Keep an eye out for SSD deals as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl wants to eat up at least 160GB of space, and that's before your first save file.  Not only…

In the past year we have seen Xbox begin to open the floodgates when it comes to bringing previous system exclusives to PS5 and Switch. While Microsoft’s CEO has shared some mixed messaging with regards to Xbox exclusives, Phil Spencer has now confirmed that there are no “red lines” when it comes to bringing games to PlayStation/Switch.

In an interview conducted by Bloomberg, the head of Xbox Phil Spencer sat down to discuss a range of topics. Alongside the official confirmation that Micorosft are actively working on a portable Xbox handheld, Spencer offered some insight into their current approach regarding exclusives.

According to Spencer, “I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say ‘thou must not,’” though he did add that “It's too early to make any sort of decision on the next version of Halo.”

Of course, following the porting of Sea of Thieves, Pentiment and Grounded, the PS5 is set to get its first proper taste of the Xbox platform’s shifting plans with the upcoming release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – arriving just a few months after its Xbox launch.

As mentioned, the CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella recently claimed that “Growth of our Gaming business is determined by the overall active user base through Xbox enabled content, availability of games, providing exclusive game content that gamers seek;” quite a contrary state of that of Phil Spencer's.

That said, we’ll have to simply chalk it up to inefficiencies in the messaging pipeline due to Microsoft being a massive $3 Trillion company.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Spencer’s updated messaging? Will Halo come to PlayStation? How long after its launch do you think it’ll take? Let us know down below.

We're half-way through the month, which means it is time for Sony to announce the next wave of titles for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers. In November, players can expect to gain access to some major titles, including the likes of Dying Light 2 and GTA V. 

Grand Theft Auto V returns to the PlayStation Plus library for a limited time, giving subscribers easy access to both the single-player campaign and the online multiplayer mode, also known as GTA Online.

The full list of titles joining the PS+ Extra library next week includes:

• Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS4, PS5)
• Dying Light 2: Stay Human (PS4, PS5)
• Like a Dragon: Ishin! (PS4, PS5)
• MotoGP 24 (PS4, PS5)
• The Sims 4 Island Living – add-on only (PS4)
• Digimon Survive (PS4)
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat (PS4, PS5)
• Stick Fight: The Game (PS4)
• Clash: Artifacts of Chaos (PS4, PS5)
• Killer Frequency (PS4, PS5)
• Hungry Shark World (PS4)
• Chivalry 2 (PS4, PS5)

Those subscribed to PS+ Premium will get five extra games, including Synapse for PSVR 2, and classics like Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Blood Omen 2.

KitGuru Says: Seeing Dying Light 2 making the list here is interesting. Techland's latest open-world zombie thriller has continued to sell well thanks to post-launch updates. With the game joining PS+, we have to wonder if the game will also be heading to Game Pass soon. 

At long last, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is releasing later this month. Just in time for the game's launch onto Steam and Game Pass, the detailed PC system requirements have been revealed. 

A prelimihnary set of PC system requirements were announced earlier in the month, giving us minimum and recommended PC specs. As it turns out, the Minimum and Recommended specs shown at the time are for the ‘Low' and ‘Medium' graphics presets. Now, the developers have also revealed what you'll need to play the game at 1440p and 4K at 60+ FPS.

You can find the full PC system requirements in the table below:

Stalker 2 will be available on Xbox Series X/S and PC (via Steam, Epic Games, Game Pass) starting on the 20th of November.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on grabbing STALKER 2 when it drops on November 20th?

For months, there have been rumours claiming that Microsoft is working on an Xbox handheld to capitalise on the growing popularity of handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. Now, Phil Spencer has confirmed that an Xbox handheld is indeed in the works. 

Speaking with Bloomberg this week, Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer, confirmed that the Xbox team is working on something for the handheld gaming market. However, despite rumours claiming that this handheld could be just around the corner, Spencer states that such a device is ‘years away'.

It is unclear what hardware an Xbox handheld would sport but given that AMD is already powering Xbox consoles, and many of the current PC gaming handhelds, we can expect Microsoft to partner with AMD again, using one of their powerful mobile APUs.

Microsoft has also been working on improving Windows specifically for gaming handhelds. However, Windows is still far from being a perfect option for a handheld device, something that would have to change for an official Xbox-branded handheld.

KitGuru Says: At this point, I am quite happy with my Steam Deck, but an Xbox gaming handheld would certainly be interesting. If it runs a proper version of Windows, gamers will also be able to use it to play PlayStation games, like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn and Spider-Man. 

