engine 5.6 are likely still a long way from release. Still, given Nvidia already launched this plugin, there's a good chance they'll come out supporting DLSS 4 at launch.

The post Unreal Engine 5.6 gets DLSS 4 plugin first appeared on KitGuru.

Even though Hades 2 has not yet reached its full 1.0 release, it has maintained an impressive early access run on PC. With more than 61,000 Steam reviews, the game has been in early access for more than a year, and even its early versions have received praise for their polish and depth of content for a game that is still in development. With the eagerly anticipated 1.0 launch ever closer, one can only imagine where this journey will end.

On June 17th, Supergiant Games released “The Unseen Update”, their third significant early access patch. With the addition of a new “Vow of Rivals” that not only made Guardian battles more intense but also urged players to change up their tactics for every encounter, this update mainly addressed combat changes. The latest patch, Patch 10, expands on this by making a few minor adjustments to already-existing items and abilities and fine-tuning the Vow of Rivals encounters. Additionally, Supergiant has stated that no new locations or plot points will be added before the v1.0 release, as the game's actual conclusion is being postponed until the full release.

According to the developer, Patch 10 is “likely to be our final patch before our v1.0 launch”. The sentiment implies that the end of early access is approaching, even though they followed this with a cautious “whenever that will be!” This is undoubtedly exciting for console gamers or those who would have instead waited for the game to be finished.

Xbox and PlayStation users, however, will have to be a little more patient. Hades 2's precise 1.0 release date is still unknown, but Supergiant has made it clear that the game will first be available on PC, the Nintendo Switch, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Fans have previously received assurances from the developer that the game is optimised to run smoothly on both Nintendo platforms at a steady 60 FPS.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you tried Hades 2 already or are you waiting for the final 1.0 patch?

The post The next Hades 2 patch could be the last before full release first appeared on KitGuru.

Arctic has officially released its new P Pro Series of fans and on top of that, the company is also equipping its Liquid Freezer III AIO cooler with the new fans, which offer high static pressure and airflow, making them ideal for those seeking to lower temperatures. The P12 Pro, P12 Pro A-RGB, and P12 Pro PST are the first 120mm models to hit the market, with more to come in the next few weeks.

A carefully redesigned fan blade structure is at the heart of this new series. Arctic has used automated manufacturing processes to get very low tolerances, which means that there is only a small gap between the impeller and the fan frame. This level of precision engineering leads to higher static pressure and a significant boost in airflow efficiency, making sure that these fans can move air well even in very tight spaces. A high-precision balancing procedure, an optimised bearing, and a longer impeller shaft all work together to keep vibration to a minimum and keep the P12 Pro running “quietly” at speeds of 600–3000 RPM.

A new controller-motor combination not only lowers the noise that motors naturally make but also smartly makes up for any speed drops that might happen when obstacles like dense radiator fins make it harder to move. There are also built-in safety features that effectively reduce inrush current peaks and prevent damage from reverse polarity.

Below is a list of all fan variants of the P Pro series:

• P12 Pro Series
  • P12 Pro
  • P12 Pro PST
  • P12 Pro PST – 5 Pack
  • P12 Pro PST (White)
  • P12 Pro PST CO
  • P12 Pro A-RGB
  • P12 Pro A-RGB – 3 Pack
  • P12 Pro A-RGB (White)
  • P12 Pro A-RGB (White) – 3 Pack
• P14 Pro Series
  • P14 Pro
  • P14 Pro PST
  • P14 Pro PST – 5 Pack
  • P14 Pro PST (White)
  • P14 Pro PST CO
  • P14 Pro A-RGB
  • P14 Pro A-RGB – 3 Pack
  • P14 Pro A-RGB (White)
  • P14 Pro A-RGB (White) – 3 Pack

The P12 Pro fans (black) are available now, and for a limited time, Arctic is offering an automatic webshop discount of up to 52%. The P12 Pro costs a reasonable €7.99 (the original price was €16.49), and the P12 Pro PST 5-pack costs €27.49 (the original price was €39.49). The P12 Pro A-RGB is available for €11.99 (original price: €19.99) for those who want something extra. As mentioned, additional models from the P12 Pro and P14 Pro Series are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: On the market for some new fans for your PC? Maybe consider getting the new P12 Pro and taking advantage of these significant discounts.

