During the VLSI Symposium in Japan, Intel shared some details on its new 18A process node, which is poised to enter full production in the latter half of 2025. This isn't merely an incremental step; Intel 18A represents a fundamental re-engineering of the silicon foundation, combining Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors with their innovative PowerVia backside power delivery network, all wrapped within a completely revamped metal stack design.

The integration of PowerVia is a game-changer. By routing power through the back of the chip, Intel has managed to tighten the connection pitches on critical front-side layers, while simultaneously relaxing spacing on the very top layers. This strategic shift not only promises to enhance manufacturing yield but also significantly simplifies the fabrication process itself. As shown by HardwareLuxx, the numbers speak volumes: in standardised power, performance, and area (PPA) tests conducted on an Arm core sub-block, Intel 18A showcased approximately 15% better iso-power performance than Intel 3. Pushing the voltage to 1.1V, clock speeds can increase up to 25% without incurring additional energy expenditures. Even at a lower 0.75V, performance can improve by 18%, or power consumption can be slashed by nearly 40%.

Under the hood, this process node achieves substantial reductions in cell height. Performance-tuned cells now measure a compact 180 nanometres, while high-density designs shrink further to just 160 nm, both notably smaller than their predecessors. The structure of metal layers has also been refined, as the front-side layers have been reduced from a range of 12-19 on Intel 3 to 11-16 on Intel 18A. To facilitate PowerVia, three additional rear metal layers have been added. Moreover, the pitches on the lower metal layers (M1 through M10) have been dramatically tightened, going from as much as 60 nm down to 32 nm, before intentionally increasing again in the uppermost layers. Adding to the manufacturing efficiency, low-NA EUV exposure is employed on layers M0 through M4, which slashes the number of masks required by an impressive 44%, further simplifying the overall production flow.

Intel intends to debut its 18A technology in key upcoming products. This includes the low-power Panther Lake, aimed at mobile platforms, and the efficiency-core-only “Clearwater Forest” Xeon 7 series for server applications. Recognising the diverse needs of different markets, Intel will offer multiple variations of the 18A process, including a cost-optimised 17-layer variant, a balanced 21-layer option, and a performance-focused 22-layer arrangement, ensuring flexibility for a wide range of applications.

KitGuru says: Can Intel recover its footing in the foundry business with its new 18A process node?

The post Intel 18A process node claimed to be 25% faster than previous generation first appeared on KitGuru.

It would appear that fans have turned on Monster Hunter Wilds. While the game launched to generally positive reviews earlier in the year, fans have grown frustrated with the gameplay changes made in the sequel, and now the game's Steam review score has dropped down to overwhelmingly negative. 

For Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom looked to make the game more accessible to a broader audience. As a result, new mechanics were introduced, like auto-pathing to targets, the ability to sharpen weapons and heal while riding, and a ‘focus mode' in combat that makes it easier for players to target monster weak points. This is all very different to Monster Hunter World, where hunts often required more careful planning and multiple chase attempts before taking a beast down.

Now, fans have begun putting all of these complaints front and centre under the Monster Hunter Wilds Steam page. The game's overall review score has dropped to Overwhelmingly Negative on Steam, and as pointed out by Windows Central, players have been dropping Wilds in favour of going back to Monster Hunter World on PC.

Aside from complaints around the ‘streamlined' experience in Monster Hunter Wilds, many PC players are also frustrated by the game's performance. Wilds runs quite poorly on mid-range PCs and older generation hardware, even on modern high-end systems, it is recommended that Frame Generation is enabled to bring an artificial boost.

KitGuru Says: Capcom has not yet responded to the rise in player complaints. However, a showcase is happening soon, so we expect to see some Monster Hunter Wilds related announcements.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds drops to ‘overwhelmingly negative’ Steam score first appeared on KitGuru.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been off to a hot start, becoming the fastest selling console to date thanks to strong launch weekend sales. The Switch 2 also launched with a pretty strong line-up of third-party games, but so far, publishers are being disappointed by the results.

While Nintendo has already sold millions of Switch 2 consoles, and has observed strong sales for its launch game, Mario Kart World, third-party publishers have not yet benefitted from the boom in Switch 2 console sales. According to TheGameBusiness, analysis shows that the majority of Switch 2 game sales in the UK and US so far have been for first-party titles like Mario Kart World.

One third-party publisher told the outlet that Switch 2 sales have so far been “below our lowest estimates”. However, there is good reason to think that this is a temporary problem and not a sign that third-party publishers will struggle to find success on Nintendo's latest console.

So far, the majority of third-party Switch 2 games are ports of previously released games, and some of them were even available on the Switch 1. As the Switch 2 features backwards compatibility, many early adopters of the Switch 2 may be playing older Switch 1 games in their catalogue. As more brand-new titles land on the Switch 2, we would expect to see third-party performance lift up overall.

KitGuru Says: The line-up of brand-new games for the Switch 2 launch was underwhelming, but there are more games releasing every month.

The post Third party publishers report ‘low sales’ on Switch 2 so far first appeared on KitGuru.

NetEase has primarily focused its game development and publishing efforts on games with broad multiplayer appeal. However, for the first time, NetEase is now working on its first single-player game, and it is coming from the studio behind Naraka: Bladepoint.

Blood Message is a new game coming from NetEase and 24 Entertainment. The game's reveal today comes paired with a trailer, promising a cinematic story-driven action-adventure for both PC and consoles. Like most major AAA projects this generation, Blood Message is being developed using Unreal Engine 5.

Blood Message is set during the final years of the Tang dynasty. Players will go on a 1000-mile journey to Chang'an the centre of the Tang Empire. This lengthy journey will take players across the vast wilderness of East and Central Asia, all the while surviving brutal sieges.

The game promises a blend of stealth combat and survival mechanics, expansive landscapes, cinematic storytelling and a “deeply emotional journey exploring themes of family, honor, sacrifice and cultural identity”.

Blood Message does not yet have a release date.

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

The post NetEase reveals its first AAA single-player game ‘Blood Message’ first appeared on KitGuru.

This week has been a bit of a wild one in rumour land. A previously reliable source made the bombshell claim that Microsoft had hired the developers behind the Xenia emulator to work on an official Xbox and Xbox 360 emulation tool for PCs and new devices like the Xbox Ally. Unfortunately, it turns out that this rumour may have been all smoke with no fire. 

Extas1s made a name for themselves online in recent years following a string of accurate leaks. However, this particular leak may be more fiction than fact. After claiming that Microsoft had hired developers behind Xbox 360 emulator, Xenia, for a push to bring the ‘Xbox Classics' library to more devices, one of the Xenia team members spoke out. According to Xenia developer ZoloKluk, Microsoft has not hired them and added that “Microsoft has their own Xbox 360 emulator” and would have no need to consult Xenia developers.

Another well known Xbox reporter, Windows Central's Jez Corden, also stated that while Microsoft is known to be looking at ways to bring more Xbox games to more devices, this emulation scenario “isn't a thing at the moment”.

As spotted by Insider Gaming, Extas1s did double down on his original report, claiming that Xenia project contributors were hired by Microsoft through an internal initiative that brings GitHub contributors into Microsoft for various projects. However, Microsoft just announced plans to let go of thousands of employees and has been actively shedding workers for the past 18 months, so it is unclear how reliable this claim really is.

KitGuru Says: At this point, I'd be putting my money against the idea that Microsoft is working on a new emulator destined for Windows. However, if Microsoft really does switch to a ‘gaming' version of Windows for the next Xbox, then I wouldn't rule it out in a few years' time. 

The post Xenia developer shoots down official Xbox emulator rumour first appeared on KitGuru.

