Monster Hunter Wilds is almost here, with Capcom having recently announced the second and final open beta test set to take place before its launch next month. While we don’t yet have a date for this beta, Capcom has now announced a Spotlight Stream set to go live next week – featuring the much-anticipated Monster Hunter Wilds, Onimusha and more.
Taking to Twitter, the official Capcom USA page announced their next Nintendo Direct-styled online showcase (Capcom Spotlight) writing:
“Tune in live on Feb. 4 at 2pm PT for Capcom doubleheader! Join us for a 20-minute Capcom Spotlight followed immediately by a 15-minute Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase!”
The general Capcom Spotlight will feature new information and updates on Onimusha: Way of the Sword; Street Fighter 6; Capcom Fighting Collection 2; and MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.
The Monster Hunter Wilds presentation meanwhile will unsurprisingly feature a brand new trailer, alongside details on the previously-announced second beta test.
Typically with Capcom Spotlights, what you see is what you get, and so don’t expect any major surprise announcements. Still, it is exciting to finally be hearing more about the second beta test for Monster Hunter Wilds – and given the fact that the game is under a month away, its arrival could be imminent.
KitGuru says: Will you tune into the Capcom Spotlight? When do you think beta 2 will go live? What do you hope to see from Onimusha? Let us know down below.
Back in August, we began to hear rumours that Microsoft was planning to bring Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 5 to PlayStation – following on from the likes of Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves. Reports later claimed that this port had been internally delayed, but not cancelled. Finally, seemingly out of nowhere, Forza Horizon 5 has officially been announced for PS5.
“The Horizon Festival Welcomes a New Community of Players. With nearly 900 cars available in the game, over 40 thematic game updates, two expansions, and so much more content, our team is excited to announce that this spring, PlayStation 5 players will be able to explore Mexico’s beautiful roads and experience the Horizon Festival for the first time as we are officially launching Forza Horizon 5 on PS5.”
Said to be coming this Spring, the PS5 release is being developed by Panic Button (in collaboration with Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios) and is promised to include “the same content as the Xbox and PC releases of the game”. Unfortunately, while previously-released car packs will be available on Sony’s console, they will still need to be purchased separately.
Beyond this, little has been shared regarding specifics, such as whether the game will utilise the PS5’s more unique features (Advanced Haptics, Adaptive Triggers etc…) and so we will likely have to wait until closer to the time of release for a more comprehensive breakdown.
KitGuru says: Are you surprised by the sudden announcement? Was this done in alignment with Microsoft’s fiscal earning reports? Will the game properly support the DualSense? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Quantic Dream are known best for their work on narrative-driven choice-based games tackling various themes and tough topics – to greater and lesser success. Interestingly, one of their more forgotten releases, 2013’s Beyond: Two Souls, is now getting a TV show adaptation headed by the original game’s star ‘Elliot Page’.
As reported by Deadline, Elliot Page’s Pageboy production company has acquired the rights to develop a TV show based on Quantic Dream’s Beyond: Two Souls.
‘Beyond’ the fact that Beyond: Two Souls is easily one of the studio’s more forgotten entries, this announcement comes as a surprise due to previous controversies surrounding the game following its release.
For the uninitiated, the game’s star Elliot Page and Quantic Dream strained their relationship when it was discovered that fully nude models of Page were created by the studio without consent – leading to the actor considering legal action against Quantic Dream.
It seems as though Elliot Page has let bygones be bygones, releasing a statement on this latest announcement, writing “Filming the game was one of the most challenging and fulfilling acting experiences of my career. The story’s rich narrative and emotional depth offer us a fantastic foundation. We want to create a unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers.”
Quantic Dream Founder and president David Cage offered his own take on the announcement, saying “We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate again with Elliot Page on this project. I was blown away by his acting performance in the game, and I couldn’t think of anyone else to tell this story with the same passion on another medium.”
Given the unique story-telling methods utilised in Beyond: Two Souls, it will be interesting to see how this adaptation is ultimately…adapted – and whether it will wind up being better than the game itself.
KitGuru says: Are you surprised by the announcement? What did you think of Beyond: Two Souls? What’s your favourite Quantic Dream game? Let us know down below.
When it was first announced, there were fears that the Silent Hill 2 Remake from Bloober Team would not be able to do the PS2 survival horror classic justice. Fortunately, since its launch last October, the game has not only gone to be a critical hit, but a sales success too, having now sold over 2 million copies.