The post Arctic unveils new Premium high air-resistance case fans first appeared on KitGuru.

Call of Duty: WWII officially came to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass earlier this week. However, the PC version has had to swiftly be pulled offline due to a newly discovered security issue.

It seems that Call of Duty: WWII has been hiding a bug that enables Remote Code Execution. One player found themselves targeted mid-game, forcing the game to close and a text file to open informing the player that their PC had been remotely accessed.

I JUST GOT HACKED PLAYING WW2! EVERYONE DO NOT PLAY WW2 ON GAMEPASS! @Xbox @XboxSupport @Activision @charlieINTEL @CODUpdates @FaZeScope @Mobbing pic.twitter.com/I5pehK1kHK

— Wrioh (@wrioh75753) July 3, 2025

Activision has so far only acknowledged that it had to pull the game offline to fix ‘an issue', with no mention of the serious security implications this bug could have on customers. With that said, Insider Gaming reports that the bug may have been around for years already, which would indicate that this has been a long-standing problem.

Nobody wants a videogame to double up as a backdoor into their PC. It is good that the game was pulled offline once the alarm was raised, but there is no telling how long it will remain offline for. Back when an RCE bug was discovered in the Dark Souls trilogy on PC, all three games had to be pulled offline for months while it was fixed. However, Microsoft has a bit more experience in the cyber security department, so things may move a bit quicker for Call of Duty: WWII.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you had Call of Duty: WWII installed, consider uninstalling it. If you've played the game online recently, you should run a system scan to check for any rogue files.

The post Call of Duty: WWII pulled offline due to RCE security flaw first appeared on KitGuru.

Needless to say, this has been an awful week for Xbox, with thousands of developers being let go, several high-profile game cancellations and even a few studio closures. As Microsoft purpotedly began cancelling funding for third-party game projects, some fans became worried about the status of Kojima's upcoming Xbox game, OD. 

OD was announced a couple of years ago at The Game Awards. It was going to be the first time that Kojima had produced an Xbox exclusive, but given Microsoft's recent pivot to multi-platform releases, it is now no longer certain that OD will be exclusive to Xbox platforms.

Kojima Productions has been busy with Death Stranding 2, so progress on OD has been slow and we've heard no news since the game's initial teaser. However, it is far from a ‘dead' project. As reported by Windows Central, Kojima Productions' deal with Microsoft for OD was not affected by the recent cuts at Xbox.

There is still no word on when the game might come out, but we would expect it to be a few years away at least.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: OD is anticipated to be Kojima's return to survival horror. After we all missed out on Kojima's version of Silent Hill, OD is going to have a lot of eyes on it. 

The post Kojima’s Xbox game ‘OD’ unaffected by recent Microsoft cuts first appeared on KitGuru.

Helldivers 2 launched last year as a PlayStation console exclusive, and as the PC version is also published by PlayStation, it was widely assumed that the game would never come to Xbox. That changed this week with a surprise announcement, but while Helldivers 2 will be on Xbox moving forward, it won't be coming to Game Pass. 

Helldivers 2 for Xbox Series X/S consoles will be available starting on August 26th. However, the game will not be coming to Game Pass, now, or perhaps ever.

As reported by Videogamer, Arrowhead's Community Manager responded to fans asking about a Game Pass release in the official Helldivers 2 Discord server. To one fan, they wrote “definitely not” when asked if the game would be available through Game Pass, and later added that there are “no plans” to ever bring the game to Microsoft's subscription service.