Asus has just revealed the Pro WS Platinum power supply line, which was announced at Computex 2025. Available in whopping 3000-watt, 2200-watt, and 1600-watt variants, these heavy-duty PSUs are engineered to drive multiple high-end graphics cards.

The PSUs incorporate PCIe connectors with gold-plated copper pins. This design choice promises to reduce connector temperatures by up to 10°C compared to standard 12V-2×6 connectors and improve power delivery efficiency by increasing contact between internal socket pins.

For thermal management and durability, the units use dual-ball fan bearings, which are designed for longer lifespans than sleeve-bearing alternatives. Extruded aluminium heatsinks are also integrated to dissipate heat from internal components. The PSUs are housed in a 175 mm-long chassis, shorter than some other 1600W units available.

These power supplies are compliant with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards. The cables are flexible and etched, with distinct colours for CPU and PCIe power connectors to aid installation and cable routing. Moreover, the Pro WS Platinum series carries an 80 Plus Platinum certification, indicating high power efficiency. This efficiency is partly attributed to the use of Japanese server-grade capacitors. A protective coating on the PCB is present to guard against moisture, dust, and debris. The power supplies come with a 10-year warranty.

The 3000W model is rated to support up to four GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, the 2200W model can power up to four GeForce RTX 5080 cards, and the 1600W variant can run two GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards.

KitGuru says: Regardless of your choice, a Pro WS Platinum PSU will provide plenty of power to feed your components.

The post Asus launches 3000W Pro WS Platinum PSU first appeared on KitGuru.

 

For the past six months, EA has been loudly playtesting Battlefield 6 with large pre-alpha gameplay sessions leading to numerous gameplay leaks. Now, Battlefield 6 has reportedly hit a new development milestone, and more content is hitting the Battlefield Labs testing platform. 

According to Battlefield Labs playtesters speaking with Insider Gaming, Battlefield 6 recently changed from pre-alpha to alpha, marking a major development milestone. Battlefield 6 does not yet have a release date, but we expect to see more playtests in the coming months, and EA has confirmed that the game will launch in the current fiscal year, ending in March 2026.

Leaks through Battlefield Labs have also revealed new assets for the game's single-player campaign, and assets for a Battle Royale mode. DICE did previously attempt to bring Battle Royale to Battlefield with the Firestorm mode in Battlefield V, but it did not achieve broad popularity. The Battle Royale idea has been put on ice in subsequent games but appears set for a return in Battlefield 6.

Apparently we'll be getting the first official Battlefield 6 trailer before the end of the Summer, which puts Gamescom as a likely reveal event.

KitGuru Says: If DICE could just get a launch right, we'd be having much more positive conversations around the Battlefield franchise right now. Hopefully these extra months of playtesting will pay off when Battlefield 6 hits the market. 

The post Battlefield 6 has reportedly hit a new milestone first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in March, the team at FuturLab officially announced that a sequel to the much-loved PowerWash Simulator would be arriving at some point this year. Though a release date has yet to be shared, a new trailer has dropped for the sequel – detailing many of its new gameplay additions and improvements.

Releasing a new Gameplay trailer alongside a blog post, the team at FuturLab officially detailed some of the many changes and enhancements coming with PowerWash Simulator 2. Alongside previously-confirmed details (such as 4-player co-op with shared progression; a new home base; customisation and more), PowerWash Simulator is said to include:

• Multistage levels which unveil more to clean once you’ve completed the first stage
• ProRise AE-300 abseil rope for greater verticality
• ProRise SCF-5X scissor lift
• Customisable home base decor
• New ‘SwirlForce Surf Ace’ floor cleaning tool
• The ability to pet cats

FuturLab promises to be “taking a deeper dive into some of these in the coming weeks”. PowerWash Simulator was a huge hit which managed to take the ‘simulator’ genre of games in new directions when it launched back in 2022. Hopefully PowerWash Simulator 2 is even more satisfying and zen than the first.

KitGuru says: What do you think of all the new features so far? Do you like the idea of the sequel expanding its scope? What was your favourite tool in the first game? Let us know down below.

The post PowerWash Simulator 2 gameplay enhancements detailed first appeared on KitGuru.

A couple days ago it was officially announced that Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled – the remake of Naughty Dogs classic PSOne kart racer – had sold over 10 million copies. This is despite the fact that the game was released exclusively for the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Though it should be taken with a pinch of salt, a new ‘leaker’ has claimed that an enhanced port called the ‘Grand Prix Edition’ is set to come to current-gen consoles, and for the first time, PC.

Taking to the Crash Team Racing subreddit, a new user who claims to ”work for a small studio under Activision and Microsoft” has shared a ton of details for what is listed as ‘Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled – Grand Prix Edition’ alongside some blurry screenshots.

According to the leak, this enhanced version of the game is planned to come to PC platforms in 2026 (though they could not confirm whether Steam would be included) alongside the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 for $40.

Beyond this, the game is said to include “A few new characters,” a new track and the titular Grand Prix. Last but not least, the title will reportedly feature cross-play support for all current-gen platforms.

It is also worth noting that the leaker claims that Nitro-Fueled’s original developers Beenox had “absolutely no hands on what we did with this re-release” though gameplay remains entirely intact – “other than adding a reserve meter.”

Given the odd release of Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled in the first place, it would be highly appreciated if the game were to find its way onto current-gen systems – and more importantly PC. We will have to wait and see whether anything comes of this ‘leak.’

KitGuru says: What do you think of the leak? Do you believe it? Why do you think a PC version was never made in the first place? Let us know down below.

The post Leaker claims a current-gen and PC remaster of Crash Team Racing is on its way first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past half a decade or so, we have seen an influx in adaptations of various video game IPs. One of the more obscure announcements was for a live-action Netflix film based on the classic Dragon’s Lair arcade game. Announced all the way back in 2020, the Ryan Reynolds-led project has finally found its director.

As revealed by TheHollywoodReporter, James Bobin is confirmed to be helming directorial duties for the Netflix distributed Dragon’s Lair. As mentioned, Ryan Reynolds is also attached to the project, said to be starring in the film while also serving as producer.

Announced back in 2020, Netflix offered few details at the time, aside from the fact that the plot will revolve around Ryan Reynolds starring as “noble Knight Dirk the Daring, on his quest to rescue Princess Daphne from the titular dragon.”

For the uninitiated, James Bobin is a rather interesting choice for director, having been a major part of the classic 2000s British comedy ‘Da Ali G Show’ while also co-creating the Australian comedy ‘Flight of the Conchords’. Beyond this, Bobin also directed 2011’s The Muppets film as well as 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted.

Given the fact that the film was announced half a decade ago, it is surprising to see the project is still alive and finally finding its footing.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest update? Do you have any hopes for the Dragon’s Lair film? What’s your favourite project from Bobin? Let us know down below.

The post 5 years after its announcement, Ryan Reynolds’ Dragon’s Lair film has found its Director first appeared on KitGuru.

Following a year of PlayStation 5 exclusivity, Stellar Blade (from studio SHIFTUP) launched on PC last week to huge numbers – selling over 1 million copies almost immediately and breaking records for Sony on Steam. It therefore comes as little surprise that according to new reports, a Switch 2 version of Stellar Blade appears to be on its way.

As reported by the Korean site PlayForum, Stellar Blade studio SHIFTUP are said to be prepping for a Switch 2 version of the PS5/PC title, writing (as translated from Korean):

“ShiftUp has recently secured an official developer kit for Switch 2 and has begun initial work”. According to the report, this upcoming release is said to be “closely linked to ShiftUp's IP expansion strategy.”