Making the announcement via a press release (translated by Gematsu), publisher Konami revealed that Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 Remake has sold over 2 million copies as of the 23rd of January.
For context, the title surpassed its first major milestone with 1 million total copies sold in under two weeks – easily making it one of the fastest selling entries in the relatively niche series.
Given the continued ongoing success of Silent Hill 2 Remake, it will be interesting to see how Bloober Team and Konami’s relationship evolves from here on out.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the Silent Hill 2 Remake? Does it do the original justice? What do you want to see next from Bloober Team? Let us know down below.
Ever since the PlayStation 5 launched, Sony’s monthly PS Plus Essential game service has offered a mix of both PS4 and PS5 titles. With the 9th-gen console well into its mid-life-cycle right now, Sony has determined it’s finally time to move on, with all future PS Plus games being PS5 titles starting from next year.
As part of the latest blog post detailing PS Plus Essential’s line-up for February, Sony offered an “update on PS4 games for PlayStation Plus” with the Director for game services and content at SIE – Adam Michel – writing:
“As many of our players are currently playing on PS5 and have shifted toward redeeming and accessing PS5 titles from the Monthly Games and Game Catalog benefit, PlayStation Plus is also evolving with this trend and will focus on offering PS5 titles through the Monthly Games and Game Catalog benefit starting January 2026.”
Explaining exactly how this will work, Michel continued, “As we shift to PS5, PS4 games will no longer be a key benefit and will only be occasionally offered for PlayStation Plus Monthly Games and Game Catalog starting January 2026. We may still provide titles that can be playable on both PS4 and PS5 consoles after this date.”
While there have been plenty of months in which all three titles have featured PS5 versions (as is the case with February’s line-up), it’s nice to know that this will soon become more of a rule than the exception.
With the PS5 supporting backwards compatibility, redeeming PS4 games still offered plenty of benefits, but given the fact that the console is over a decade old it is perhaps for the best optically that Sony moves on.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this change? Should it have happened years ago? Is PS Plus Essential worth it? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Intel's Arc Battlemage GPU family might be getting a few new members. New PCI IDs spotted in Intel's Linux patches suggest the company is preparing to launch three additional Battlemage graphics cards.
While the current Battlemage lineup consists of only the Arc B580 and B570, rumours have been swirling about a more powerful Battlemage GPU, the BMG-G31. The new PCI IDs found by @GawroskiT differ from the existing IDs for the B580 and B570, suggesting that Intel plans to release more Battlemage cards.
In addition, there are reports that Intel has started shipping cards with a clamshell memory configuration. This could allow for increased VRAM capacity, potentially paving the way for a 24GB Arc Battlemage graphics card. This aligns with previous rumours suggesting a 24GB Arc Pro model for workstations and AI workloads could be on the way.
With their upcoming GPU releases, Nvidia and AMD are focusing on the high-end and mainstream segments. As such, Intel could well capitalise on the demand for capable and affordable gaming graphics cards. We've already seen what Battlemage can do in the £200-£300 bracket, and it's generally solid – at least when talking about raw performance. Expanding to other pricing segments would surely put some welcome pressure on AMD and Nvidia.
KitGuru says: What do you think these three new Intel PCI IDs stand for? Are they for workstation solutions, consumer cards, or a mix of both?
GOG is replacing the Community Wishlist tool with a new system called Dreamlist. Like its predecessor, Dreamlist will give gamers the power to revive their favourite classic titles, allowing users to vote on which retro games they want to see restored and preserved on the GOG platform.
GOG, known for its dedication to bringing classic games to modern audiences, has long championed game preservation. Its latest project, Dreamlist, takes this commitment further by giving the community a direct voice in the preservation process.
Essentially an evolution of GOG's Community Wishlist, Dreamlist allows users to vote on the games they want to see updated and supported on the platform. This feedback helps GOG prioritise its preservation efforts and signals to rights holders that there's a demand for these classic titles, potentially paving the way for their re-release.
GOG's Preservation Program focuses on revitalising classic games that their original developers or publishers might have abandoned. This can involve adding support for higher resolutions, modern controllers, cloud saves, and other enhancements that make these games more accessible and enjoyable for today's players. Dreamlist streamlines this process by providing a direct channel for community feedback. Some of the games advanced by GOG's staff include Freelancer, Resident Evil: Code Veronica X, Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection, Final Fantasy VII, The Operative: No One Lives Forever, Alien Trilogy, Diablo II and Discworld 1.
