Earlier this week, we learned more about Microsoft's plans for an Xbox handheld. Rather than building a bespoke device itself, Microsoft is partnering up with an OEM to produce an Xbox-licensed handheld. While initially we didn't know which OEM Microsoft has teamed up with, that has now changed.
According to The Verge, Microsoft has opted to team up with ASUS for its Xbox-themed handheld. With that in mind, the device is expected to be similar to the currently available (and expensive) Asus ROG Ally. Microsoft previously revealed that it had been working with handheld makers like Lenovo and Asus to put together a version of Windows 11 more fit for gaming.
While we will see Xbox-licensed products like the upcoming Xbox handheld from Asus, Microsoft is still expected to be working on its own custom handheld in-house. Whether or not that product sees the light of day remains to be seen. Microsoft has cancelled multiple Xbox hardware projects in recent years, including the Xbox Keystone, a streaming device intended to turn any TV into an Xbox, with full access to Game Pass via Cloud Gaming.
Aside from upcoming handhelds, Microsoft is also currently working on its next-gen home console. The next Xbox is expected to arrive in 2027 and will be more ‘PC-like' and could end up featuring a SteamOS style setup with a gaming UI set as the default boot screen, with access to an advanced desktop view hidden away in the options somewhere.
KitGuru Says: If the Asus Xbox handheld is indeed real, then I don't expect it to compete with the Steam Deck on price and at that point, I'm not sure there's much of a market left.
Prior to its delays, Assassin's Creed Shadows wasn't going to be available on Steam at launch and the game was not going to be verified for the Steam Deck. Fortunately, the developers have put the last few months to good use. The game is now coming to Steam on day-one and today, we also learned that the game has been submitted for Steam Deck verification.
Previously, Ubisoft had ruled out Steam Deck verification for Assassin's Creed Shadows, as the game's minimum PC requirements were higher than what the Steam Deck offers. However, after diving into the files and tinkering around, Ubisoft has now announced that the game will support Steam Deck at launch.
As is the case with many modern AAA titles with realistic graphics, we don't expect Assassin's Creed Shadows to look particularly, and it will no doubt require FSR upscaling to achieve a playable 30FPS even with the lowest settings. FSR doesn't add much in the way of visuals when trying to upscale to 720p from sub-HD resolutions.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is launching worldwide on the 20th of March.
KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Assassin's Creed Shadows later this month?
Over the last couple of years, a recurring rumour has claimed that a remake of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is on the way. More has come to light on this remake in recent months, with sources claiming that the game has been completely rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5. Now, it seems that a surprise release is just around the corner.
According to two outlets, Nate the Hate and Video Games Chronicle, the Oblivion remake will be announced within weeks and will release well before the Summer. In fact, it is claimed that the game could release as early as April, so we could be looking at a very short wait between the reveal and eventual release date.
The Oblivion remake is reportedly being developed by Virtuos, a company that has primarily taken on support studio duties for the AAA games industry. Some notable franchises Virtuos has worked on include Call of Duty, Dark Souls, Bioshock, Uncharted, Tomb Raider and more. Virtuos is also working on the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.
With this being a remake of Oblivion in an entirely different engine, some areas of the game have seen extensive changes. According to MP1st, stamina, HUD elements and combat have all seen notable reworks, so expect something closer to Souls-like melee combat.
KitGuru Says: If gameplay has changed too much then my excitement for an Oblivion remake drastically reduces. Still, nothing has been announced yet so don't put too much stock into any early details.
Intel has appointed Lip-Bu Tan, former Cadence CEO and Intel board member, to lead the company as it navigates increasing losses within its foundry division.
This appointment follows Pat Gelsinger's recent departure as CEO, leaving a temporary leadership void filled by co-CEOs Michelle Johnston Holthaus and David Zinsner. Tan is expected to assume his new role on March 18th.
A prominent figure in the semiconductor industry, Tan brings a wealth of experience to Intel. He founded venture capital firm Walden Capital and has served on the boards of numerous technology companies, including SMIC, Flextronics, Mindtree, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ambarella, Schneider Electric, Inphi, Nuvia, and Softbank.
Tan's relationship with Intel is multifaceted. He served on the company's board of directors from 2022 until his resignation in 2024, shortly after Intel announced significant workforce reductions and cost-cutting measures. However, his resignation was officially attributed to personal reasons.
Tan is known for his successful leadership at Cadence Systems, where he oversaw a remarkable 3,200 percent increase in the company's share price during his decade-long tenure as CEO. Wall Street appears optimistic that he can replicate this success at Intel, as evidenced by a surge in the company's share price following the announcement. This positive reaction came after Intel's stock lost more than half its value the preceding year.
KitGuru says: Intel spent a lot of money setting up its Foundry Services business. Recent reports indicate that Intel 18A, the first Intel node to be offered to outside customers, is just around the corner.
There weren't a lot of MMOs trying to compete with WoW throughout the 2010s and the ones that did try ultimately ended up shutting down. One MMO that falls into this category is Defiance, an ambitious project that was supposed to share cross-promotional elements with a TV series by the same name. Ultimately, the show was cancelled and the MMO servers went offline, but a comeback appears to be just around the corner.
Defiance first launched back in 2013 and featured some of the same characters that appeared in the show. However, outside of a few familiar faces, there was very little tying the two projects together. As a result, when the Defiance TV series was cancelled in 2015, the game was not put in jeopardy. Instead, it rebranded as Defiance 2050 and continued operating through to 2021, when the servers were finally taken offline.
Now, the independent studio and publisher, Fawkes, has acquired the rights to both Defiance (2013) and Defiance 2050, with plans to bring the MMO back online, starting in April this year.
Fawkes identified a passionate community around Defiance as its core reasoning for bringing the game back. Many fans still discuss this game in forum threads and YouTube videos about the game are still popular now, even years after the game going offline.