Though far from proof of its existence, in celebration of the game selling 3 million copies, Stellar Blade studio SHIFTUP did gift all of its employees with Switch 2s – which does tie in nicely to this rumour.

Of course, as with all rumours, this should be taken with a pinch of salt. That said, with Stellar Blade no longer tied down to the PS5, and the PC version officially out of the way, it makes sense for the team to move on to another platform.

KitGuru says: Did you pick up Stellar Blade on Steam? How do you think the Switch 2 would handle the game? What do you think the team is working on next? Let us know down below.

The post Reports claim SHIFTUP is bringing Stellar Blade to more platforms first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series launched with the FidelityFX Super Resolution 4, AMD's upscaling method that leverages an AI-powered algorithm to boost image quality. Before the RDNA 4 architecture made its official debut, early tests hinted at significant visual improvements on the new GPUs. Officially, FSR 4 only works with the Radeon RX 9000 series, but theoretically, the Radeon RX 7000 series can also use it.

Sick of waiting for an official announcement from AMD, some users have been trying to mod FSR 4 (with success) using Optiscaler. One such user was Virtual-Cobbler-9930 (via Wccftech), who shared some performance and image quality results.

Image credit: Reddit (Virtual-Cobbler-9930)

To get FSR 4 working on RDNA 3 graphics, you need to activate it with the command: WMMA_RDNA3_WORKAROUND. While RDNA 3 GPUs support WMMA (Wave Matrix Multiply Accumulate) for FP16 data, RDNA 4 further enhanced these instructions to natively accommodate formats like FP16, BF16, and INT8, which are crucial for the AI-powered upscaling. It appears someone has found a way to emulate these functionalities on RDNA 3.

The results from Cyberpunk 2077 indicate a clear improvement in graphic quality, with less smearing on elements like grass and bushes. However, this visual fidelity comes with a performance cost. Running the game's built-in benchmark with FSR Quality settings saw frame rates drop from 85.06 FPS to 56.28 FPS. Similar findings were observed in titles like Oblivion Remastered, where the visual artifacts were reduced. The performance hit ranged from 20% to 30%. The visual improvements in games like Oblivion and Marvel Rivals were also noticeable, but in Cyberpunk 2077, both cases had a performance hit compared to FSR 3.1.

This FSR 4 workaround offers a glimpse into enhanced visuals for RDNA 3 owners, showing that it could be worth considering for games beyond the most demanding AAA titles. However, one must be aware of the significant performance impact that it brings. On the other hand, this unofficial implementation sheds some light on why AMD opted not to offer the capability to older GPU series. Even with workarounds, the raw processing power needed for the AI upscaling appears to heavily tax the older hardware, consuming resources that would otherwise be dedicated to rendering the scene. Whether AMD will eventually find a more optimised official path remains to be seen.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you have a Radeon RX 7000 series GPU? Will you be trying Optiscaler to enable FSR 4?

The post Modders enable AMD FSR 4 with Radeon RX 7000 GPUs first appeared on KitGuru.

Gamers who prefer to avoid graphics software from AMD or Nvidia and its overlays might be using Steam's Performance Monitor, assuming they're playing games on the platform. Valve has just introduced an update, adding new metrics and frame generation detection.

As first noted by SteamDB, the new Performance Monitor expands its capabilities dramatically, offering a wealth of real-time metrics. Players will be able to track crucial data points, including FPS, upscaled FPS, a live FPS graph, CPU clocks and utilisation, GPU usage, temperatures, and both memory consumption and utilisation. The overlay will also indicate whether frame generation is active with two FPS counters: rendered and frame generation frames.

This suite of information gives gamers deeper insights into their system's performance without leaving their game. Players can customise the display, from showing all available metrics to something simpler, like the FPS and its graph only.

Currently, this functionality is only accessible within the Steam Beta client. Those eager to try it out must opt into Steam's beta version. Valve has indicated that some metrics may not be available on all platforms initially, but broader support will be rolled out in future updates.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you use Steam's Performance Monitor? Will you start using it more with this update?

The post Steam FPS overlay can now detect frame generation first appeared on KitGuru.

AOC is launching three compelling new QHD displays, each delivering esports-level refresh rates without demanding a premium price tag. Leading this charge is the AOC GAMING Q25G4SR, a compact powerhouse that achieves an astonishing 300Hz refresh rate within a 24.5-inch form factor. It's joined by two 27-inch models, the Q27G4ZR and the value-focused Q27G42ZE, both offering a 240Hz refresh rate with additional overclocking headroom up to 260Hz. 

The Q25G4SR stands out in the crowded gaming monitor landscape, combining a QHD (2560×1440) resolution with its compact 24.5-inch screen size. This results in an impressive pixel density, delivering that blend of high resolution and smaller footprint many enthusiasts have been clamoring for. Its Fast IPS panel offers a 300Hz refresh rate, translating into smooth gameplay with rapid response times as low as 1ms GtG and 0.3ms MPRT when Motion Blur Reduction (MBR) is enabled. The monitor is also VESA DisplayHDR 400-certified and comes with a fully adjustable stand, offering 130mm of height adjustment alongside tilt, swivel, and pivot flexibility to adapt to any gaming setup. Connectivity options include 2x HDMI 2.1 connectors and a DisplayPort 1.4, ensuring compatibility with the latest graphics cards and next-generation consoles without bandwidth compromises.

Stepping into the 27-inch category, the Q27G4ZR offers a 240Hz refresh rate, with the flexibility to overclock to 260Hz. This model also provides comprehensive connectivity options with two HDMI 2.0 connectors and a DisplayPort 1.4, alongside integrated 2W stereo speakers. Its fully ergonomic stand mirrors the functionality of its 24.5-inch counterpart, providing ample adjustment. DisplayHDR 400 certification ensures bright imagery for all game content and comfortable viewing even in brighter environments. The Q27G4ZR maintains the same rapid response speeds of up to 1ms GtG and 0.3ms MPRT with MBR.

For gamers focused on value, the Q27G42ZE presents a highly attractive option. It delivers the same core performance as the Q27G4ZR, including a 240Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 260Hz) and nearly identical Fast IPS panel specifications. However, it streamlines certain features, such as a tilt-only stand, a single HDMI 2.0 port alongside its DisplayPort 1.4, and a 300 cd/m² brightness.

Each monitor is equipped with AOC's extensive gaming toolkit. Features like Shadow Control, Game Colour, Dial Point crosshair, and a Low Input Lag mode are available on all models. All three Fast IPS panels promise consistent performance across wide viewing angles with impressive colour accuracy. The Q25G4SR and Q27G4ZR cover over 114% of the sRGB area, while the Q27G42ZE goes even further, covering 123.6% of the sRGB colour gamut. Critically, all three monitors are designed to support current-generation gaming at QHD resolution, making them versatile for PC and console gamers.

The AOC Gaming Q25G4SR will retail for £239.00, the Q27G4ZR for £209.00, and the Q27G42ZE for a budget-friendly £199.00. These monitors are expected to be available in mid-June 2025.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Which of the three new AOC monitors best fits your needs?

The post AOC expands display lineup with three QHD gaming monitors first appeared on KitGuru.

In a major update this week, id Software added Path Tracing technology to DOOM: The Dark Ages. This enhanced form of ray tracing allows for higher fidelity and more ray bounces. The update has also quietly added an array of new in-game benchmarks to the game for those looking to quickly put their rig to the test.