KitGuru says: While Dreamlist offers a promising avenue for game preservation, it's important to acknowledge the challenges involved. Reviving retro PC games can be complex, often requiring technical expertise and navigating complicated rights issues. However, the power of a passionate community shouldn't be underestimated. Together, gamers can demonstrate demand for these games and potentially influence their re-release, ensuring that these gems of gaming history are not forgotten.
In a surprising move, Sony has announced it will no longer require players to link their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts to play certain PC titles.
This decision comes after widespread criticism from PC gamers who objected to the PSN account requirement for games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Starting with the launch of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC, these titles will no longer require a PSN account to play. This change will also be applied retroactively to previously released PC versions of these games.
However, Sony isn't completely abandoning the idea of connecting PSN accounts to PC games. They've recognised the benefits of integration and have announced plans to offer exclusive perks to players who link their accounts. Players who link their PSN accounts to PC games can receive various in-game bonuses. For example, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will offer early access to suits, while God of War Ragnarök will provide a resource bundle and an armour set. Other benefits may include access to exclusive content and trophy support for their PC gameplay.
Sony's decision to remove the mandatory PSN account requirement is a positive step towards fostering a more inclusive and accessible PC gaming experience. It removes a barrier that many gamers find frustrating and allows them to enjoy these titles without the hassle of creating a new account.
KitGuru says: While the option to link accounts and receive exclusive perks remains, the choice is now entirely up to the player. This flexibility gives gamers more control over their experience and respects their privacy preferences.
In the past few years, we have seen Bungie’s Destiny 2 crossover with an increasing number of franchises – from Ghost of Tsushima to The Witcher and Mass Effect. Joining the Destiny universe from a galaxy far far away, Bungie have officially announced a new crossover with Star Wars.
Alongside this, they also unveiled the next major crossover coming to the game with Destiny 2 x Star Wars, writing “Conquer the galaxy with new armour ornaments, accessories, emotes, and finishers inspired by Star Wars.”
As with prior crossovers, each Guardian class will feature its own armour set ornament inspired by a different character.
Perhaps the coolest cosmetic however is the new DS-2 Ghost Shell which is inspired by the iconic Death Star – superlaser included.
As with pretty much every crossover nowadays, expect the bundles to be quite costly. Still, for those who are a fan of Star Wars, this collab does make quite a bit of sense – both IPs being space Sci-Fis and all that.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Episode Heresy? How do you think Destiny 2 has handled its crossovers so far? Let us know down below.
In the almost decade-long redemption arc for Hello Games and No Man’s Sky, the game has received countless transformative updates – from visual overhauls to engine optimisations, new features and so much more. One of the biggest came with Part 1 of the Worlds Update, released back in July. Less than a year later, and the concluding half to this major overhaul is now here.
Releasing the surprise update (as they have done for years now), Hello Games officially unveiled update 5.5 – ‘Worlds Part II’, transforming the universe with “with new stars, new story, and new planets.”
With every new update to No Man’s Sky, it feels as though Hello Games have finished turning the title into the ultimate form of itself. Yet, they somehow managed to continue to surprise and delight every single time.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Worlds Part II? Will you hop back into No Man’s Sky? What’s your favourite new addition? Let us know down below.
Each month, all those with a PlayStation Plus Essential subscription are able to get their hands on a few select games which can be added to your library – and remain playable as long as you have an active subscription. Sony has now announced February’s line-up, including the co-op heist FPS Payday 3 and the comedic High on Life.
As mentioned, Payday 3 is a co-op focused heist shooter which – while it did launch in a troubling state – has turned into a solid successor to the highly-popular Payday 2, so is worth giving a try now more so than ever.
High on Life is a comedic take on the FPS genre with a style of humour not too dissimilar to that of Rick and Morty (due to the direct involvement of the show’s (now controversial) co-creator Justin Roiland). While certainly a love-it-or-hate-it type of experience, those who do gel with the humour will find plenty to enjoy.
All three titles will be available to claim from the 4th of February, meaning you have just under a week to add January’s PS Plus Essential titles to your library before they are removed.
In case you missed it, this month’s free games include Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League; The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered.
KitGuru says: What do you think of February’s line-up? Have you tried Payday 3? Do you think it’s improved since launch? Let us know down below.