Whether or not that stance changes in the future is anyone's guess. For its part, Microsoft does support Sony's competing PlayStation Plus subscription service with various games. Somewhere down the line, if it makes business sense for Sony to put the game on both services, I wouldn't rule it out.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: A whole new class of Helldivers are about to be recruited into the ranks, which is a great thing. I don't think we need to water down that fact by focusing on the game not being available as a Game Pass freebie. 

The post Helldivers 2 won’t be coming to Game Pass first appeared on KitGuru.

Anime Expo 2025 is taking place this weekend and CD Projekt Red did not disappoint with its panel. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is indeed returning, and Studio Trigger will be handling it once again. 

Cyberpunk 2077 launched in December 2020 and quickly became critically panned for its major bugs and performance issues. The release of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners also coincided with a turning point for the video game. The incredible critical success of Edgerunners sent many back to Cyberpunk 2077 to re-experience the game after many patches, which then kickstarted the ‘Cyberpunk is good now' discussion in 2022.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 will feature 10 episodes. David Martinez will not return, but we will be exploring new stories in Night City, with a new set of characters.

Studio Trigger and CD Projekt Red say that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 will tell a “raw, real chronicle of redemption and revenge” but beyond that, we don't know any other details. Currently, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 does not have a release date, but it will drop on Netflix when its ready, just like the first season.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was so good that I think we all expected another season at some point. It is confirmed now, and there is a trailer, but it was only shown at Anime Expo, so we'll have to wait a while longer before we get our first look. 

The post CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger announce Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

One of the more surprising casualties from last week's Xbox layoffs was Romero Games. Founded by DOOM creator, John Romero, the studio was not owned by Microsoft, nor had any public business ties to the company. However, it turns out that Romero Games was working on a new shooter, with the funding coming from Xbox. Now due to the cuts, Romero Games is feared to be closing down. 

While Romero Games has not named Microsoft or Xbox in any of its official statements, the company did confirm this week that it had lost publisher funding for the new First-Person Shooter it was developing. As a result, the entire team is being let go and the game has been cancelled.

As reported by VGC, one anonymous Romero Games employee gave comment on the situation, saying: “Everyone is out of a job. We had meetings with the publisher the day before this happened, there was no mention of it”.

However, it is also claimed that the studio is “trying to find other ways of funding the project”, so there is a chance that this shooter could return from the dead. In the meantime, though, the studio can't retain its employees, so the studio would have to go through a period of rebuilding, even if it did find a new publisher to finance the game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Romero Games had remained as a small studio for years before obtaining funding for its current projects. Then when it finally grew to a full production-sized team, that funding was snatched away. If the UE5 shooter was far along enough, they may be able to convince another publisher to push the project over the finish line. 

The post Romero Games could seek a new publisher and reopen first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, Microsoft announced plans to let go of 9000 employees. Various studios within the Xbox unit were impacted, including Turn 10, which reportedly lost as much as half of its employees. Now, an ex employee has made the claim that Forza Motorsport has effectively been cancelled. 

Former Turn 10 developer, Fred Russell, commented on the layoffs at his old studio. Through contacts, he says that “Turn 10 Studios has shuttered the Forza Motorsport space and the team is no more”. If true, it would mean that Microsoft has made the decision to axe Forza Motorsport, but to keep Turn 10 on as a support studio for Forza Horizon, which is primarily developed by Playground Games.

Since being acquired by Microsoft in 2018, Playground Games has grown into a multi-project studio and is now working on the Fable reboot, as well as future Forza Horizon games. Turn 10 was responsible for the Forza Motorsport games, which have slightly more limited appeal compared to Forza Horizon. While Forza Horizon is an open-world game with multiple types of races, Forza Motorsport focuses exclusively on track car racing.

The latest Forza Motorsport game released in 2023 after a couple of delays. While the game was a critical success, it is unclear if it was a commercial one. Given that Turn 10 is now reduced to support studio status, it seems likely that Forza Motorsport sales had fallen behind expectations.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Do you think we'll ever see Forza Motorsport return?