Our GPU reviewer, Dom, has been putting the new in-game benchmarks to the test this afternoon. Here are the results for the Hebeth, Abyssal Forest and Reckoning benchmarks on an RTX 5070 Ti with DLSS and Multi-Frame Gen enabled:

There are seven in-game benchmark scenes in total, Hebeth, Siege, Abyssal Forest, Sentinel Command Station, Spire of Nerathul, City of Ry'uul and Reckoning. Benchmark mode creates a consistent, nearly deterministic path through a section of select DOOM: The Dark Ages levels to that players can see how their systems perform under a variety of video settings. Using this mode players can see how far they can push their system performance.

While running one of the benchmarks, you can display or hide graphs displaying frame rates, frame times for CPU and GPU, and total resource usage.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is available now on PC via Steam and the Xbox app. It is also available to play via Game Pass on both PC and console.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you played DOOM: The Dark Ages yet? Have you tried out the new Path Tracing graphics options?

The post DOOM: The Dark Ages path tracing update adds seven in-game PC benchmarks first appeared on KitGuru.

Capcom has had a major hit each year since 2017 with Resident Evil 7 and they've shown no signs of slowing down. Capcom kicked off 2025 with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds, and it has followed that up with major reveals for Resident Evil Requiem and a brand new IP, Pragmata. 

In recent months, Capcom has shown new trailers for both Pragmata and Resident Evil Requiem, but the publisher is not done for the year yet. Capcom will be hosting the Capcom Spotlight showcase next week, a 40-minute stream containing new information on new upcoming releases and DLC updates for currently available titles.

Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata will be the new games being shown during the stream. On top of that, we'll be getting news on the latest updates for Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Resident Evil Requiem is due to launch in February, so we should be getting a lot of new information about the game in the months ahead. 

The post Capcom Spotlight stream promises updates on Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Monster Hunter and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Gears of War: Reloaded is launching very soon. To ensure the game's multiplayer servers and crossplay functionality are all working correctly, a playtest did take place last weekend, but many encountered issues. As a result, a second playtest weekend is now coming up. 

The Coalition and Microsoft have confirmed that a new multiplayer beta test for Gears of War: Reloaded will now take place on the 20th of June until the 23rd of June. Servers will open up at 8PM tomorrow night in the UK. Adjust for your local time zone, as the servers will be opening up in all regions at the same time.

The Gears of War beta contains five maps and three game modes – Team Deathmatch, King of the Hill and Execution. The final version of the game will include a bit more multiplayer content, but the multiplayer in Gears of War 1 wasn't a huge feature to begin with.

Gears of War Reloaded is a newly packaged version of the Gears of War Ultimate Edition remaster from 2015. The new version brings the game to Xbox Series X/S, PC (via Steam and Game Pass) and for the very first time, PlayStation consoles.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Gears of War Reloaded when it launches in August? 

The post Gears of War Reloaded gets a second multiplayer playtest this weekend first appeared on KitGuru.

EA's Skate games were a staple of the Xbox 360 era. A few years ago, EA announced its return after more than a decade. The game has been in open development since, with frequent playtests being held. Now, the latest version of Skate is just a few months away from hitting the market. 

Skate will soon become available to all. The game is set to have one last massive playtest in July and EA has stated that anyone who registers in time will be accepted to participate. Playtests for Skate have also expanded to consoles now as well, and it will be available on consoles alongside PC at release too.

To get into the final playtest you'll need to register as a Skate Insider before the 27th of June, so there is still plenty of time left at the time of writing.

Skate is an open world multiplayer skating simulator where players can customise their characters and group up at parks and compete in challenges across the map. There will be around 150 players per server, so there will always be plenty of activity around you, helping the game feel more alive.

The final version of Skate will be available ‘in a few months' time' according to EA. the game is expected to be free to play, supported by various cosmetic microtransactions.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on downloading the latest version of Skate when it becomes available? It looks like it'll be competing head to head with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, although it is worth noting that the strength of EA's version is in its massively multiplayer element. 

The post EA’s Skate is just a few months away from release first appeared on KitGuru.

Beat Saber took the VR world by storm when it officially launched back in 2019. In the years since, the game has sold millions of copies; released a ton of free (and paid DLC); and been ported to pretty much every VR capable device. Unfortunately, after years of support, Beat Saber is officially being discontinued on PlayStation VR / PSVR2.

Making the surprise announcement, the team at Beat Games shared the following statement:

“As we look to the future and plan the next big leap for Beat Saber, we have made the decision to no longer release updates for PS4 and PS5 starting in June 2025. Our passion for VR remains unwavering. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and what we can bring to Beat Saber fans who have been on this journey with us over the past 7 years.”

While Beat Saber and all of its DLC packs will remain available to purchase and play, as of the 18th of June the game will no longer receive any future content updates.

Perhaps even more disappointing is the fact that come the 21st of January 2026, multiplayer will no longer be accessible on PSVR / PSVR2.

Beat Saber remains one of the biggest VR games on PlayStation and so the decision to end support is curious and unfortunate to see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by this announcement? What do you think this means for all the other versions in the near future? Let us know down below.

The post Beat Saber announces surprise end of support for PSVR/2 first appeared on KitGuru.

Last month, SEGA officially announced that they would be delisting a majority of their mobile ports of old-school classics. In a bittersweet move, ahead of the titles’ removal from storefronts, SEGA has made all of the games free to purchase.

SEGA pushed an update to many of its ‘classics’ on mobile last month with a message stating that “Support for this game will be discontinued, but you can continue playing offline!”

The list of impacted titles included:

• Crazy Taxi
• Golden Axe
• Shining Force
• Sonic CD
• Sonic 4 Ep. II
• Streets of Rage 1 & 2
• Super Monkey Ball: Sakura
• Virtual Tennis Challenge

These games are set to join the list of other SEGA classics which were discontinued back in 2023 (including the likes of Ristar; Vectorman; Comix Zone and a dozen more).

In a welcome move, all of the titles listed above have now been made free to claim and download ahead of their delisting. This means that you should be able to redownload the titles whenever, even after the fact.

That said, as iOS and Android devices get updated over time, API requirements change, and so eventually these titles will likely no longer work.

With no exact date for when the titles will be removed, make sure to ‘purchase’ any games which you plan to play as soon as possible.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Why do you think the games are being delisted? Is SEGA planning some new type of service? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post SEGA makes its ‘classics’ on mobile free ahead of delisting first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in late 2022, Konami officially announced a ton of different Silent Hill projects, including the Silent Hill 2 Remake from Bloober Team. In the years since, many of these announcements have come to fruition; most notably the highly successful SH2 Remake. One project which we haven’t heard from in a while however is the ‘Return to Silent Hill’ film. Finally, the upcoming horror title has gotten a massive update – with the adaptation officially set to arrive in January of next year.

As reported by Deadline, Return to Silent Hill is officially coming to cinemas on the 23rd of January 2026. This marks the first major update since early 2023, when the project confirmed a number of details including its plot, cast and more.

For the uninitiated, Return to Silent Hill is an adaptation of Silent Hill 2 and is being directed by Christophe Gans who helmed the very first Silent Hill film all the way back in 2006.

The upcoming movie’s description reads as follows:

“The film will follow James (Irvine), a man broken after being separated from his one true love (Anderson). When a mysterious letter calls him back to Silent Hill in search of her, he finds a once-recognizable town transformed by an unknown evil. As James descends deeper into the darkness, he encounters terrifying figures both familiar and new and begins to question his own sanity as he struggles to make sense of reality and hold on long enough to save his lost love.”

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the film? Will it do the original game justice? What did you think of the 2006 adaptation? Let us know down below.

The post Return to Silent Hill film gets January 2026 premiere date first appeared on KitGuru.