The classic MOBA Heroes of Newerth is returning with an updated version, Heroes of Newerth: Reborn. Developed by Kongor Studios and published by Garena, this reimagining aims to recapture the magic of the original while introducing modern enhancements and a refreshed gameplay experience.
Inspired by the iconic Warcraft 3 mod Defense of the Ancients, Heroes of Newerth captured the hearts of MOBA fans with its strategic gameplay and diverse hero roster in the 2010s. However, the game's popularity waned due to fierce competition from giants like Dota 2 and League of Legends, leading to its shutdown in 2022.
But the spirit of Heroes of Newerth lived on through Project Kongor, a dedicated community effort to keep the game alive. Now, Kongor Studios is officially resurrecting the beloved MOBA with Heroes of Newerth: Reborn, rebuilt on the iGames engine and featuring a host of improvements, including a new role queue system and enhanced combat mechanics.
In an interview with PCGamesN, Nick “BreakyCPK” Caras, Kongor Studios' Director of Communications, explained the motivation behind this revival. “While Heroes of Newerth enjoyed significant success during its time, many, including us at Kongor Studios, felt that its closure came too soon,” Caras shared. “Our goal is not only to revive Heroes of Newerth but also to enhance it by introducing improvements while preserving the core elements that made the original so beloved.”
This delicate balance between nostalgia and modernisation is crucial for appealing to veteran players and newcomers. Caras emphasised the team's commitment to this challenge, highlighting the upgraded iGames engine, enhanced graphics and audio, and other improvements that will bring the game up to modern standards.
While Heroes of Newerth: Reborn doesn't aim to compete directly with the MOBA titans, Kongor Studios believes it can carve out its niche by offering a unique and engaging experience. This is particularly relevant in the current landscape, where Dota 2 faces declining player numbers in the West, and League of Legends has been criticised for its aggressive monetisation strategies. Caras assured us that microtransactions would be part of the game's monetisation strategy, but they won't be the sole focus.
Heroes of Newerth: Reborn will be free-to-play and launch with a roster of 80 characters. While a specific release date hasn't been announced, you can follow the project's development on the official Heroes of Newerth: Reborn website.
KitGuru says: Did you play the original Heroes of Newerth? Are you planning to come back to play the new version?
NZXT is expanding its reach in the PC peripheral market with the launch of the Elite series. This new collection includes a magnetic Hall effect keyboard, a lightweight wireless mouse, a USB microphone, and cloth mousepads.
Starting with the Function Elite MiniTKL, this compact and stylish keyboard is built for gamers and enthusiasts. Its magnetic switches offer a responsive experience and customisation options, with adjustable actuation points and advanced features like Rapid Trigger and Snap Overrides for enhanced gameplay. The keyboard is also gasket-mounted, has sound-dampening foam, and has an aluminium body. Customisable per-key RGB lighting, controlled through NZXT CAM software, adds a touch of flair.
Then, there's the Lift Elite Wireless mouse, weighing only 57 grams. It has a 26K DPI sensor with high polling rates to ensure accuracy and responsiveness, optical switches for faster clicks, and a textured grip to hold secure during gaming. With up to 70 hours of battery life and customisable settings through NZXT CAM, the Lift Elite Wireless offers a pretty interesting feature set for its price tag.
Moving on to the Capsule Elite USB microphone, it promises to deliver studio-quality audio for gamers and content creators. The optimised acoustic design and built-in pop filter ensure clear and natural sound reproduction. NZXT CAM software, powered by DTS, offers extensive customisation options, including EQ adjustments and noise suppression.
Lastly, the Zone mousepads provide the perfect surface for your Lift Elite Wireless mouse. Its smooth, nano-knit cotton surface offers a frictionless glide, while the foam base provides comfort and stability. The Elite variants also have a spill-resistant coating that should help if an accident happens.
All new NZXT Elite peripherals are now available. The Function Elite MiniTKL keyboard goes for £169.99/$199.99, the Lift Elite Wireless mouse for £74.99/$79.99, and the Capsule Elite microphone for £84.99/$89.99. As for the Zone mousepads, the Elite variants are priced at £26.99/$29.99 (Large), £39.99/$44.99 (XL), and £46.99/$54.99, and the standard £14.99/$14.99 (Large), £22.99/$24.99 (XL), and £26.99/$29.99.
KitGuru says: Interested in any of NZXT's new Elite PC peripherals?