As Fawkes looks to revive Defiance, it has set up a Discord channel for gathering feedback on future game updates. If you are a Defiance fan, be sure to join the Discord to find groups to play with once the game returns, and to share ideas on what changes could be made to bring the game up to 2025 standards.
KitGuru Says: Did you play Defiance at all back when it first came out? Would you be interested in seeing the MMO return for good?
GDC is kicking off and as is the case every year, Nvidia has more than a few announcements ready to go. The big news this year? RTX Remix is officially launching, complete with support for DLSS 4 and RTX Neural Shaders, enabling developers to bring ray-traced effects to classic DX8 and DX9 based games.
At this point, Nvidia's research shows that 90% of RTX GPU users utilise features like DLSS, ray-traced graphics and Nvidia Reflex. At this point, over 100 games and apps support the latest version of DLSS, DLSS 4, which brings Multi Frame Generation to the table, while hundreds of other titles support DLSS 3 or older versions. Support for frame generation and super resolution technologies has seen an uptick across the games industry, with some modern titles even factoring in ‘Frame Generation' capabilities when putting together minimum and recommended hardware requirements for new PC games.
We are unlikely to see support for DLSS drop off amongst game developers anytime soon, as Nvidia also claims it has shipped more RTX 50 series GPUs in the last few months than it did when RTX 40 series GPUs first launched back in 2022.
Here are some of the rapid-fire announcements from Nvidia at GDC:
RTX Remix is now officially available to all aspiring modders looking to freshen up old titles. The first major showcase of this tookit is Half-Life 2 RTX, with a free demo launching on Steam next week.
Nvidia ACE plugins now updated for Maya and Unreal Engine to further enhance game development with AI tools.
Interestingly, while the demo for Half-Life 2 RTX is being made available this month, complete with the first two levels of the game, a date for the full release has not yet been shared.
KitGuru Says: Nvidia's AI game development tools are gaining traction. It will be interesting to see if ACE-powered NPCs in a game like Naraka: Bladepoint can be easily differentiated from a typical NPC. For me though, Half-Life 2 RTX is the big announcement here and after years of teasing, I'm looking forward to finally diving in.
HBO’s The Last of Us was a huge hit when it released back in early 2023, amassing 10s of millions of viewers and winning a ton of awards. With the show’s second season set to premiere in almost exactly a month, HBO/MAX have released the first official full-length trailer – with it raking in over 150 million views in just 72 hours.
As reported by TheWrap, the recently-released ‘official trailer’ for HBO’s The Last of Us season 2 has garnered a ton of interest across the board.
According to the publication, in the first 3 days since its release the trailer has managed to surpass 158 million views across all the various social media platforms.
Given the fact that Season 1 ended up seeing an average of 32 million viewers per episode in the US alone, it’s safe to say that Season 2 is set to be huge for both Sony and HBO.
KitGuru says: Did you watch the trailer? Are you ready for The Last of Us Season 2? Will episode 1 break viewership records? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Back in 2022, EA officially announced that they were reviving the long-dormant Skate franchise. With the game planned to launch some time this year, the team have been hosting a bunch of closed alpha tests. In a not-so-surprising move, despite being in an alpha state, EA has now added microtransactions into Skate.
As reported by Insider-Gaming, EA recently sent a message to all the early alpha testers in which they announced the introduction of microtransactions into Skate – with it reading as follows:
“To ensure we achieve these goals at Early Access we have enabled the option to purchase and use virtual currency (San Van Bucks) in our ongoing Closed Alpha playtest. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated in providing a great experience at Early Access launch.”
To be somewhat fair to EA, Skate is planned to be a free-to-play title upon its full release, and so it would expectantly include microtransactions.
That said, even if this is being used to test the stability of the service, it is somewhat of a bad look to feature such monetisation during Skate’s pre-released state.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest move by EA? Is it anything to be worried about? Could a free-to-play format work well? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Since its release back in 2020, Microsoft’s Flight Simulator has seen a great number of updates on a consistent basis. Marking the 19th major world update, Microsoft Flight Simulator (and its 2024 sequel) are revamping a number of regions including Brazil, Guyana and more.
Making the announcement on their blog, the team at Asobo Studios officially unveiled World Update XIX, writing, “This long awaited and oft-requested Microsoft Flight Simulator: World Update XIX is filled with excitement and beauty that enhances over half the land mass of South America with its coverage of Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.”
As always, these refreshed regions are accompanied by a bunch of further additional content, with Update XIX bringing:
75 points of interest
4 TIN Cities
7 Airports
3 Discovery flights
3 landing challenges
3 bush trips (MSFS)
Alongside the above (which is available right now), 2024’s Microsoft Flight Simulator in particular is set to get a couple unique additions on the 17th of March, namely:
New helicopter landing challenge
New Rally Race
New low-altitude challenge
Given the scope of Microsoft Flight Simulator it is understandably frustrating to have to wait potentially years to see your country properly represented in the game. That said, it is nice to see the team continue to build upon MSFS – making it as accurate a representation of the full world as we are likely to have for many years.
KitGuru says: Will you be hopping back into Flight Simulator? What regions are you still waiting to get updated? Let us know down below.
Each month, Sony updates its PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium libraries with a line-up of current and classic titles. For March, Sony is adding a solid dozen titles including the OG Armored Core trilogy.
Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy | PS4, PS5
Arcade Paradise | PS4, PS5
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles | PS4, PS5
You Suck at Parking | PS4, PS5
Syberia – The World Before | PS4, PS5
PlayStation Plus Premium:
Arcade Paradise VR | PS VR2
Armored Core | PS4, PS5
Armored Core: Project Phantasma | PS4, PS5
Armored Core: Master of Arena | PS4, PS5
While the Extra tier sees a bunch of welcome additions including the underrated Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and the nostalgia-filled Arcade Paradise, the Armored Core trilogy is easily this month’s biggest draw.
Announced back in February, these additions mark the first time in a long time that FromSoftware’s original mecha games have been made available.