The CPS PCCooler DT360 ARGB Display features the usual micro-skived copper cold plate, high-pressure 120mm ARGB fans and an all-aluminium radiator. However, this cooler also includes a 3.4-inch detachable LCD screen that can be magnetically attached to any metal part of the PC. Is the DT360 ARGB Display all about looks, or does it also have the performance to match? Well, let's get this out on our test system and find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:51 Pricing and availability
01:15 A close look at the cooler
02:15 Radiator / Tubing / Fittings
03:54 The Block
05:25 The Pump and Fans
07:12 Install process
09:11 Software
09:44 Noise and Cooling Performance
11:42 Closing Thoughts

Features:

• 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
• VRM Fan: N/A
• 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

The post CPS PCCooler DT360 ARGB Display AIO CPU Cooler Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Late last year, PC platform holder GOG announced that they were setting up a new game preservation program. In the months since, the initiative has seen a consistent influx of games being preserved for generations to come. As part of the service’s latest update, over a dozen titles are joining GOG’s preservation program – including Mortal Kombat, Devil May Cry and more.

Taking to their blog to make the announcement, the GOG Game Preservation team unveiled the latest line-up of inductees into the program, writing:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition and Devil May Cry HD Collection to both the GOG catalog and the GOG Preservation Program, fully DRM-free and ready to be played in their best form forever. The timing of this double arrival is perfect, as Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition is celebrating its 10th anniversary!”

Beyond DMC however, a solid dozen other titles have also joined the program, namely:

• Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded
• Voyage: Journey to the Moon
• Star Wars Rebellion
• Tex Murphy: The Pandora Directive
• Populous
• Mortal Kombat 1+2+3
• Star Trek: Judgment Rites
• Magic Carpet 2: The Netherworlds
• Castles + Castles 2
• Earthworm Jim 2
• Imperium Galactica

Full details on how each game has been adjusted in order to remain playable into the future can be found on their respective store pages. In terms of DMC however, the HD Trilogy and Devil May Cry 4 have had their stability “validated;” added support for cloud saves and “Verified compatibility with Windows 10 and 11”.

The complete list of games available as part of the GOG Preservation Program can be found HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the preservation program? Have you been eyeing up GOG more for your game purchases in recent months? How many titles are in your GOG library? Let us know down below.

The post Devil May Cry 1-4 and a dozen more join GOG’s Game Preservation Program first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this year, a rumour popped up claiming that God of War was set to receive a surprise spin-off title some time in 2025. Things then began to heat up when it was stated that the game would be a 2.5D metroidvania-styled experience. With Summer Game Fest having come and gone with no announcement, leakers are now claiming that the title has been pushed back to 2026.

As reported by known industry insider Jeff Grubb during the ‘Last of the Nintendogs’ podcast, the 2.5D God of War spin-off (which was originally claimed to be coming in 2025 in alignment with the franchise’s 20th anniversary), has seemingly been internally delayed, stating: “the unannounced new God of War Greek project…was pushed to 2026.”

For the uninitiated, this project is rumoured to be a 2.5D spin-off which is set in Greece and while being “much smaller in scale” will offer metroidvania-styled gameplay – an entirely new concept for the series.

Since 2005, the God of War franchise has remained mostly static in its presentation and genre – with the original trilogy and its spin-offs being hack and slash spectacle fighters with a slight emphasis on puzzles and platforming.

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

As such, having a spin-off which is not only different in presentation, but genre to all prior God of War titles could make for a rather surprising and unexpected hit – if done well. Hopefully we at least get official confirmation of the game sooner rather than later.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to this rumoured spin-off? Could a metroidvania God of War work? Do you think the game will be set in the past or during the current GoW timeline? Let us know down below.

The post Rumoured God of War spin-off reportedly pushed to 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.

The video games industry is bigger than it's ever been, with the Nintendo Switch becoming one of the best selling consoles of all time and the PS5 currently outpacing the PS4 despite supply setbacks. Even so, it is surprising to see just how lucrative the current generation has been for Sony, with the PS5 having generated more profit than all previous PlayStation consoles combined.

As reported by industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, during Sony’s most recent Business Segment Meeting the company revealed that so far the PlayStation 5 generation has ‘generated’ over $13 billion in profits across its hardware and software.

While an impressive figure in its own right, what is perhaps even more interesting is the fact that this represents more profit than Sony’s previous four home console generations combined – with profits for the prior systems being as follows:

• PS1: $3 Billion
• PS2: $2 Billion
• PS3: -$4 Billion
• PS4: $9 Billion

Of course, this isn’t too surprising when considering the fact that the 8th/9th generations have witnessed the rise of multiplayer live service games and ‘micro’ transactions – both of which generate a significant portion of PlayStation’s profits.

In addition, the rise of digital media means that the costs of selling and distributing games has become exponentially cheaper to operate.

Tie this in with the general growth of the industry and it begins to make sense as to how this generation has already surpassed all others combined. It’ll be curious to see just how much profit the PS5 will have made when all is said and done.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by these numbers? Will the PS5 break $20 billion? Let us know down below.

The post PS5 has made more profit than all previous console generations combined first appeared on KitGuru.

Gamdias has announced the launch of the Athena P3, its latest mid-tower chassis crafted for gamers and PC enthusiasts. This case is engineered to deliver good airflow and extensive hardware compatibility. It features a mesh-dominant front panel accented by two solid bars, contributing to a streamlined and aggressive aesthetic and ensuring system ventilation.

The Athena P3 has three 140mm PWM ARGB intake fans at the front and a single 140mm PWM ARGB exhaust fan at the rear, positioned to create optimal airflow paths. An interesting design element is the gap-bridging front bracket, engineered to eliminate airflow gaps between the mesh panel and the fan mounts. This ensures a consistent and concentrated stream of cooling air.

For ease of control, the case integrates an 8-port PWM ARGB hub, allowing users to manage fan speeds and lighting effects through motherboard synchronisation or a dedicated LED button. A tempered glass side panel offers a clear, unobstructed view of the internal components.

This case also features a high-speed USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connector on the top I/O panel, two USB-A 3.0 ports, an LED control button, and HD audio jacks. The chassis can house E-ATX motherboards, graphics cards up to a generous 430mm in length, and power supplies up to 220 mm. As for liquid cooling components, the case offers radiator mounting options, supporting up to a 360/420mm radiator at the front and a 280/360mm radiator at the top. The front and top panels also provide space for three 140/120mm fans, with additional mounting positions on the bottom for 140/120mm fans.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: How much would you be willing to pay for a case like the Athena P3?

The post Gamdias introduces airflow-oriented Athena P3 PC case first appeared on KitGuru.

Sharkoon has unveiled the Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 keyboards. Building on the strengths of its predecessor, the Gen 2 models now offer extensive hot-swap capabilities, alongside the sleek aesthetic of a coiled cable. Enthusiasts will be particularly pleased with the ability to fully customise the keyboard using open-source software like VIA and QMK, while internal enhancements such as a polycarbonate plate and double-layer silicone dampening promise an improved acoustic profile.

The Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 arrives with gaming performance firmly in mind, featuring pre-installed Gateron Yellow linear switches. Moreover, this new version offers more versatility, as it supports any 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switch, allowing users to experiment and fine-tune their typing experience. Sharkoon even includes the necessary hot-swapping tools right in the box. The keyboard maintains its 60% compact form factor yet retains full functionality through clever key assignment for essential commands. While the Skiller SGK50 S4 traditionally allowed for quick, on-the-fly adjustments without software, the Gen 2 models now push it to the next level thanks to open-source technologies such as VIA and QMK.

A considerable focus has been placed on the keyboard's auditory experience. The Gen 2 version uses a polycarbonate positioning plate and double-layer silicone damping, creating a deeper, more satisfying typing sound that elevates the overall feel. As with all keyboards in the SGK50 series, the S4 Gen 2 features a detachable coiled cable with a USB-C to USB-A connector, adding a touch of sophisticated flair to any desk setup.