10 years ago Dying Light released, and while it may not have been the best game in the world, it quickly gained a following thanks to a fun gameplay loop and an abundance of free post launch support from the team at Techland. In celebrating the franchise’s 10th anniversary, the studio has shared a ton of interesting stats, including that the series has reached 45 million players.
Celebrating Dying Light’s 10th birthday via a press release, the team at Techland wrote: “Ten years ago, Harran and Kyle Crane were introduced to the world for the first time, and since then the Dying Light franchise has been enjoyed by more than 45 million zombie slayers.”
Alongside the lengthy post, Techland shared a bunch of player stats from over the past decade, including the fact that the aforementioned 45 million ‘slayers’ have played for a total of 1.178 billion hours – an average of 26 hours per person.
Even more impressively, over 75 billion zombies have been killed during said hours; almost 10 times the total number of humans on earth. Of course, being a parkour focused game, players have covered a ton of ground running around the open worlds, 12,139,406,645 KM to be specific.
Perhaps the most interesting announcement was the confirmation that more games in the Dying Light series are planned beyond the upcoming ‘The Beast,’ with Techland stating “We'll continue the series with multiple unannounced projects and will also go beyond video games with new board games, exclusive merchandise, original webcomic series and more on the horizon.”
While both Dying Light 1 and 2 have been given away for free across various platforms, having an audience of over 45 million players from just two titles suggests that there is a great hunger for more Dying Light.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the Dying Light series? Do you prefer the first game or the second? What do you hope to see from the franchise in future? Let us know down below.
Hazelight founder Josef Fares has amassed a reputation not only for making interesting and humorous speeches during the annual Game Awards, but also for releasing consistently excellent co-op titles including A Way Out and GOTY winner It Takes Two. Their next game, Split Fiction is set to launch in just over a month – with the team announcing that it has now gone Gold.
Alongside this, Fares revealed that the game has hit its final major pre-launch milestone, writing “And also #splitfiction has now gone gold. So get ready on March 6.”
For the uninitiated, ‘Going Gold’ means that the Split Fiction master disc has been submitted to the game’s publisher. After this, discs can then be pressed with finalised software and digital storefronts can upload the 1.0 version of the game ready for release.
It’s a process that every game in development goes through, and means that (aside from post-launch patches) Split Fiction should be complete and ready to play.
While still a relatively new studio (with only two games currently under its belt), Josef Fares and Hazelight have shown that they know how to make compelling and unique co-op games, and so hopefully Split Fiction manages to reach similar heights when it arrives in just over a month’s time.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Split Fiction? Will Hazelight Score a hattrick with their third game? Could it be a GOTY contender? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Hot on the heels of the RTX 5090, today we can present our full review of Nvidia's RTX 5080. While still hugely expensive at £979/$999, this GPU is at least slightly more accessible than the RTX 50 series flagship given it comes in at roughly half the price. But does that mean the RTX 5080 is only half as fast? Today we assess raw performance, ray tracing, DLSS 4, power draw, efficiency and more in this in-depth analysis.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:48 RTX 5080 specs
02:01 Test setup
03:49 Alan Wake 2
04:30 Black Myth: Wukong
05:01 Cyberpunk 2077
05:33 Final Fantasy XVI
06:06 Forza Horizon 5
06:38 Ghost of Tsushima
07:02 Horizon Forbidden West
07:26 The Last of Us Part 1
08:01 Plague Tale: Requiem
08:27 Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
08:52 Starfield
09:21 Total War: Warhammer III
09:45 12-game average results
11:03 Cost per frame analysis
12:21 RT Alan Wake II
12:50 RT Black Myth: Wukong
13:15 RT Cyberpunk 2077
13:39 RT F1 24
14:03 RT Ratchet & Clank
14:28 RT Returnal
14:53 RT Shadow of the Tomb Raider
15:22 RT Star Wars Outlaws
15:44 RT 8-game average
17:13 DLSS 4 – Multi Frame Generation
19:46 AI & productivity benchmarks
21:02 Founders Edition design, thermals & acoustics
22:33 Power draw and efficiency
24:23 Closing thoughts
Launching at retail on January 30th, we're hearing that there will be slightly wider availability of the RTX 5080 than the RTX 5090, though it will certainly take at least a few weeks for supply to stabilise. But before you rush to try and buy one, you’ll want to know exactly what you're getting for the £979 asking price—so without further ado, let’s dive into the review.