While PlayStation’s PS1/2 emulation leaves quite a bit to be desired, these inclusions are more than welcome nonetheless.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this month’s additions? Which games will you be hopping into? Did you check Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown out back when it first released? Let us know down below.
Corsair is bringing its popular Custom Lab service to Europe, allowing gamers to create personalised peripherals that reflect their style. Corsair Custom Lab offers a one-stop shop for creating custom gear, allowing users to express themselves through mice, keyboards, and mousepads, with plans to expand the product offerings.
Corsair Custom Lab allows customers to personalise the appearance of gaming peripherals, enabling them to curate a workspace aesthetic that is uniquely their own. Users can select from various colours and themes, ranging from retro gaming designs to futuristic graphics, giving them a canvas for self-expression.
The K65 Plus Wireless gaming keyboard, the M75 Wireless gaming mouse, and the MM300 mousepad are the first products available through Custom Lab in Europe, but expect more to come. Corsair Custom Lab will be accessible through all EU Corsair webstores, with keyboard layouts for North America, the UK, Germany, and France available at launch.
The Corsair Custom Lab platform is now live on Corsair websites in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Poland. Artist series selections currently available on the US website will be offered to EU customers at a later date.
KitGuru says: Corsair's Custom Lab is a nice option for users who want to avoid the hassle of customising keyboards or searching for specific parts in various stores. However, that comes at a price, literally.
BlizzCon is coming back in 2026! The ultimate celebration of Blizzard's games and the vibrant community that unites players will again grace the Anaheim Convention Center on September 12th and 13th, 2026.
BlizzCon is a cherished tradition for Blizzard and its fans. For many, it goes beyond simply showcasing games. It's where fans celebrate their shared passion for Blizzard's universes. Since its inaugural event in 2005, BlizzCon has been a staple for fans of its work. Now, nearly 20 years later, Blizzard aims to elevate this iconic event to new heights.
After skipping 2024 and 2025 (Blizzard confirmed we wouldn't get one this year), BlizzCon is returning in 2026. Blizzard plans to deliver an exceptional experience for all attendees, building upon BlizzCon traditions such as the Opening Ceremony, in-depth panels, the Darkmoon Faire, friendly competition, and hands-on gameplay.
Expect to learn more details between now and the event's date. Users can always subscribe to BlizzCon's newsletter to be notified when tickets go on sale and receive access to BlizzCon news, special offers, and announcements.
Moon Studios' critically acclaimed Ori series has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 15 million copies sold across Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Thomas Mahler, the series' director, celebrated this achievement on social media, noting that it's “not too shabby” for a genre that many considered dead when development of the first game started. Funny enough, Steam now receives new metroidvania games every week or so, and in part, that could be explained by how Ori revitalised the genre.
Adding to this accomplishment, Mahler revealed that these sales figures do not include players who experienced the games through Xbox Game Pass. As such, the game has likely been played by well over the 15 million players who've bought it.
In other news, Moon Studios has announced its independence following months of negotiations with what remains of Private Division. The studio is now focusing on its action RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, which is currently in early access. The announcement was made during a recent Wicked Inside Showcase, where the studio revealed what's coming to its latest game.
The studio unveiled the game's upcoming update, “The Breach,” scheduled for release on April 30th, 2025. This update will introduce new content, including new regions like the Lowland Meadows and Marin Woods, weapon archetypes such as Gauntlets and Wands, and various cosmetic and performance enhancements. The update also focuses on replayability, implementing QoL improvements like direct teleportation to your house, an enhanced storage system, and a Hardcore mode.
Ever since the release of Palit's RTX 4090 GameRock, I've been waiting to see what the company would do next, and today we finally get our answer. That's because we're reviewing the RTX 5090 GameRock, featuring a bold, eye-catching design and a fat – effectively quad-slot – cooler. Concerns around pricing and availability remain just as pressing as they did when the RTX 5090 first launched, but what can this partner card bring to the table?
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:44 5090 pricing/availability – no pre-orders at all
01:21 GameRock design impressions
03:10 PCB and heatsink analysis
04:25 Test setup
04:52 Thermals and noise
06:05 Game benchmarks
06:51 Power – 12VHPWR is a huge concern
10:07 Overclocking
10:50 Closing thoughts
I remember the first time I opened the box of the last-gen Palit RTX 4090 GameRock and couldn't quite believe my eyes. The shroud was almost entirely covered in a crystal-like plastic, and once the system turned on, the RGB lighting was like nothing I'd ever seen before.
Following up something like that can often be tricky, but Palit has gone for what it describes as a ‘chameleon' aesthetic with the RTX 5090 GameRock. It's still incredibly eye-catching, but we take a closer look at the design on the next page.
It's also worth pointing out that I was sent the regular GameRock, rather than the GameRock OC, so my sample ships without a factory overclock – i.e. at reference spec.
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. The RTX 5090 is built on the new GB202 die, measuring 750mm2, though it's not quite a full implementation of the silicon. Instead we find a total of 11 Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each holding up to eight Texture Processing Clusters (TPCs), for a total of 85. Each TPC is home to two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), giving us 170, and each SM still holds 128 CUDA Cores, meaning the RTX 5090 has an eye-watering total of 21760 shaders. We also find 170 RT cores, 680 Tensor cores, 680 Texture Units, and 176 ROPs.
This time around, however, there's no node-shrink, and GB202 remains fabricated on TSMC's N4 node, as per the RTX 40-series. As such, rated clock speed is not increased this generation and is actually touted slightly below that of the RTX 4090, with the RTX 5090 delivering a rated 2407MHz boost clock, compared to its predecessor's 2520MHz boost.
The memory configuration has seen significant upgrades, though. The RTX 5090 now comes equipped with a super-wide 512-bit memory interface, paired with 32GB GDDR7 memory running at 28Gbps, and that puts total memory bandwidth at a staggering 1792 GB/s. L2 cache is also increased to 98MB, up from the 74MB of the RTX 4090.