The post Xbox has reportedly downsized Turn 10 and cancelled Forza Motorsport first appeared on KitGuru.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 series has begun to register significant adoption in Steam's 2025 Hardware Survey. Despite only debuting in early 2025, with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launching on January 30th and mid-range options like the RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 following in February and May, respectively, these cards collectively account for a notable 3.69% of all surveyed systems.

Leading the charge among the new Blackwell GPUs in the Steam hardware survey results is the RTX 5070, which has already captured nearly 1% of the total market share. The RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti follow closely behind. The survey data further reveals that even the more budget-oriented RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060, along with the flagship RTX 5090, have made an impact in a short span.

This rapid uptake suggests that gamers still prefer the Nvidia cards over AMD ones, as the results don't even mention a single Radeon RX 9000 series card. Absent from Steam's monthly poll is also Intel's Arc B-series GPUs. This suggests that their shipping numbers haven't yet reached the critical mass required to cross Valve's visibility threshold in the survey.

Despite the swift adoption of the RTX 50 series, the RTX 4060 Laptop GPU continues to hold its ground as the most popular GPU on Steam, maintaining a share of just under 5% of the installed base.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you recently bought an Nvidia RTX 50 series GPU or a system equipped with one? What made you go for an Nvidia-based system instead of an AMD one?

The post Nvidia RTX 50 GPUs gain ground in latest Steam Hardware Survey first appeared on KitGuru.

Ocypus has announced the debut of its Sigma Pro Series, a new line of high-performance liquid coolers. The flagship models in the Sigma Pro lineup feature a 3.5-inch IPS display and an innovative “floating pump” design, all built upon a large copper base.

Taking centre stage in Sigma Pro liquid coolers is a 3.5-inch square IPS screen boasting a 640×480 resolution and framed by an ultra-narrow bezel. This display is customisable, allowing users to monitor their system in real-time or display their favourite videos, personal photos, and animated GIFs. Available in black and white, the Sigma Pro will be available with 240mm and 360mm radiators.

The cooler's floating pump structure, accented by a bright silver frame, adds a sense of dimension and elegance to any PC build. Complementing this unique design, an ARGB light ring is subtly integrated into the side of the pump. Users can personalise this ARGB ring with a variety of adjustable lighting effects or synchronise it with their entire system's lighting for a unified and cohesive glow. Installation is designed for ease, with a magnetic mounting system allowing for quick attachment and simple rotation to ensure the display is aligned.

The Sigma Pro incorporates a ceramic pump bearing and a 0.1mm microchannel layout, working in tandem with a 3700mm² copper base to maximise heat transfer efficiency from the CPU. The included high-performance PWM fans, equipped with fluid dynamic bearings, promise long-term stability and powerful, consistent airflow.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: If you were to get an Ocypus Sigma Pro liquid cooler, which model and colour option would you choose?

The post Ocypus unveils new Sigma Pro AIO liquid coolers first appeared on KitGuru.

Cygames' action RPG, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, has achieved significant success since its release last year on PS4, PS5, and PC. After selling over one million copies in its first 11 days, the game has now surpassed two million units sold worldwide. This milestone is being celebrated with a 60% discount on both PC (Steam) and PlayStation versions for a limited time.

As a solo narrative, Relink immerses players in the journey of Gran, Djeeta, and Lyria as they confront the supporters of Avia. Following Lyria's abduction, players embark on a mission to rescue her, encountering foes like Id and Lilith. The game features a roster of beloved characters such as Katalina, Eugen, Rosetta, and Rackam, alongside additional playable characters like Narmaya, Cagliostro, and Vaseraga.

Cygames Osaka has consistently provided post-launch support for Relink. This included the introduction of new playable characters like Seofon, Tweyen, and Sandalphon, and the challenging Ultimate Showdown mission against Lucilius. While the major post-launch content for Relink appears to have concluded, the development team have expressed gratitude to fans for the game's tremendous reception.

If you're interested in buying Granblue Fantasy: Relink, you can do so with a 60% discount over at Steam and the PS Store until July 10th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you tried Granblue Fantasy: Relink? What did you think of it?