Beyond its modern design, compact form factor, and vibrant RGB illumination, the Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 PBT variant comes equipped with the latest linear switches from Gateron and durable, abrasion-resistant PBT keycaps. Moreover, Sharkoon offers the Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 barebone keyboard for those planning to personalise and optimise every aspect of their typing experience from the ground up. The Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 keyboards are now available in black and white. The standard model costs €69.90, the PBT keycap variant goes for €79.90, and the barebone edition is €49.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Of all the Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 keyboard variants, which do you prefer?

The post Sharkoon unveils Skiller SGK50 S4 Gen 2 keyboard first appeared on KitGuru.

Supergiant has been hard at work on Hades 2 over the past year. The game's early access period is finally starting to wind down, with the studio putting the finishing touches on the game for PC players, opening the door for an eventual console release.

In the latest Early Access update post, Supergiant confirmed that it is approaching the end of the road and will soon reach Version 1.0 for Hades 2: “After more than a year of Early Access development, we're now starting to prepare for our v1.0 launch! We're heading into the final phase of Hades II development, which involves adding the story's true ending and other finishing touches.”

The game's true ending, in-game achievements and final art will all be put in place for the V1.0 launch. There is no release date yet, but the full game should land on PC this year. As for the console version, Hades 2 is set to be a Switch 2 console exclusive at launch, with PlayStation and Xbox versions to land at a later date.

All of this news follows the release of The Unseen update for Hades 2. This is the third major early access content update for the game. With the way things are going, it may also be the last major update for the game before leaving Early Access.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Based on the early access reviews, Hades 2 is already a great sequel. It will be interesting to see what the wider audience thinks, as there will be plenty of players waiting for the game to exit Early Access before jumping in. 

The post Hades 2 Early Access development coming to an end first appeared on KitGuru.

At the Xbox Games Showcase last week, Microsoft announced its collaborative PC handheld, the ROG Xbox Ally. Now in a new video shared this week, Xbox president, Sarah Bond, teased the future via a continued partnership with AMD on chips. 

In an update video this week, Bond confirmed that Xbox will once again be partnering with AMD for its next generation Xbox systems. Microsoft first began using AMD APUs in its consoles with the Xbox One, and that partnership has continued with the Xbox Series X/S consoles. The next generation Xbox, which is anticipated to launch by 2028, will also use an AMD chip at the heart of the console.

This new multi-year agreement with AMD may also extend to handhelds. For now, Microsoft is licensing out the Xbox brand to third-parties like Asus to produce handheld systems. However, Microsoft is said to be interested in making its own handheld gaming system, so we may see a custom designed chip for the first-party Xbox handheld.

Sony is also rumoured to be working with AMD on its own next-generation PlayStation console.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It looks like AMD is going to maintain its position as the main chip supplier for home gaming consoles. 

The post Microsoft confirms ‘multi-year’ partnership with AMD for next-gen Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this year, Warner Bros made the shocking decision to shut down Monolith Productions, the studio behind the patented ‘Nemesis' system, as well as massive single-player hits like Lord of the Rings: Shadow of Mordor and F.E.A.R. Now, more changes have been announced for the WB Games division, with the company splitting up into a number of divisions. 

WB Games will now double down on its biggest franchises. The publisher is being split up into four divisions to oversee different franchises. One will oversee DC Universe projects, another will focus on Mortal Kombat, another on Harry Potter and a fourth division will lead work on Game of Thrones video games, of which there are surprisingly few on the market.

As you would expect, NetherRealm will fall into the Mortal Kombat division, while Rocksteady will continue to be heavily involved with DC. PortKey Games (Hogwarts Legacy) will be at the Harry Potter division. It is unclear if there is any true creative force behind the new ‘Game of Thrones' division at this stage.

This is all part of a larger restructuring going on at Warner Bros. Discovery. The newly merged company is now splitting up across the board with new divisions focused on streaming, traditional network TV and other key areas of focus.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I hope we start to hear some positive news on what Rocksteady is working on next. A return to Batman would certainly win fans back over. 

The post WB Games splits up into franchise-focused DC, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter divisions first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD has unveiled the Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series and the Radeon AI Pro 9000 GPU series. These launches address a broad spectrum of use cases, from AI acceleration to professional applications.

As seen on the slides shared by TechPowerUp, the new Threadripper 9000 series leverages the Zen 5 CPU architecture, with “Shimada Peak” specifically being a workstation-optimised variant of the “Turin” MCM that powers AMD's 5th Generation Epyc processors. Meanwhile, the Radeon AI Pro 9000 series harnesses the RDNA 4 graphics architecture found in the Radeon RX 9000 series gaming graphics cards, but adjusted for professional applications.

The Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 series pushes the envelope for CPU core counts, scaling up to 96 cores and 192 threads. The Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 series package is designed for the AMD Socket TR5, ensuring seamless drop-in compatibility with all existing TR5 motherboards, provided they are running the latest UEFI firmware updates. This new CPU platform offers an 8-channel DDR5 memory interface, effectively providing 16 sub-channels, with native support for ECC DDR5-6400 speeds. While RDIMMs are supported, the platform maintains a limit of one DIMM per channel, allowing a maximum memory capacity of 2 TB.

Regarding SoC I/O, the “Shimada Peak” processors have a 128-lane PCI-Express 5.0 root complex. However, unlike their EPYC counterparts, they do not include CXL capabilities. Nevertheless, architectural tweaks to the SoC result in a notable increase in aggregate PCIe bandwidth compared to its predecessors. Additional features include AMD PRO Management capabilities and AIM-T WLAN support. The Threadripper Pro 9000 WX series will offer a range of processor models, from a 12C/24T entry point to the 96C/192T flagship CPU. All SKUs within this Pro WX series will share a common I/O feature set and maintain a consistent 350W TDP.

This new generation promises a significant uplift in IPC, offering a noticeable performance leap over its Zen 4-powered predecessors. Beyond raw IPC gains, workstation users stand to benefit from the architecture's full 512-bit FPU datapath, which will dramatically accelerate applications reliant on the AVX-512 instruction set. AMD has also upgraded the I/O die to facilitate native DDR5-6400 memory speeds, alongside support for AMD EXPO profiles and CKD. Internally, AMD is touting a substantial 16% performance increase over the Threadripper 7000 series in standard workstation benchmarks, with an impressive 25% surge in SPEC Workstation AI and machine learning benchmarks compared to identical core counts and frequencies.

Alongside the Pro WX series, AMD introduced the Threadripper 9000X HEDT processors. These are tailored for HEDT systems and entry-level workstations. The primary distinction from the Pro 9000 WX series lies in the absence of AMD Pro capabilities and a trimmed I/O feature set. This includes a 4-channel (8 sub-channel) DDR5 memory interface and a more modest 48-lane PCI-Express 5.0 root complex. This HEDT lineup comprises just three SKUs, ranging from 24C/48T up to a potent 64C/128T option. These chips also maintain compatibility with Socket TR5 motherboards. However, half of the memory channels and some PCIe/NVMe slots will be blocked or modified.

Moving on to the GPUs, the new Radeon AI Pro 9000 series represents AMD's top-tier offerings for professional visualisation and AI acceleration. These graphics cards are designed to be deployed singularly or in workstations with up to four cards installed. The flagship of this series, the Radeon AI Pro R9700, features a maxed-out 4 nm “Navi 48” GPU, boasting 64 RDNA 4 CUs that translate to 4,096 stream processors and 128 AI accelerators, and 32GB GDDR6 running at 20Gbps over a 256-bit memory bus for a maximum of 640GB/s of bandwidth, further enhanced by a 64MB 3rd Generation Infinity Cache. Overall, the AMD Radeon AI Pro R9700 delivers up to 191 TFLOPS (FP16 dense) and a 1531 TOPS (INT4 sparse) performance with a 300W TBP.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on building a new workstation with any of AMD's new components? 