Considering the large increases to die size and core count, but with no node shrink, it's perhaps unsurprising to see power draw has increased, this time boasting a 575W 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.
For well over a decade LEGO has had a strong relationship with TT Games, letting the studio use its IP to craft co-op focused LEGO titles across a range of franchises. Despite this, the company has now announced that it’s gearing up to build its own internal game dev studios.
“We can definitely say as long as we're under the Lego brand we can cover experiences for kids of all ages, digital or physical. [Games development in-house] is something we're building up.”
This comes in the wake of a number of major moves made by the company in recent years across the video games space.
Alongside a reduction in the number of TT Games developed LEGO titles, the company has partnered with Epic for a Fortnite spin-off as well as Sony for LEGO Horizon Adventures.
Given the success they have seen with such partnerships, it is interesting to hear that the company plans to get into video game development directly. Hopefully this doesn’t end with studio closures and mass lay-offs. We will simply have to wait and see.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Should the company stick to partnering with others? What would you want to see done differently for these internal titles? Let us know down below.
Apple Arcade was created with the intention to bring wider awareness to the many great video games available on mobile platforms. With a monthly subscription, iOS users can get their hands on a range of interesting and unique games, all of which are free from microtransactions. Following the last major update, the service is set to get 6 new titles next month, including a new Katamari.
Making the announcement on their blog, the Arcade team at Apple wrote: “Six fun games and exciting updates for Apple Arcade are launching over the next month.”
Set to go go live on the 3rd of April, the full line-up of new titles is as follows:
Easily the biggest upcoming addition is that of Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE. The first new entry in almost a decade, this Apple Arcade exclusive takes the classic Katamari format and adds a twist, having players:
“energize the king’s ‘live stream’ by rolling their Katamari to create stars. As users advance, comments from in-game fans appear, and the longer they play, the larger their audience grows. By completing the king’s challenges and boosting their subscriber count, players can unlock dynamic new stages.”
Fortunately for fans of the series, you might not need to purchase an Apple device in order to get a new taste of the King of all Cosmos, as Bandai Namco recently trademarked the name ‘Once Upon a KATAMARI’ – suggesting more games are in the works. Regardless, it is exciting to see the series finally rise from its slumber.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the line-up? Will you check out Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE? What Apple Arcade exclusive has been your favourite so far? Let us know down below.
During Sony’s State of Play last September, the console manufacturer announced that the highly successful HITMAN World of Assassination Trilogy would be coming to PlayStation VR2 in December 2024. Following a slight delay, the game is finally ready for deployment, with the game set to come to PSVR2 later this month.
Announced during the VR Games Showcase, IO Interactive offered fans another look at HITMAN World of Assassination running on PSVR2. Set to launch on the 27th of March, this PSVR2 port won’t be free, however will be relatively cheap at just £8.99 for current owners of the flat-screen version.
Fans of this trilogy might remember the previous VR port made for the OG PSVR / PS4. Given its rather rudimentary hardware, the experience was far from perfect. Fortunately, this new release looks to be significantly more comprehensive, featuring “dual-wielding, full ambidexterity, room-scale implementation, as well as general improved VR experience through new intuitive controls and gameplay mechanics.”
Beyond this, the port also adds “the possibility of performing actions with both controllers at the same time, active reloading, on-body weapon holstering, aiming through the sniper’s scope, and manual interactions to take disguises,” alongside “spatial interactions to touch, grab, and position, integration of the PlayStation VR2 controllers’ adaptative triggers, and many more.”
This marks the 3rd attempt at a VR port for HITMAN, following the aforementioned PSVR1 version and the more recent Meta Quest release. That said, hopefully IOI have managed to hit the nail on its head this time. 3rd time lucky and all that.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to this PSVR2 port? Have you tried any of the other VR Hitman experiences? Could this be a system seller if done right? Let us know down below.
According to kopite7kimi (via videocardz), all three cards will use the same PG152 board design, which apparently supports two distinct GPUs (GB206 and GB207) and two memory types (GDDR6 and GDDR7). This suggests a unified platform, potentially streamlining production and reducing costs.
As predicted, the RTX 5060 non-Ti appears to be a slightly less powerful variant of the 5060 Ti. It features 3,840 CUDA cores, approximately 25% more than the RTX 4060, a higher 150W TGP, 35W more than its predecessor, and 8 GB of GDDR7 memory across a 128-bit memory bus. While clock speeds remain undisclosed, the core count increase, faster VRAM, and TGP difference suggest a decent performance uplift, at least more than the rest of the RTX 50 series brought compared to its RTX 40 series counterparts.
Nvidia is reportedly planning to announce the RTX 5060 alongside the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5050 next week. These cards are expected to become available starting in April, but we're unsure if they'll all be released simultaneously.
KitGuru says: Of all three reportedly upcoming Nvidia RTX 50 series cards, which one looks the most interesting to you?
Microsoft has been rumoured to be working on a gaming handheld for decades. Even back during the days of the Xbox 360, there were rumours of an Xbox-style PSP or GameBoy style system. With handhelds now able to offer enough power to run even current-generation games, Microsoft finally looks to be jumping on the bandwagon.
According to WindowsCentral, Microsoft is working on an Xbox companion handheld device to cap off the Xbox Series X/S generation. In collaboration with an unnamed OEM partner, this Xbox handheld is being developed under the codename ‘Keenan' and it should launch before the end of this year.
The handheld will run Windows 11, like several other handhelds already on the market, but with new ‘device aware' features that allow the OS to shift UI formats based on whether you're using a handheld, laptop or desktop. Think of it similarly to how the Steam Deck launches with the Big Picture UI, but you can opt to switch to desktop mode for more advanced tasks.
The handheld would be the last major hardware release of the Xbox Series X/S generation, as Microsoft is also reportedly moving ahead with plans to ship a new-gen Xbox console in 2027.