The post Granblue Fantasy: Relink reaches 2 million sales first appeared on KitGuru.

MindsEye has been in a rough state since launching a few weeks ago and it sounds like the studio behind it isn't in any better shape. Build a Rocket Boy founder, Leslie Benzies, has allegedly accused developers of sabotaging the game, and the studio may also face closure. 

MindsEye launched just a few weeks ago on June 10th and was quickly panned for its day-one state. The game quickly became infamous for its technical issues, along with an underwhelming campaign. Build a Rocket Boy founder and former Rockstar producer, Leslie Benzies, has not taken the outcome well though.

As reported by IGN, sources within the studio claim that while addressing staff this week, Benzies made reference to “internal and external saboteurs”, who he blames for the state of MindsEye. In an email to staff, Benzies also claimed that jobs are in jeopardy due to low sales of the game.

MindsEye currently has a 38 overall critic score on Metacritic for its PC version, and an even lower 28 overall critic score for the PS5 version. Despite all the nonsense sprinkled in, Benzies' message to staff did also include a promise to rebuild and relaunch MindsEye, so perhaps in a year or so, we'll be having a different discussion about this game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Needless to say, there is no evidence to suggest that ‘saboteurs' are the cause behind the rocky launch of MindsEye.

The post MindsEye creator blames ‘internal and external saboteurs’ for rocky launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Capcom had another secret Resident Evil-related game announcement up its sleeve. Weeks on from the reveal of Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom has now announced Resident Evil Survival Unit, a new strategy game.

Resident Evil Survival Unit presents a new take on the horror franchise. Survival Unit is a strategy game, developed by Joycity and Aniplex, in collaboration with Capcom and Kingdom Hearts co-creator, Shinji Hashimoto.

Resident Evil Survival Unit has only been teased for now, but a full reveal is happening next week, on July 10th at 11PM BST. At this point in time, the game has only been announced for mobile devices. Occasionally we do see mobile games also coming to PC and consoles but it is too early to say whether or not this game will get a release on non-mobile devices.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Survival Horror and Strategy are two genres that rarely mix, so it will be interesting to see what this game has in store for us. 

The post Resident Evil goes tactical with Resident Evil Survival Unit first appeared on KitGuru.

Since leaving id Software and DOOM behind, John Romero has been operating his own independent studio in Ireland. Over the last couple of years, Romero Games has been working on a new first-person shooter, but now the studio is closing after losing funding from its unnamed publisher. 

In a statement this week, Brenda Romero confirmed that the studio has lost its funding, saying: “last night, we learned that our publisher has canceled funding for our game along with several other unannounced projects at other studios. This was a strategic decision made at a high level within the publisher, well above our visibility or control. We deeply wish there had been something, anything we could have done to prevent this outcome.”

As reported by VGC, a Romero Games employee made the claim that the entire studio has been let go following this news. The studio employed around 75 people, all working on a new FPS game in Unreal Engine 5. While Romero Games did not name the publisher that pulled funding, it doesn't take much to piece together a likely culprit – Microsoft.

This week, Microsoft announced plans to layoff 9000 employees across various divisions. The Xbox division was hit hard by this, with multiple studios closing and several games being cancelled. including a new MMO from Zenimax Online studios, Everwild from Rare Studios and Perfect Dark from The Initiative. This unannounced FPS from Romero Games appears to be amongst the casualties.

Romero Games is now “evaluating next steps” and has not confirmed the number of layoffs resulting from this cancelled game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: For years, Microsoft's messaging was that it wanted to support smaller studios in an effort to get more creative titles for Game Pass. Since acquiring Activision Blizzard, they appear to have done a 180 and are now all in on feeding the AAA machine, leaving smaller teams by the wayside. 

The post Romero Games cancels new game following Xbox cuts first appeared on KitGuru.

While Destiny 2 is in a bit of an odd place currently, the franchise as a whole is looking far more positive thanks to the upcoming mobile-exclusive Destiny: Rising. Officially unveiled late last year, the game is now set to arrive on both iOS and Android this August.