RTX 5090
RTX 5080
RTX 4090
RTX 4080 Super
RTX 4080
Process
TSMC N4
TSMC N4
TSMC N4
TSMC N4
TSMC N4
SMs
170
84
128
80
76
CUDA Cores
21760
10752
16384
10240
9728
Tensor Cores
680
336
512
320
304
RT Cores
170
84
128
80
76
Texture Units
680
336
512
320
304
ROPs
176
112
176
112
112
GPU Boost Clock
2407 MHz
2617 MHz
2520 MHz
2550 MHz
2505 MHz
Memory Data Rate
28 Gbps
30 Gbps
21 Gbps
23 Gbps
22.4 Gbps
L2 Cache
98304 KB
65536 KB
73729 KB
65536 KB
65536 KB
Total Video Memory
32GB GDDR7
16GB GDDR7
24GB GDDR6X
16GB GDDR6X
16GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface
512-bit
256-bit
384-bit
256-bit
256-bit
Memory Bandwidth
1792 GB/Sec
960 GB/Sec
1008 GB/Sec
736 GB/Sec
716.8 GB/Sec
TGP
575W
360W
450W
320W
320W
First, a quick spec recap. Unlike the RTX 5090, which is built on the GB202 die, RTX 5080 uses smaller silicon as it is a full implementation of the GB203 die, measuring 378mm2. Comprised of 7 Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each holds up to eight Texture Processing Clusters (TPC), with a total of 42. Each TPC is home to two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), giving us 84, and each SM still holds 256 CUDA Cores, meaning the RTX 5080 has a total of 10752 shaders. We also find 84 RT cores, 336 Tensor cores, 336 Texture Units, and 112 ROPs.
This time around, however, there's no node-shrink, and GB203 remains fabricated on TSMC's N4 node, as per the RTX 40-series. As such, rated clock speed is barely changed this generation, with the RTX 5080 rated at 2617MHz, compared to the RTX 4080 Super's 2550MHz boost.
The memory configuration is also fairly similar, but sports one key upgrade – GDDR7 memory. The RTX 5080 comes equipped with 16GB, running at 30Gbps, and that puts total memory bandwidth at 960 GB/s, a 30% increase over the RTX 4080 Super. L2 cache remains at 65MB.
Power draw has also increased, with the RTX 5080 sporting a 360W TGP. This is something we focus on closely in this review, using our enhanced GPU power testing methodology, so read on for our most detailed power and efficiency testing yet.
Ever since the idea was popularised by Fortnite, we’ve seen Call of Duty feature many different crossovers across its recent entries. Curiously, according to one insider, 2023’s Modern Warfare III was going to have a pretty substantial collab with Halo, including full-on maps and more.
As shared by known Call of Duty leaker The Ghost of Hope, “Sledgehammer Games had plans to do a huge collaboration with Halo with Modern Warfare III which would have added various maps from the Halo franchise.”
COD’s previous crossovers have been somewhat hit-or-miss, but the idea of Call of Duty and Halo collabing would have broken online forums back in the day.
Why this crossover ultimately didn’t happen was not shared, however given the relatively turbulent development of MWIII, its cancellation is perhaps not too surprising.
It’ll be interesting to see whether they have another stab at it for Black Ops 6.
KitGuru says: Would you have welcomed such a crossover? What maps would you have wanted to be added? Could this collab happen sometime during Black Ops 6 instead? Let us know your thoughts down below.
DLSS Swapper, a handy tool for those who want to update the DLSS version running in their games, now also allows users to do the same for AMD FSR 3.1 Intel XeSS.
DLSS Swapper allows gamers to manually update the DLSS libraries in games, often to newer versions with improved image quality or performance. This is particularly useful for titles that are no longer supported by their developers and might be stuck with older, less efficient versions of DLSS. Recognising the value of this functionality, Nvidia is bringing it to the Nvidia App, eliminating the need for third-party tools and making the process more accessible to a broader audience.
While this might seem like the end of the road for DLSS Swapper, the developer has been busy adding new features to keep it relevant. Despite its name, DLSS Swapper now supports updating AMD's FSR 3.1 and Intel's XeSS upscaling libraries, offering a centralised solution for managing various upscaling technologies.
Updating the DLL files of the super-resolution technology used in games is quite useful for gamers who like to tinker with their games and optimise their experience. However, it's important to note that modifying game files can be risky, especially for online games. Altering game files could be interpreted as cheating or lead to compatibility issues, so proceed with caution and ensure you understand the potential risks.