KitGuru Says: The issue I have with this strategy if that going via the OEM route almost always leads to increased costs. If the handheld can't compete with the Steam Deck on price, then I don't see any chance for widespread success.
Konami's big Silent Hill revival has been a success thanks to Blooper Team's highly rated remake of Silent Hill 2. Now, Konami is gearing up to announce the next game in the franchise.
Silent Hill F was first teased back in 2022, but Konami has revealed little else about it since. That will change during the stream on March 13th, as we'll get a fresh look at the game and its “completely new story set in 1960s Japan”.
Silent Hill F is being developed by Neoboards Entertainment, which previously worked on Resident Evil Resistance and RE:Verse. Blooper Team has also confirmed plans to work with Konami again on a new game in the future.
KitGuru Says: Following on from last year's remake, are you looking forward to seeing all-new Silent Hill games?
ZA/UM Studio made a name for itself years back with Disco Elysium, but we've heard very little from the studio since. It looks like 2025 is set to be another big year for the company, as their next game has now finally been revealed under the codename ‘Project C4'.
Project C4 is described as a “mind-warping espionage RPG that blends player introspection, deep character-driven dialogue and high-stakes encounters”. Based on that description, it will feature similar gameplay to Disco Elysium, where much of the game centres around character conversations, dialogue options made, dice rolls for skill checks and multiple outcomes to explore.
While the game may also borrow a lot of inspiration from Disco Elysium, it is worth noting that many of the leads on that game no longer work at ZA/UM Studio. Back in 2022, Disco Elysium's game director and art director left the company following a slew of firings and formed a new studio.
There is no word on when Project C4 will release but we expect to learn more about the game later this year.
KitGuru Says: Hopefully whatever behind-the-scenes issues took place following the release of Disco Elysium have been resolved. After all, an Espionage RPG in a similar style to Disco Elysium could end up being a huge hit.
Sapphire has unveiled its new Edge+ VPR-5050 Series mini-ITX motherboards for edge computing and industrial AI applications. These platforms, the Edge+ VPR-5050-MB and Edge+ VPR-5050A-MB, leverage AMD's Embedded+ architecture, combining the power of Ryzen Embedded V2748 processors with Versal AI Edge VE2302 adaptive SoCs.
The Edge+ VPR-5050 series provides a scalable and high-performance computing platform, reducing development cycles and accelerating time-to-market for advanced embedded systems. These motherboards are ideally suited for various applications, including AI-driven industrial control, smart security and AI vision, autonomous mobile robotics, medical imaging and surgery, and embedded PC applications. Both models are optimised for power efficiency, with AI acceleration capabilities starting at just 30W.
The cornerstone of the Edge+ VPR-5050 Series is AMD Embedded+, a hybrid architecture that integrates high-performance x86 processing with adaptive AI acceleration. This combination enables real-time sensor data processing, low-latency AI inference, robust industrial networking, and precise control applications.
The Edge+ VPR-5050-MB is designed for AI-driven industrial control and real-time sensor fusion. It features the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 Processor, powered by “Zen” cores and Radeon graphics, and 8 GB of memory. The AMD Versal AI Edge VE2302 Adaptive SoC facilitates low-latency AI inference and deterministic sensor processing. Connectivity options include 2.5 Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen2, SATA3, RS232/422/485, and GPIO, ensuring seamless integration into industrial environments. The motherboard also supports M.2 storage, M.2 WiFi/BT, and PCIe x8 expansion, allowing for flexible customisation.
The Edge+ VPR-5050A-MB builds upon the foundation of the VPR-5050-MB, catering to applications requiring more complex embedded software topologies. It has dual 10/25 Gb Ethernet and 16 GPIO for high-speed industrial connectivity and enhanced sensor support via programmable I/O. The Versal AI Edge device now features 64 GB of eMMC storage and 16 GB of RAM. A dedicated USB connector is provided for direct IO, and an auto-IO board with Octo GMSL2, Dual GbE, and Dual CAN bus interfaces further expands its capabilities.
Optional plugin expansion boards are also available for customised industrial, AI vision, and automation applications. The Sapphire Edge+ VPR-5050-MB and VPR-5050A-MB are now available for developers and OEMs.
KitGuru says: Embedded solutions are becoming more capable, and the new Sapphire Edge+ VPR-5050 series boards are no exception.
Hazelight Studios has amassed a reputation over the past years for its dedication to creating new and unique co-op experiences. So far, this seems to be working out, with each successive game selling millions more than the last. While it’s too early to tell whether it can surpass its predecessor, the recently-released Split Fiction is already doing numbers – having sold over 1 million copies in just two days.
Making the announcement on BlueSky, the official Hazelight Studios page wrote: “SPLIT FICTION sold 1 MILLION units in its first 48 hours!!! The love you all show for our game is overwhelming! Everyone here at Hazelight are beyond happy – and we can’t stop enjoying your amazing reactions!”
Despite being published by EA, Hazelight Studios is a relatively small studio whose games operate on budgets far lower than the typical AAA release from the publisher, making its success even more notable.
As mentioned, Hazelight’s prior games sold incredibly well over the long-term, with 2018’s A Way Out and 2021’s It Takes Two selling 11 and 23 million copies respectively – doubly impressive when considering that you don’t need two copies to play together.
With Split Fiction being not only the highest rated game by Hazelight, but currently sitting as the highest rated title of 2025, we’ll likely see the game break milestone sales on a rather consistent basis over the coming months.
Prior to its release on the Xbox Series X|S last year, Microsoft confirmed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would also be swinging its way onto PS5 in 2025. A couple weeks ago, leakers narrowed down the release window to sometime in April. Now, we seem to have a concrete release date alongside pre-order details.
As reported by known industry insider Billbil-kun via Dealabs, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to come to PS5 on the 17th of April – though as Microsoft has made a habit of – ‘Advanced AAAccess’ players will get it a couple days early.