For the uninitiated, Destiny: Rising is a mobile-exclusive take on the Destiny formula. Developed in collaboration with NetEase (Marvel Rivals, Blood Message; Diablo Immortal etc…), the game was officially announced back in October of last year alongside a 2025 release year.

Following various playtests, NetEase has now announced that Destiny: Rising is launching on the 28th of August on both iOS and Android.

Sentiment surrounding the spin-off during its playtests have been positive, with the mobile release including many of the familiar elements from regular D2 (including a traditional campaign; patrol zones; PvP and more) while also adding its own unique aspects such as a rogue-lite mode; a 3rd-person option and deeper hero-shooter styled gameplay.

NetEase has plenty of experience in developing spin-offs of popular console games for mobile, and so hopefully Destiny: Rising proves to be a welcome addition to the Destiny universe – and isn’t too egregious with its gacha mechanics. You can pre-register for the game right now.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Destiny Rising? Could it surpass D2 in your opinion? Would you like a full rogue-lite mode in regular D2? Let us know down below.

The post Destiny: Rising officially launches this August first appeared on KitGuru.

While it seems as though a new live service title pops up and subsequently shuts down on a daily basis at the moment, one of the first major swings (and misses) came with EA and BioWare’s Anthem. Released back in 2019, the sci-fi RPG looter-shooter quickly failed – leading EA to scrap future content plans. Though the game has remained playable until now, EA has officially announced that Anthem is going offline in early 2026.

While Anthem has been pretty much dead ever since the game’s big 2.0 revamp was cancelled back in 2020, BioWare’s failed live-service shooter has remained playable, despite being an always-online experience.

Unfortunately, as with pretty much all games with similar requirements, Anthem was living on borrowed time. Taking to their website, the team at BioWare announced that: “After careful consideration, we will be sunsetting Anthem on January 12, 2026.”

Though I doubt many players were taking advantage, BioWare also confirmed that starting from now you won’t be able to purchase any additional in-game currency, though any currency you already have will remain usable.

Releasing an FAQ alongside the announcement, the team explained why no offline option is being given, writing “Anthem was designed to be an online-only title so once the servers go offline, the game will no longer be playable.”

Of course, we’ve seen plenty of online-only games release a patch ahead of its discontinuation to allow for users to play offline. In this instance though, it appears EA has no interest in spending the time/money to facilitate this.

As mentioned, in the 5 years since Anthem’s launch, there have been countless live-service failures – many which managed to outdo EA's efforts in the scope of its failings. Even so, the tragic tale of Anthem is one that will be remembered.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the game back in the day? Did it have potential? What’s the most memorable live-service failure to you? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Anthem will no longer be playable after January 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.

Ahead of the official launch of Battlefield 6, EA has been continuously hosting a bunch of playtests, letting select players partake in ensuring DICE’s next FPS title is their best yet. It seems the publisher has extremely high hopes for the upcoming title, with insiders claiming that EA hopes to amass 100 million players with the next Battlefield.

In a piece released by Ars Technica discussing the ongoing development of the next Battlefield, multiple current and former developers at EA spoke to the publication – offering some interesting insights.

The full article can be found HERE, but by far the most surprising revelation was the fact that the higher-ups at EA have set the highly unrealistic target of 100 million players for Battlefield 6.

Given the fact that the most popular entry in the series (according to the developers) was Battlefield 1 with “maybe 30 million plus” players, 100 million seems completely unachievable.

It is worth noting however that while most Battlefield games have eventually found their way onto subscription services (boosting player numbers), Battlefield 6 is set to be the first entry to offer a truly free-to-play mode – two in fact – with both Battle Royale and Gauntlet modes said to be made available to all.

Even so, Battlefield 6 has a huge hill to climb. While there was once a time when the series could go toe-to-toe with Call of Duty, this hasn’t been the case for at least a decade now. As such, it will be highly interesting to see how players react to Battlefield 6 when it launches (likely) sometime this year.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of EA’s expectations for Battlefield 6? Does this give you more or less hope in the project? Let us know down below.