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, while not the definitive edition that includes all of the previous side content, embodies the perfect version of Erdrick's adventure that both old and new fans can appreciate as if a brand new adventure from Yuji Horii

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/dragon-quest-iii-hd-2d-remake/

Recently, there have been rumours about Blizzard bringing back the original 6v6 format from Overwatch 1. It turns out, we are getting that, but it won't be a permanent change, at least not for now. 

Blizzard has announced that it will be holding an Overwatch: Classic limited time event in Overwatch 2. This event will allow players to play the original maps and heroes from the first game, complete with the old 6v6 gameplay featuring two tanks on each team.

For now, the event will run from the 12th of November until the 2nd of December. However, Blizzard's announcement alludes to the event returning in the future:

“Each Overwatch: Classic event will feature heroes and balance from popular moments in the game’s history”.

The first event features gameplay and characters from the 1.0 version of Overwatch, transporting us all back to 2016, when the game was at its peak popularity and winning GOTY awards.

KitGuru Says: Will you be playing Overwatch Classic to relive the game's glory days? 

Capcom has been making moves in the mobile market, bringing AAA titles to iOS and releasing mobile-only games like Monster Hunter Now. Capcom has recently unveiled its next generation mobile Monster Hunter game, which aims to bring the full open-world experience of the main PC and console games to mobile. 

Monster Hunter Outlanders is being developed in partnership with TiMi Studio Group, which has produced major titles like COD Mobile and Pokémon Unite. With Monder Hunter Outlanders, the company aims to bring the full open world Monster Hunter experience to mobile, with different biomes and familiar beasts to take down solo or with friends.

The trailer seems to primarily be cinematic, so it is hard to tell how far along the actual game is. Hopefully though, we'll get more news in 2025.

As Monster Hunter can be a bit of a slow game movement-wise, Capcom is including new traversal mechanics to speed up the process of getting around the map, including a glider to coveer large distances, and a grapple hook, like the one from Monster Hunter Rise, to skip over short distances.

The game will be free-to-play and naturally, that also means in-app purchases. Considering the game will feature crafting and materials, I have some concerns about the potential for MTX in Monster Hunter but hopefully additional purchase items will be limited to cosmetics.

KitGuru Says: Will you be checking out Monster Hunter Outlanders when it drops? Or will you be sticking to the mainline games on PC and console?

The director behind Devil May Cry 3-5 and Dragon's Dogma 1 & 2, Hideaki Itsuno, has departed from his position at Capcom to form a new studio. His new company, known as Lightspeed Japan Studio, is now working on its first AAA game. 

Lightspeed Japan Studio is an extension of Tencent's AAA game division, with offices in Tokyo and Osaka. Following a multi-decade career at Capcom, Hideaki Itsuno will lead this new studio.

@__Lightspeed___で新章がスタートします！素晴らしいチームとともに新作AAAタイトルを制作し、世界中のプレイヤーに美しく革新的な体験をお届けできることに興奮しています。グローバル人材募集が始まりました！ぜひご参加ください！” https://t.co/fhra7DUsbd

— Hideaki Itsuno (@tomqe) November 12, 2024

Itsuno released his own statement on the studio unveiling, saying: “Joining LightSpeed Studios is an exciting new chapter for me. With LightSpeed’s strong development capability and global network, I look forward to creating original AAA action games together. We welcome all talented and passionate game creators from the world over to join our vision.”

Unfortunately, the ‘vision' Itsuno speaks of is not immediately clear, as we do not know what this studio is working on yet. Hopefully in a couple of years time, this new studio will be ready to announce its first major project.

KitGuru Says: After shipping Dragon's Dogma 2, it looks like Itsuno was finally ready to move on from Capcom and start something new. Whatever he ends up making next, you can be sure we'll be keeping our eyes out for it. 

GameMax has unveiled its latest dual-chamber PC case series, the Infinity Pro. These new cases have a dual-chamber configuration that enhances airflow and a panoramic tempered glass design that allows users to highlight their internal components in style.

The Infinity Pro case comes equipped with 5x 120 mm PWM ARGB fans (2x FN12A-N2 and 3x FN12A-N2 reverse), ensuring effective cooling performance right out of the box. Additionally, it features a fan and ARGB controller hub, packed with 81 built-in lighting effects that provide various customisation options. When connected to a motherboard's RGB header, you can synchronise all the RGB components attached to the hub, allowing for seamless integration with compatible components.