Beyond this, pre-orders are reportedly planned to go live on the 25th of March and will be offered in two forms: a £70 Standard Edition and a £100 Premium Edition.
Given the fact that Indiana Jones originally released last year, it is a bit surprising to see Microsoft charging full price while also offering advanced access for premium buyers.
Then again, with the upcoming Forza Horizon 5 priced at £55 despite first launching in 2021, the price is to be expected.
KitGuru says: Which of the upcoming Microsoft PS5 games are you most excited for? Are the prices fair? What’s your opinion on Advanced Access? Let us know down below.
Early benchmarks are promising for AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with the 16-core CPU reportedly topping the PassMark multi-threaded charts. A single benchmark run has yielded a score of 69,702 points, placing it 10% ahead of the previous-generation 7950X3D and 5% ahead of its non-3D V-Cache counterpart in multi-threaded performance.
Note that these results are based on a single benchmark run compared to the hundreds of data points typically used for comprehensive analysis. RAM configuration and overclocking or PBO could significantly influence these scores. Nevertheless, this initial result shared by @x86deadandback suggests that the 16-core 9950X3D is currently leading the pack among flagship consumer CPUs, outperforming the 7950X3D, 9950X, and Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K. This 170W CPU, armed with 16 Zen 4 cores and second-generation 3D V-Cache, is set to launch in three days.
Analysing the 9950X3D's single-threaded performance reveals near-identical scores to the 9950X, indicating that the addition of 3D V-Cache doesn't compromise single-threaded speed. Both CPUs share the same core count, peak boost frequency, and 170W TDP. The key difference lies in the 9950X3D's usage of 3D V-Cache on one of its chipsets.
AMD recently confirmed the 9950X3D's $699 price tag, representing a $100 premium over the 9950X's launch price. Alongside it, AMD will also release the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. Both processors are expected to release on March 12th
Recently it was claimed that next year's Call of Duty is already in development for the next-gen Xbox. However, a reliable source has now rebuked this claim, as the next generation Xbox hardware is being planned for 2027 and no development kits exist yet.
According to Microsoft-focused reporter, Jez Corden, the next generation Xbox will be with us in 2027 and currently, development kits do not exist. In a recent podcast, Corden also shed some light on the concept behind Microsoft's future console.
“The whole idea of the next Xbox is that it's going to be a PC in essence but with a TV friendly shell that also has a specific set of specs in mind”, Corden said. He adds that this will mean that developers will be developing for a Windows PC in a way.
Microsoft's next-generation Xbox will need to focus on being a more open platform, as the company has opted to move away from exclusive games entirely.
Prior to being acquired by Sony, Insomniac had signed a deal with Oculus to bring three VR games to the Oculus Rift headset. These games were later made compatible with the Meta Quest headsets but all of Insomniac's VR titles mysteriously disappeared from the store a few years back. Now after a lengthy hiatus, they are finally becoming available again.
Insomniac's VR classics, Edge of Nowhere, Stormland and Feral Rites, are now available on Meta Quest devices once again. Insomniac is also working on bringing back its fourth VR title, The Unspoken.
There was no reason given for the initial removal for any of these titles. What made the move particularly surprising was the fact that Meta did put money upfront to get these games made. Whatever the issue was, however, it appears to be resolved.
At SXSW this week, Kojima Productions made the most out of its panel appearance by debuting a new trailer for Death Stranding 2. Not only did we get a new look at the game, but a June 2025 release has also been confirmed.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will be releasing for PS5 on the 26th of June. Below you can watch the new 10-minute trailer, showcasing an extensive look at gameplay, as well as the upcoming Collector's Edition of the game.
Pre-orders for the game go live on the 17th of March. The Collector's Edition, which includes early access to the game starting on June 24th, ships in a fancy box, complete with a Magellan Man statue, a Dollman figurine, Art Cards and a letter from Hideo Kojima. Collector's Edition buyers will also unlock a selection of in-game items, as well as all pre-order bonus content.
While Death Stranding 2 is releasing for PS5 initially, the game is expected to come to PC eventually, and potentially Xbox too, as the original game just landed on Xbox consoles last year.
The Killing Floor series has grown from humble beginnings to becoming a massive and well-loved round-based co-op Zombie shooter – not too dissimilar to the likes of Call of Duty Zombies. After years of waiting, Killing Floor 3 was announced to be coming in March of this year. Unfortunately, the game has now been delayed to an unknown point “later” in 2025.
“Dear Killing Floor Fans, We've made the decision to postpone Killing Floor 3's launch to an undecided date later in 2025. After taking the time to gather and discuss feedback from our recent closed beta, we've realized that we missed the mark. Our goal isn't just to make Killing Floor 3 an ambitious step forward for the franchise, but also to maintain the core experience that you've come to know and love.”
They continued, “With the full support of our parent company Embracer Group, we're working together on a timeline to address many of the common issues players had during the beta, including performance/stability, Ul/UX, lighting, and weapon feel. While it's too early to say which fixes will be implemented by launch, we can confirm that an update allowing you to independently select your perk class and character is planned for post-release.”
As mentioned, Killing Floor 3’s beta received quite a mixed reception, with fan complaints ranging from the technical to creative. Given the overwhelming success and love for Killing Floor 2, it is encouraging to see the team willing to go back to the drawing board somewhat to ensure a more satisfying and successful launch.
That said, with Killing Floor 2 being almost 10 years old at this point, you’d think the team would have figured out long ago what it meant to be a successful and well-loved Killing Floor game. Hopefully the delay proves to be a wise move.
KitGuru says: Did you partake in the Killing Floor 3 beta? What did you think? How much extra time do you believe would be needed to fix all the issues? Let us know down below.
Each year, the Museum of Play hosts a vote in which the public can decide among a line-up of classics as to which titles will wind up joining the video game hall of fame. For 2025, 12 titles have made the shortlist, including the likes of COD4: Modern Warfare; Angry Birds; Frogger and more.