The post EA reportedly sets target of 100 million players for Battlefield 6 first appeared on KitGuru.

With Amazon Prime Day almost upon us, there will no doubt be some great discounts and offers on PC tech. To showcase its Amazon Prime Day offers CPS PCCOOLER asked us to build a system with its latest C3 T700 dual chamber case, new F7 X120 fans and some other PCCOOLER goodies, all available on Prime Day. Inside the C3 T700 we’ve built AMD’s most powerful gaming PC with a Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU and Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi GPU from ASRock!

Case – PCCOOLER C3 T700 Black – Pre-launch no link currently – Price TBA

• Compatible with back-connect motherboards and flagship graphics cards up to 400mm long.
• Extensive cooling support with up to ten 120mm fans, multiple 360mm radiator installation and CPU coolers up to 175mm supported.
• The panoramic 270-degree glass gives an unobstructed view inside the system with easy access via a clip-on quick-release side panel.

Specifications

• Case Type: ATX
• Dimensions: 420 x 285 x 400mm (LxWxH)
• Motherboard Support: ATX / M-ATX / ITX with BTF Compatible
• Expansion Slots: 7
• Storage Bays: 2 x 2.5”/1 x 3.5”
• Max GPU Length: ≤400mm
• Max CPU Cooler Height: ≤175mm
• Max PSU Size: ATX ≤180mm
• Pre-installed Fans: 4pcs
• Fan Support: Top:120mmx3 / 140mmx2, Rear: 120mmx1, Side: 120mmx3 / 140mmx2, Bottom: 120mmx3 / 140mmx2
• Radiator Support: Top: 240/280/360mm, Side: 240mm, Bottom: 240/280/360mm
• Dust Filters: Top / Bottom
• Font I/O: Type-C x1, USB 3.0 x1,USB 2.0 x1, MIC & AUDlO, Reset, Power Button

CPU Cooler – PCCOOLER DT360 ARGB Display – Available now from Amazon priced at $249.99 HERE.

• DT360 ARGB Display features a detachable magnetic 3.4-inch IPS LCD screen with 480 x 480 resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate that can display customisable themes and real-time system information.
• It's equipped with a copper micro-skived cold plate suitable for installation on all current AMD and Intel desktop CPUs with an all-ceramic bearing pump solution.
• The included F7 X120 fans feature a wireless modular connection for less cable clutter, with 28mm thickness for concentrated airflow and high static pressure and a 27mm thick radiator with fourteen water channels and a high-density fin array.

Specifications

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA115X/1200/1700/1851, AMD AM4/AM5
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Radiator Dimensions: L394xW120xH27mm
• Radiator Tube Length: 400mm
• CPU Block/Pump Dimensions: 82x80x62mm(LxWxH)
• Pump Speed: 2600RPM±10%
• Cold Plate Material: Micro-Skived Copper
• Pump Connector: 3-pin
• Pump LED: 3-pin 5v ARGB
• Fan Dimensions: 120x120x25mm
• Fan LED: ARGB
• Fan Speed (PWM): L:500-1500RPM±10%, M:500-2200RPM±10%, H:500-3000RPM±10%
• Fan Max Airflow: 83CFM
• Fan Max Air Pressure: 7mmH20
• Noise (dBA): 15-33.1dB(A)
• Fan Bearing: Ball Bearing
• Fan Connector: 4-pin PWM
• LCD Screen: 4” IPS 480×480 Resolution

Fans – PCCOOLER F7 X120 – Pre-launch no link currently – price expected to be around $50

• 28mm thick profile with a wide span variable section blade design for high airflow while minimising vortex turbulence and low operational noise.
• A three-step speed control switch mounted on the fan hub allows for three speed profiles with upper limits of 1500, 2200 and 3000 rpm.
• The wireless connection mechanism transmits signal and power through contact modules to eliminate cable mess for a clean aesthetic.