The post AMD launches Ryzen 9000 Threadripper CPUs and Radeon AI Pro 9000 GPU first appeared on KitGuru.

Fractal Design is stepping into the gaming headset arena with the Scape – a sleek, wireless headset that brings their signature minimalistic design philosophy to your desk. In this review, we’ll look at everything from comfort and sound quality to battery life, EQ settings, and the included magnetic charging stand to find out if it’s worth the £169.99 asking price.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:44 Pricing and accessories
01:29 The Design / Comfort / Build Quality
03:29 Control dial / switches
04:08 Thoughts / RGB / Interface
06:04 Charging Stand / Cable / Battery Life
08:01 Real World Use
09:18 Specs and EQ
10:51 Microphone and sound test
11:56 Compatibility
12:16 Closing Thoughts

Specifications

• Dimensions without charging stand (WxHxD) – 160 x 195 x 84 mm
• Dimensions with charging stand (WxHxD) -160 x 205 x 90 mm
• Weight – 338 g (314 g excluding microphone)
• Driver – 40 mm Polyetherimide diaphragm with Neodymium magnet
• Battery life (RGB off) >40 hours
• Battery life (RGB on) >24 hours
• Compatibility
  • PC
  • Mac
  • PlayStation 4/5
  • Nintendo Switch
  • iOS/Android
• Frequency response – 20-20 000 Hz
• THD @ 1 kHz – <0,5 %
• Audio Connection modes
  • 2.4 GHz Wireless via USB-A dongle
  • Bluetooth 5.3
  • Wired via USB-C to USB-A cable
• Built-in controls
  • Media Control crown (HID volume, play/pause/next track)
  • Ambient lighting ON/OFF
  • Power button
  • Connection mode switch
  • Mute and microphone noise cancellation button EQ mode button
• Range (Stereo Audio) – Up to 40 meters (unobstructed)
• Charging time 0-100% in docking station – <3 hours
• Charging time 0-100% with USB cable – <3 hours
• Wireless Charging time from 0% to 4h playtime with RGB on – 15 minutes
• RGB type – 6 individually addressable LEDs per cup
• Audio resolution (Dongle) Dongle: 24-bit/96 kHz (Codec: LC3+)
• Microphone types
  • 1 x Detachable microphone: Uni-directional for voice input, Super Wideband protocol with audio frequency 50–16 000 Hz
  • 1 x Built-in microphone: Omni-directional for voice input
  • 1 x Built-in microphone: Omni-directional microphone for noise cancellation
• Windows Dynamic Lighting – Compatible
• Warranty – 2 years
• Included in the box – Headset, charging stand, wireless dongle, 1.5 m USB A to USB C cable, detachable microphone, manual

You can buy the Scape headset from AWD IT for £169.99 HERE.

Pros:

• Clean and neutral design.
• Very convenient charging with the included dock.
• Good directional audio performance.
• No software needed for customisation; everything is web based.
• Comfortable for long gaming sessions.
• Good pricing considering the inclusion of the magnetic charging dock.

Cons:

• Could do with a little more overall volume.
• RGB on a gaming headsets won't be for everyone.

KitGuru says: The Scape is an excellent headset with a truly convenient charging dock included. An excellent audio debut from Fractal Design. 

The post Fractal Design Scape Headset Review first appeared on KitGuru.

The Final Fantasy franchise is easily an icon in the gaming space, with 1997’s Final Fantasy VII in particular being viewed as one of the most important titles of all time. Despite the reverence for this classic, in the nearly 30 years since its release, the OG Final Fantasy VII has ‘only’ sold 15 million units.

As part of a recent press release detailing the upcoming arrival of Final Fantasy XVI and FFVII Remake to Xbox, Square Enix offered a surprise update on the original Final Fantasy VII from 1997, writing:

“Since [1997], the game revolving around iconic hero, Cloud Strife and his pursuit of the antagonist Sephiroth has sold over 15.1 million copies worldwide and continues to receive widespread acclaim from critics and fans around the world.”

While 15 million copies is nothing to sniff at, the fact that one of the most iconic video games of all time has been outsold by countless indie titles in mere months is indicative of just how much the games industry has grown over the past few decades.

It will be interesting to see whether the FFVII Remake manages to reach 15 million in due time.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of FFVII’s updated sales figures? Where would you put FFVII in the top 10 list of most iconic games of all time? Will the remake eventually outsell the original? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post The original 1997 Final Fantasy VII has officially sold over 15 million copies first appeared on KitGuru.

Of all the classic PlayStation One mascot platformers, Gex is likely one of the least known. Developed by Crystal Dynamics, the trilogy released between 1995 and 1999 and is perhaps best known for its use of different voice actors for its UK and US releases. As part of the recent re-release of the trilogy via LimitedRunGames, an update is slated to add options for both PAL and NTSC audio.

Taking to BlueSky, the official LimitedRunGames page shared the following: “Thank you for making the launch of GEX Trilogy a huge success! It’s been in the works for a while and we’re finally able to announce that the PAL versions of GEX 2 & GEX 3, featuring the voices of Leslie Philips and Danny John-Jules, respectively, will be added in an update!”

Fortunately, fans don’t have to wait long, as the update has already been pushed to Steam, with other platforms said to be following suit “once the patch has completed certification.”

For the uninitiated, the NTSC and PAL versions of Gex differed in multiple ways – not just with the voice actors. Much of the game’s dialogue and writing was also changed, with many of the jokes being adapted to suit each respective region.

As such, having the PAL versions of Gex being made available alongside the NTSC release is welcome to see and makes this trilogy feel like much more of a complete package.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the trilogy back in the day? Did you play the NTSC or PAL version? Let us know down below.

The post Gex Trilogy to offer both PAL and NTSC voice lines in upcoming update first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, Sony updates its PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium libraries with a number of new and returning titles. Unfortunately, at the same time the company also removes games from the service on a monthly basis. With June’s titles now available to download and play, the console maker has announced half a dozen games which are set to leave PS Plus Extra / Premium in July.

In going to the Last chance to play section on the PlayStation 5’s PS Plus tab, subscribers can find a list of 6 titles which are set to be removed from the service next month (likely mid-July):

• Dying Light 2
• Remnant 2
• Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion
• Mount & Blade 2
• Job Simulator
• Vampire: The Masquerade Swansong

Given the relative lack of PSVR titles on PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium, the removal of Job Simulator is disappointing to see.

Of course, beyond that you’ve got Techland’s open-world first-person parkour zombie title Dying Light 2; the co-op focused souls-like with guns Remnant 2 and the current-gen remake of the PSP classic Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion.

While no exact date has been given for their removal, based on previous months, the games above will likely leave PS Plus some time during mid-July – meaning you still have a bit of time to give some of these games a go. That said, with many of these games offering dozens of hours worth of gameplay, you may have to pick and choose, unfortunately.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the line-up? Are you hoping to finish any of these games before they’re removed? Should Sony give more of a heads up for games which are set to leave? Let us know down below.

The post Dying Light 2, FFVII Reunion and more leaving PlayStation Plus first appeared on KitGuru.

Bungie has been quiet on the subject of Marathon since the game's alpha ended earlier this year. The game had been on track for a September launch but today, Sony and Bungie made the surprise announcement that the game has been delayed indefinitely. 