Available to vote on from now until the 13th of March, the nominees for the 2025 video game hall of fame are as follows:
Age of Empires
Angry Birds
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Defender
Frogger
Golden Eye
Golden Tee
Harvest Moon
Mattel Football
Quake
NBA 2K
Tamagotchi
For the uninitiated, fans can vote for their favourite game once per day leading up until the 13th of March – at which point the top games will be officially inducted.
In its (relatively) short life, the video games industry has produced countless revolutionary and classic titles, and so it is welcome to have a program dedicated to celebrating games in this manner.
KitGuru says: What do you think of this year’s finalists? Which games would make your top 5? Which of the above would you deem an undeniable classic? Let us know down below.
New rumors claim that Nvidia's RTX 50 series lineup is getting an RTX 5050 SKU. This budget-oriented card could significantly expand the series' reach, offering gamers a more affordable entry point and an alternative to Intel's B500-series.
While we've previously talked about Zotac's EEC entries that mentioned the RTX 5050, this new report from Wccftech includes a few more details than just the name. Examining Nvidia's Blackwell GPU family lineup reveals five distinct GPUs, with the entry-level GB207 being the most likely candidate for the rumoured RTX 5050.
However, it's plausible that Nvidia could leverage the same board design for the RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 to further optimise production costs and simplify the manufacturing process. If so, the RTX 5050 could feature a cut-down GB206 GPU.
This report also mentions that the RTX 5050 is expected to be priced between $199 and $249 (£200-£250 with VAT included), placing it in direct competition with Intel's Arc B570/B580 GPUs. It's also rumoured to feature 8 GB of memory, though the type of memory and memory bus width remain unknown. Using GDDR6 memory would be a logical choice to keep costs down. Moreover, the 5050 should target a TDP of 135/145W. Like the RTX 5060 series, this GPU could also launch in April.
KitGuru says: Seeing Nvidia coming back to the xx50 GPUs in the desktop segment could motivate AMD to do the same.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing six million players just over three months after its release. This success is particularly noteworthy given the game's tumultuous development, which was marked by numerous delays and challenges faced by Ukrainian developer GSC Game World.
The long-awaited sequel, released in November 2024, is the fourth mainline entry in the STALKER series, arriving 15 years after 2009's Call of Pripyat. Players once again step into the boots of “stalkers”, exploring the atmospheric post-apocalyptic exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Various updates have been released since the game launched, squashing thousands of bugs and improving AI, balancing, optimisation, and various systems.
GSC Game World expressed its gratitude to the community for its support. The game's development was fraught with difficulties, including conflict, cyberattacks, and a devastating fire, leading to multiple delays. This milestone is a testament to the team's resilience and the enduring passion of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fans.
Players have praised the game's immersive atmosphere and gameplay, with many commenting on the feeling of returning to Pripyat. The community has also expressed excitement for the game's upcoming DLC and provided valuable feedback, including requests for a New Game Plus mode. GSC Game World previously announced it would share a content roadmap for the game, but nothing has been shown yet. While some details are still pending, this roadmap was supposed to include post-launch content, including a free PvP multiplayer mode and at least two paid DLC expansions.
KitGuru says: Have you already tried S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2? Does it stand on par with its predecessors?
New reports suggest that Nvidia is gearing up to announce the RTX 5060 series in the next two weeks, potentially as early as March 13th. While this date hasn't been officially confirmed, sources indicate that Nvidia has informed its board partners about the upcoming announcement.
Leaker MEGAsizeGPU has also reported that the reveal will occur within ten days, while VideoCardz points to March 13th. Nvidia has reportedly confirmed to its AIB partners that the GeForce RTX 5060 series will consist of three models: the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB, RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, and RTX 5060 (8 GB). The availability dates have not been shared yet, but MEGAsizeGPU claimed they'll be coming out in April.
Rumours suggest that the RTX 5060 Ti will have a 180W TDP, though it's unclear whether this applies to both the 16 GB and 8 GB variants. The 5060 Ti is expected to use either the GB205 GPU, a cut-down version of the chip powering the RTX 5070, or the GB206 GPU. The latter seems to be the likely candidate for the non-Ti RTX 5060, which is rumoured to feature 8 GB of GDDR6 memory.
While previous rumors pointed toward an April launch for the RTX 5060 series, it remains to be seen whether all three models will be released simultaneously or if Nvidia will opt for a separate release.
KitGuru says: Are you planning to upgrade your GPU with one of the upcoming RTX 5060 series GPUs? If so, which one were you planning on buying?
Early retail listings already tipped us off to a March 12th retail launch for the upcoming AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 9950X3D processors, but now, the company has made things official – complete with pricing details.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X3D processors will become available at stores starting on the 12th of March. The MSRP for these processors is set at $599 for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D and $699 for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
As the X3D in the name suggests, both of these high core-count processors utilise AMD's 3D V-Cache technology, which has proven very popular amongst gaming enthusiasts since its debut during the Ryzen 5000 generation.
Ryzen 9 9950X3D key specs include 16 cores and 32 threads, a boost clock speed of up to 5.7GHz, 144MB of cache and a 170W TDP. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D offers 12 cores and 24 threads instead.
Lossless Scaling, a popular third-party tool for upscaling and frame generation, has just received a significant update with the release of version 3.1 Beta. This new version introduces Adaptive Frame Generation (AFG), promising smoother frame pacing.
For those unfamiliar with Lossless Scaling, it's a paid tool that offers an alternative to native upscaling and frame generation technologies like DLSS and FSR, which developers typically integrate directly into games. While DLSS and FSR generally offer superior performance and image quality due to their game-specific optimisations, Lossless Scaling caters to titles that lack native support for these technologies.