Designed to be versatile, the GameMax Infinity Pro chassis accommodates back-connector motherboards, including popular models such as Asus BTF, Gigabyte Stealth, and MSI Project Zero. It boasts the capacity to house up to 360 mm radiators, making it an excellent option for liquid cooling enthusiasts. With the ability to support a maximum of 8x 120 mm fans, the Infinity Pro delivers ample cooling potential to keep your gaming rig at optimal temperatures.

The case supports ATX, M-ATX, and ITX motherboards and up to a 3.5-inch hard drive and 3x 2.5-inch SSDs. Moreover, you can mount up to 400-mm-long GPUs, 190-mm-long PSUs, and 160-mm-tall CPU coolers. Lastly, the front I/O features a USB-A 3.0 port, a USB-C port, and a 3.5-mm HD audio jack. The GameMax Infinity Pro is now available for $95.90 in black and white.

KitGuru says: The Infinity Pro is quite cheap for a dual-chamber ATX case with fans and three tempered glass panels. However, without knowing the build quality and cooling performance, it can be risky to get one of these, even if the price grabs your attention.

Today in reasons to reconsider purchasing or recommending D-Link products, there are almost 60,000 D-Link DSL6740C routers that hit EoL at the beginning of this year with critical security flaws that…

After closing the submissions for the GTC 2025, Nvidia has officially announced the event's dates. Nvidia's next GPU Technology Conference will be held from March 17th to the 20th in San Jose, California.

This year's GTC was a success, drawing in 19,000 attendees and featuring over 1,100 presentations. Next year, we expect similar numbers. Like most past events, this annual event will delve deep into the transformative power of GPUs across various industries rather than cater to consumer-focused topics. Still, it's an exciting event for any tech enthusiast who wants to see what's coming next from the green team regarding workstations, AI, data centre and server products, software, etc.

With AI at the centre of the technology world, this year's conference will most likely revolve around it. Attendees can look forward to updates on the Blackwell Ultra and Rubin series, but AI software will certainly also be a part of GTC 2025's talks.

The conference will return to San Jose, though Nvidia has yet to disclose specific details regarding in-person attendance. You can ask to be notified about the event by going to Nvidia's official page.

KitGuru says: Are you planning to watch GTC 2025 in person or via live streaming?

Nvidia is reportedly shifting things up in the production lines as it gears up for the next generation of GPUs. While the official announcement date remains under wraps, industry insiders state that Nvidia could unveil the highly anticipated RTX 50 series in early 2025, with initial product releases expected shortly after.

According to sources from the Board Channels forum (via VideoCardz), Nvidia is reallocating its manufacturing resources to prioritise its new-generation GPUs, leaving only one production line dedicated to the RTX 40 series. This move suggests that production for the RTX 40 series GPUs has stopped, particularly those using AD102, 103, 104, and 106 GPUs. However, the report claims that a single production line of the AD107-based models is still operational, as everything else has been changed to produce Blackwell-based GPUs.

Despite speculation, Nvidia hasn't officially discontinued any GPUs from the RTX 40 series. Still, even if it does, existing stock is sold until depletion, which could take months.

Rumours indicate an early 2025 launch for Nvidia's new generation of GeForce RTX graphics cards, starting off with high-end RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 options, before rolling out RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 in the months after.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on buying an Nvidia RTX 50 series GPU?

Bluepoint Games have been eerily quiet for quite a few years now, with the developer of the Shadow of the Colossus Remake having not released a new title since 2020’s Demon’s Souls Remake. While official information remains light, one insider has claimed that the team’s next project is a completely new IP.

In the wake of the release of the Demon’s Souls Remake, Bluepoint Games confirmed back in 2021 that the team are “working on original content right now” – an odd yet specific phrasing which left enough vagueness to allow the mind to wander.

While Bluepoint themselves have yet to offer any additional clarity, according to known industry insider Jeff Grubb via the Game Mess Mornings podcast, when asked about the team’s current projects, Grubb confirmed that the ‘original content’ which they have been referring to is in fact a brand new IP.

This would mark the first original game from Bluepoint following years of great remasters and excellent remakes.

Based on the prior wording by the studio, some had hoped that Bluepoint might be developing a Bloodborne sequel or something of the like – as it would technically still be considered original content.

That said, it seems as though they are indeed working on a whole new IP. It will be highly interesting to see how their prior experiences help translate into this new IP.

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KitGuru says: What do you think Bluepoint is working on? Would you prefer them to stick to remakes? What type of game do you think it’ll be? Let us know down below.