Specifications

• Connector Type: 4-Pin PWM
• Lighting Connector Type: 5V-3PIN
• Lighting Type: ARGB
• Fan Dimensions: 120x120x28mm
• Fan Speed: L:500-1500RPM±10%, M:500-2200RPM±10%, H:500-3000RPM±10%
• Max Air Pressure: L:1.7mmH2O, M:3.3mmH2O, H:5.7mmH2O
• Max Airflow: L:55CFM, M:65CFM, H:83CFM
• Fan Noise: L:15~22.3 dBA, M:15~28.9 dBA, H:15~33.1dBA
• Bearing Type: Ball Bearing
• Operating Voltage: 12VDC

Power Supply – PCCOOLER YS1200 – Available now from Amazon priced at $278.68 HERE.

• Fully modular, 80+ Gold and Cybenetics Gold rated with ATX 3.1 and PCIE 5.1 certification and a 12-year warranty.
• Features the latest PCI-E 5.1 12V-2×6 connector with standard 16AWG copper wire and highly durable copper alloy terminals providing 600W capability.
• Equipped with all Japanese Electrolytic capacitors, a 135mm FDB fan for low noise ouput and a hybrid cooling system with zero rpm mode.

Specifications

• Type: ATX 3.1
• Dimension: 160 x 150 x 86mm (L×W×H)
• Certification: 80PLUS GOLD / Cybenetics GOLD
• Power Output: 1200W
• Topology: Active PFC+Full Bridge SRCLLC+DC to DC
• Fan: FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing)
• Fan Size: 135mm
• Fan Work Mode: Hybrid Mode
• Operating Temperature: 0-50°C
• AC Input: 100-240VAC
• Modularity: Full Modular
• MTBF: 100,000 Hours
• Warranty: 12 Years

Build Specification:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
• Motherboard – ASRock X870E Taichi
• Graphics Card – ASRock AMD Radeon RX 9070XT Taichi
• Memory – 64GB (2 x 32GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – CPS PCCOOLER DT360 ARGB Display
• Power Supply – CPS PCCOOLER YS1200 80+ GOLD ATX 3.1/PCIE 5.1
• Case fans – CPS PCCOOLER F7 X120
• Chassis – CPS PCCOOLER C3 T700 Black
• Operating System – Windows 11

KitGuru says: If you are looking to upgrade your PC on Prime day, would any of these CPS PCCOOLER parts tempt you? 

The post ASMR Build: Ryzen 9950X3D + RX 9070XT Performance PC first appeared on KitGuru.

It’s been a terrible week for Microsoft/Xbox employees, with almost 10,000 developers being let go in the company’s latest round of lay-offs. One of the victims in this latest ‘strategic’ move was Zenimax Online Studios – who had been working on a new MMO for 8 years now. According to a new report, the unannounced title, which was unceremoniously cancelled, had been “going well” prior to its axing.

In a report by IGN following the announcement of project Blackbird’s cancellation, a bunch of new details were revealed regarding Zenimax Online Studio’s unannounced MMO project – beyond the fact that it is no longer happening.

Though the game was in various stages of development for the past 8 years, sources claimed that the project was “going well, and the team was actively ramping up in the hope of moving into full production soon;” with Microsoft approving the progress.

In fact, in a revelation which makes this whole situation even more frustrating and ironic, the developers claimed that Xbox’s Matt Booty stated last year that the closures of Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games were at the time made in service of “justifying increased headcount for other game studios that needed it, including ZeniMax Online Studios.”

With each passing day, it is becoming increasingly clear that what Xbox says it’s doing, and what the company is actually doing, are two entirely different things. I expect we’ll hear more regarding Zenimax and all others affected over the coming weeks.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this revelation? Does Microsoft have a strategy? Or are they simply laying down the train tracks as they approach them? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Zenimax’s unannounced MMO was said to be “going well” prior to its cancellation first appeared on KitGuru.