Lossless Scaling's latest update (via Reddit) introduces Adaptive Frame Generation, a feature designed to dynamically adjust frame generation multipliers to maintain a target framerate. Instead of generating a fixed number of frames, AFG only generates the number of frames needed to achieve an FPS target. The developer notes that with AFG, GPU load may increase, and image quality may be slightly lower than with fixed multiplier mode enabled.
This approach contrasts with Nvidia's recently released Smooth Motion technology and AMD's Fluid Motion Frames, both of which operate at the driver level and typically utilise fixed frame generation multipliers. The latter, however, will soon be updated to version 2.1, which could introduce new features.
KitGuru says: Have you ever tried Lossless Scaling? While it remains a paid tool, the ability to purchase it on Steam with the option for a refund provides a degree of reassurance for those who are curious to try it out.
Microsoft is giving its AI-powered Copilot app for Windows 11 a major makeover, shifting from a web-based approach to a fully native experience. The redesigned Copilot app, currently in preview for Windows Insiders, features a modern UI that aligns with Windows 11's design language, with enhanced visuals like mica blur effects, integrated context menus, and a streamlined sidebar for managing chat sessions.
The app's core functionality remains unchanged. Users can still engage in text chats, use Copilot Voice, and access previous conversations. However, as Windows Central notes, the redesign brings enhanced aesthetics and improved usability. Built on Microsoft's native UI framework, the new Copilot delivers faster startup times and smoother interactions, offering a more seamless and visually consistent experience.
A dedicated “new chat” button and a new sidebar streamline navigation and encourage more frequent use of Copilot's AI capabilities. The update also retains other settings, such as launching Copilot at startup and activating it with the Alt+Spacebar shortcut.
This move towards a native experience follows last week's surprise release of a native Copilot app for macOS, which surprised many, considering Microsoft's historical focus on the Windows ecosystem. As things stand, it seems Microsoft is embracing a new strategy that focuses on providing a more consistent Copilot experience across different operating systems. The preview version (1.25023.106.0) is available through the Microsoft Store, and Windows Insiders are encouraged to explore the redesigned app and provide feedback. A public release is expected, but a release date hasn't been shared yet.
Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us is set to premiere in just over a month’s time on the 13th of April. In anticipation of this, Sony has now announced a Last of Us themed PS5 DualSense controller – available just in time for the impending influx of new fans.
“We were excited by the chance to memorialize The Last of Us franchise in a controller that fans and our own team would love. We wanted to ensure that both installments of The Last of Us are represented, via trophy icons printed in black gloss across the controller body.”
They continued, “Among the trophies, three particular images will immediately stand out for TLOU fans: The firefly, moth, and wolf. Players will recognize the Fireflies’ iconic spray-painted logo that originated in Part I, while the moth and wolf represent the intertwining lives and duality between Ellie and Abby in Part II.“
Set to launch on the 10th of April, the controller will be a limited edition release and as such will be slightly more costly than the standard DualSense – going for £74.99 instead of £64.99 (or £69.99 for more exciting colour variants).
With The Last of Us Part II coming to PC on the 3rd of April; the DualSense on the 10th and episode 1 of Season 2 on the 13th, TLOU fans will have plenty to enjoy next month.
Following on from yesterday's report about a Dutch retailer informing customers of an MSI RTX 5090 recall, MSI has responded, denying that any recall is in progress and sharing a list of authorised resellers.
Here is the statement in full:
“We had the unpleasant surprise of learning on 03/06/2025, through an article on the Kitguru website, that a Dutch retailer—UW GAME SPECIALIST [https://uwgamespecialist.nl/]—allegedly informed a customer that they were unable to fulfill their order because 5 Geforce RTX 5090 32G Suprim SOC from our brand had supposedly been recalled due to a fire hazard. With this statement, we would like to make it clear that these allegations are absolutely false, that no recall program is in progress, and that our products present no such risk. Furthermore, we would like to specify that this retailer is not one of MSI’s partners, and we do not work with them. We reserve the right to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for these highly defamatory allegations, which harm our brand’s reputation, as well as against anyone contributing to their dissemination”.
Below is a list of authorised MSI resellers offering GPUs throughout the Benelux region:
KitGuru Says: If you are looking to buy an RTX 5090, make sure you check the list of authorised etailers. Above, you can find the list of MSI's authorised resale partners.
Each month, those who are subscribed to Amazon Prime are able to acquire a wide range of ‘free’ games as part of the company’s Prime Gaming initiative. Over the course of March, subscribers will be able to claim 20 different titles, including but not limited to Mafia II; Saints Row: The Third and Mortal Shell.
While it would be preferable that all of the games given away were made available through a single platform, it is still welcome to see Amazon continuing to give subscribers a massive pool of titles to obtain and play every single month.
KitGuru says: Are you subscribed to Amazon Prime? Do you like the current system or would you rather they offer fewer-but-higher-quality games? Let us know down below.
Nacon recently held its Connect showcase where the publisher announced and detailed a ton of titles, both known and unknown quantities. One of the most exciting games to come from the showcase was the unveiling of RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business; a standalone expansion launching this Summer.
Making the announcement during the Nacon Connect Showcase, RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business is a standalone expansion for the 2023 cult-hit FPS which is set to introduce a bunch of new additions including weapons; special missions; finishing moves and more.
The aforementioned missions will be of particular interest to long-time fans of the franchise, allowing you to “play as Alex Murphy for the first time in a video game” through “intense flashbacks.”
Neither a price nor release date was given for the expansion, though we do know it will launch sometime this Summer – and given the base game costs £44.99 the expansion should hopefully be a little bit less.
The description for Unfinished Business reads as follows: “OCP’s latest project, OmniTower, a massive complex built for the residents of Old Detroit has been seized by a group of highly trained mercenaries who shoot first and ask questions… well never.”
KitGuru says: Did you watch the Nacon Connect showcase live? What was your favourite announcement? What aspect of the base game would you like to see them build upon with this standalone expansion? Let us know down below.
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