KitGuru says: Do you use DLSS Swapper? Will you keep using it, or will you replace it once the Nvidia App allows you to update the DLSS version of your own games?
Late last year, Capcom hosted a beta for their upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds – amassing more than half a million concurrent players on Steam alone. With the game just one month out from release, it seems the hype has reached an all-time high, as Monster Hunter Wilds has now become the most wishlisted upcoming game on the platform.
Going to Steam’s ‘most wishlisted’ section sees Capcom’s upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds sitting pretty in first place, overtaking the years long hype for Hollow Knight Silksong as well as Valve’s upcoming multiplayer project Deadlock. Rounding out the top 5 are Civilization VII and Elden Ring Nightreign.
Ever since the release of Monster Hunter World back in 2017, the franchise has quickly grown to become one of Capcom’s biggest, with the aforementioned World becoming the publisher's best selling game of all time at more than 20 million copies sold – and its follow-up ‘Rise’ taking second place with 16 million sales.
Given the ever-increasing hype and awareness for the Monster Hunter franchise, Capcom could have a record breaking hit on their hands when Wilds releases on the 28th of February.
Larian Studios had a bit of a struggle getting the highly popular Baldur’s Gate 3 to launch on Xbox due to parity requirements regarding the lower-powered Series S being unable to run the game in split-screen. As a result of the game’s overwhelming popularity, Microsoft made an exception, letting them finally launch on Xbox – albeit without split-screen functionality on Series S. Finally, over a year after its Xbox Series S debut, Baldur’s Gate 3 is getting Split-Screen support.
The stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 has now gone live, letting those who registered to try out its upcoming features early.
Alongside the likes of crossplay, 12 new subclasses and more, the long awaited Xbox Series S split-screen update is now available, with the team writing:
“Wanting to play multiplayer a little closer to home? Patch 8 will also bring split-screen to Xbox Series S consoles! If you’re joining the stress test from an Xbox, you’ll be able to try this out early. Register For The Patch 8 Stress Test.”
While Larian didn’t share any details on what compromises were made to get split-screen running on Series S, it won’t be long until players make their own side-by-side comparisons – and so hopefully we’ll learn more about the optimisations soon enough.
Ever since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, we’ve seen the console maker slowly but surely bring the publisher’s back-catalogue to its Game Pass subscription service. One title which has not yet made the jump is Blizzard’s World of Warcraft – though a recent email seemed to indicate its imminent addition. Unfortunately, this was apparently a mistake.
In a promotional email sent to Xbox users, Microsoft advertised the addition of World of Warcraft to Game Pass, prompting many to wonder whether this was an accidental leak or merely an error.
Unfortunately, the team confirmed it to be the latter, taking to Twitter to say “this was a mistake on our end sorry for the confusion! Blizzard's World of Warcraft was accidentally included in a game pass email even though it's not available with the service – a correction email will be sent to those who got the original email soon.”
Koei Tecmo has announced that its action RPG, Rise of the Ronin, will be slicing its way onto PC on March 11th, 2025. Prepare to embark on an epic journey through 19th-century Japan, where the fate of a nation hangs in the balance.
Developed by Team Ninja, the studio behind the Nioh and Ninja Gaiden series, Rise of the Ronin promises a sprawling open world, intense combat, and a captivating story set against the backdrop of a changing Japan. The PC version will feature improved visuals with support for up to 8K resolution, ultra-wide and super-wide displays, and frame rates up to 120 FPS. Ray tracing and 3D audio will further enhance the experience, while support for Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS upscaling technologies ensures smooth performance across various hardware configurations.
To experience this samurai epic, you'll need a capable PC. The minimum requirements include an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT GPU. This configuration will allow you to run the game at 1080p resolution with 30 FPS using the lowest graphical settings (upscaled). For a smoother and better visual experience at 1080p/60FPS with “standard” graphics settings (upscaled), Koei Tecmo recommends an Intel Core i5-10600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6700XT GPU.
The detailed system requirements can be found below:
MINIMUM
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11 64bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-10400 or better, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or better
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or better, AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (8 GB) or better
DirectX: Version 12
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 180 GB available space
Sound Card: 16-bit stereo with 48 KHz playback
Additional Notes: SSD required. Poor SSD performance may affect gameplay. Multi-channel memory architecture recommended. This game is expected to run at 1080p/30FPS under the lowest graphics settings (upscaled). Frame Generation can be used to increase FPS. Note: Windows 11 system requirements apply when using that OS.