Marathon has been delayed and currently, the game does not have a new release date. Bungie has outlined some key areas of focus for this extra development time, including enhanced visuals, more challenging AI encounters, more dynamic events, proximity chat and actual story content.

This marks a notable shift in strategy. Last year, Concord suffered from negative feedback during its playtests, but rather than delaying the game and making changes, the game was forced to release in August as originally planned. Ultimately, the game flopped and Sony pulled it from sale, before shutting down the studio entirely.

Bungie needs Marathon to be a hit and Sony also needs one of its live service bets to pay off after multiple years of failure. Marathon does not have a new release date yet, but the check list of issues to be addressed before launch reads like a wishlist based on alpha feedback. When Marathon returns, it should be a better, more interesting game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It sounds like we won't be seeing Marathon again until 2026. if Bungie makes good use of this extra time, Marathon should be a much better game when it is next revealed. 

The post Bungie delays Marathon indefinitely first appeared on KitGuru.

The biggest announcement at Microsoft’s recent Xbox Games Showcase was the official unveiling of its ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. That said, aside from a vague release window of later this year, no proper timeline has been shared. According to multiple insiders however, the Xbox Ally is “tentatively” slated to launch in late October – though apparently no prices have been finalised.

Recently, known industry leaker Extas1s claimed that the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally is currently set to launch this October – with the lower-powered Xbox Ally costing $499 and the more premium Ally X going for $799.

Following this, WindowsCentral’s Jez Corden clarified some of the details, stating that while they too have heard that Xbox plans to launch the handhelds in October (specifically later in the month), “Microsoft hasn't yet fully committed to a price point.”

Unlike most video game consoles, the more open nature of the Xbox Ally’s OS means that users aren’t tied down to a single storefront. As such, there is little reason for Microsoft to subsidise the cost of the ROG handhelds.

That said, considering the ‘last-gen’ ROG Ally X costs $899, Microsoft may try to shave a couple dollars off if they wish for their handhelds to be more than an extreme niche. We will have to wait and see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the ROG Xbox Ally? Are you interested in either handheld? How much do you think they’ll cost? Let us know down below.

The post ROG Xbox Ally’s leaked release date corroborated first appeared on KitGuru.

Fresh details surfaced regarding Intel's Nova Lake-S processor series, painting a clearer picture of what to expect from the company's next-generation desktop processors. While the official name remains unknown, the flagship model is rumoured to pack a significant punch with a whopping 52 cores: 16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and 4 LP-cores.

Beyond the flagship, and according to chi11eddog, Intel is also reportedly developing a Core Ultra 7 SKU with a 14P+24E configuration, alongside various Core Ultra 5 options featuring 8P+16E, 8P+12E, and 6P+8E configs. The entry-level Core Ultra 3 lineup is expected to include 4P+8E and 4P+4E variants. Note that all desktop SKUs are projected to incorporate four P-Cores. This means the Nova Lake-S series could span a wide range of core counts, from 12 to 52, depending on which configurations Intel rolls out for consumers.

The table below shows the processors in more detail:

Processor	Cores	TDP
Core Ultra 9	52 (16x P + 32 E + 4 LP)	150W
Core Ultra 7	42 (14x P + 24 E + 4 LP)	150W
Core Ultra 5	28 (8x P + 16 E + 4 LP)	125W
Core Ultra 5	24 (8x P + 12 E + 4 LP)	125W
Core Ultra 5	18 (6x P + 8 E + 4 LP)	125W
Core Ultra 3	16 (4x P + 8 E + 4 LP)	65W
Core Ultra 3	12 (4x P + 4 E + 4 LP)	65W

Jaykihn also stated that this next-generation series will support faster memory speeds right out of the box. While the current Arrow Lake-S series officially supports DDR5-6400 memory and can be overclocked to 9200 MT/s, the upcoming desktop series is expected to default to 8000 MT/s. This applies to configurations using 1 DIMM per channel (1DPC) and single-rank memory. Whether this enhanced memory support is due to improvements in the CPU's integrated memory controllers or advancements in the new motherboard platforms remains unclear.

Intel Nova Lake-S, which will most likely be branded under the Core Ultra 300 series, is expected to launch next year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Will increasing the core count allow Intel to recover its position in the desktop CPU consumer market?

The post Intel Nova Lake-S processors may pack up to 52 cores first appeared on KitGuru.

GameMax has just unveiled two additions to its desktop case lineup: the Claw 360 and Claw 460. These new enclosures are aimed at gamers and creators looking for a distinctive aesthetic, uncompromising thermal performance, and robust, future-proof compatibility. Both models proudly sport GameMax's new identity, which is immediately noticeable through their aggressive, claw-inspired front panels, sculpted ventilation mesh, and the new brand logo. 

According to TechPowerUp, the Claw 360 is an mATX case built to accommodate the latest hardware, offering support for GPUs up to 420 mm in length. You'll find room for 240 mm ATX PSUs, air coolers up to 175 mm tall, and support for radiators up to 360 mm. Its internal layout is primed for outstanding cooling, supporting up to 12x 120-mm fans, with four pre-installed ARGB/PWM units wired directly to a built-in controller for illumination and speed management. The front I/O panel has a USB-C Gen 2 port and a USB 3.0 connector for connectivity. Moreover, an integrated, height-adjustable GPU support bracket prevents sag of the graphics card.

For those requiring maximum compatibility and expansion capabilities, the Claw 460 is a full-sized ATX case. It mirrors its smaller counterpart's GPU and PSU support, while extending compatibility to ATX motherboards. Like the Claw 360, it leverages a mesh front panel and a vertical airflow system to deliver consistent cooling even during intense periods of use. It can house 12x 120mm fans and has four pre-installed ARGB/PWM fans, complete with an integrated controller for customisable lighting and airflow. Connectivity on the front I/O panel is identical, offering a USB-C Gen 2 and two USB 3.0 ports. Like its compact sibling, the Claw 460 includes a height-adjustable GPU support bracket.

The more compact Claw 360 will hit the market first, with its full-sized sibling, the Claw 460, following suit next month. The Claw 360 will be available for $67.99 in black and $71.99 in white, while the larger Claw 460 will cost $77.99 in black and $81.99 in white.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Which Claw case is the most interesting to you? If you were to pick it, what colour would you prefer?

The post GameMax debuts new Claw PC case first appeared on KitGuru.

The latest GeForce Game Ready driver has dropped. The new driver delivers a ton of fixes for various games, and adds day-one optimisations for Remedy's new game, FBC: Firebreak. The driver also adds support for the new Path Tracing update for DOOM: The Dark Ages.

Today, FBC: Firebreak, Remedy Entertainment’s fully ray-traced co-op action game, launches with day-one support for DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and all GeForce RTX gamers can activate DLSS Super Resolution to double performance.

And coming tomorrow, DOOM: The Dark Age update adds path tracing and DLSS Ray Reconstruction, amplifying image quality in the critically acclaimed shooter. DOOM: The Dark Ages features always-on ray-traced global illumination lighting – with path tracing, light from the sun, moon, and hellish skyboxes bounces multiple times, illuminating more game elements at a higher level of detail.

Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks and REMATCH both add DLSS today as well.

To support all of these games, Nvidia has rolled out a new Game Ready driver. The new 576.80 driver can now be downloaded directly from Nvidia or via the Nvidia App.

KitGuru Says: This driver update also seems to fix a lot of flicker and stability issues in various games, so if you've been having issues lately, hopefully this driver will fix things up.

The post New Nvidia driver optimises for DOOM Path Tracing, FBC: Firebreak and more first appeared on KitGuru.