RECOMMENDED
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11 64bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-10600K or better, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or better
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super (8 GB) or better, AMD Radeon RX 6700XT (12 GB) or better
DirectX: Version 12
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 180 GB available space
Sound Card: 16-bit stereo with 48 KHz playback
Additional Notes: SSD required, NVMe SSD recommended. Multi-channel memory architecture recommended. This game is expected to run at 1080p/60FPS under the standard graphics settings (upscaled). Frame Generation can be used to increase FPS. Note: Windows 11 system requirements apply when using that OS.
The game will be released on Steam on March 11th. Pre-purchase is already available for £39.99/$49.99/€49.99/€ 49.99, and it includes an Iga ninja's armour set and katana, as well as four combat styles.
KitGuru says: Are you planning to get Rise of the Ronin on Steam?
Following on from our recent review of the Corsair RM1000e, today we take a look at the 850 watt version in the new range – the RM850e. This is another fully modular power supply with native 12v-2×6 connectors to power the latest graphics cards. These are not the Corsair flagship models so they come with a more limited 7 year warranty.
There are three power supplies in this new range, a 750w, 850w and 1000w unit. The 1000W supply scored well in our testing and you missed that review then head over HERE.
UK prices from Corsair directly indicate that only £10 price difference exists between the 750 watt and 850 watt models, while the 1000W model is £35 more expensive. As we previously mentioned, all models have a 7 year warranty in place which falls some way from the leading 12 years on some of the platinum models we have reviewed lately. This is one of the tradeoffs when you move down a companies product stack but for most people it will be fine.
Key Features:
Fully Modular PSU: Reliable and efficient low-noise power supply with fully modular cabling, so you only have to connect the cables your system build needs.
Cybenetics Gold-Certified: Steady power output at up to 90% efficiency, ensuring lower power consumption and cooler temperatures.
Native 12V-2×6 Connector: Power the latest high-end graphics cards out of the box – no adapter needed.
Intel® ATX 3.1 Certified: Compliant with the ATX 3.1 power standard, supporting PCIe 5.1 platform withstands 2x transient power excursions from the GPU.
Embossed Cables with Low-Profile Combs: Sleek, ultra-flexible embossed cables look great and make and connecting the RMe a breeze, even in tight spaces.
Keeps Quiet: A 120mm rifle bearing fan with a specially calculated fan curve keeps fan noise down, even when operating at full load.
105°C-Rated Capacitors: Delivers steady, reliable power and dependable electrical performance.
Modern Standby Compatible: Extremely fast wake-from-sleep times and better low-load efficiency.
Zero RPM Fan Mode: For near-silent operation at lower loads.
The Right Fit: Compact 140mm-long casing ensures an easy fit in modern enthusiast PC cases.
Resonant LLC Topology with DC-to-DC Conversion: Provides clean, consistent power and ensures better energy-efficiency across a wide range of loads.
Seven-Year Warranty: Your guarantee of reliable operation for peace of mind through multiple builds.
With the Xbox Developer Direct recently taking place, Microsoft has officially kicked off its 2025 plans. While the likes of DOOM: The Dark Ages and South of Midnight saw release dates announced, many titles remain unconfirmed. According to one insider, Xbox fans can expect a ton more titles to be showcased this year – including Contraband and Clockwork Revolution.
In a report by known insider Tom Warren, Xbox looks set to have a “great year;” detailing some of the announcement and game release plans set to occur over the course of 2025.
According to Warren, alongside the previously-announced Xbox games slated for 2025, a number of high profile titles will be shown off and possibly released this year, including Gears of War E-Day which “I'd heard Microsoft was planning for” and the rumoured Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remake/Remaster, said to be “tentatively targeting a release in late spring or early summer 2025.”
Finally, Warren believes that the relatively elusive Contraband from Avalanche Studios and Clockwork Revolution from inXile Entertainment could be shown off during the inevitable Xbox Summer Showcase later this year.
Both Contraband and Clockwork Revolution have been cooking in the dev kitchen for quite some time, with the former being announced all the way back in 2021, and the latter in 2023 – and so hopefully when we do see them, a release date follows shortly.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft’s 2025 schedule so far? Which first-party game are you most looking forward to? Could Contraband / Clockwork Revolution release some time this year? Let us know your thoughts down below.
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