2025 was an eventful year for indie and AAA gaming alike, but what were the most-played new releases of 2025 per actual data? Sales and Steam charts can only tell so much of the story, but Alinea Analytics have published a report with a clear estimate on the top games in 2025 across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms including the MS StoreGameMax has expanded its chassis portfolio today with the announcement of the Nex C56 and Nex C56 VC. Targeting the budget-conscious end of the dual-chamber market, these new mid-towers attempt to differentiate themselves from the sea of “fish tank” cases with an internal layout that angles the bottom intake fans.
Both chassis feature a “12° inclined airflow layout”, as described by GameMax. In practice, this means the fan mounts on the bottom and the sides of the motherboard tray are slightly angled towards the centre of the case, rather than sitting straight. The manufacturer claims this creates a more direct path for fresh air to reach hot components, specifically the graphics card, which is a common pain point in dual-chamber designs that often struggle with restrictive intake paths.
Two distinct variations are available at launch to cover different aesthetic preferences. The standard Nex C56 prioritises thermal performance, shipping with a fully mesh top panel to allow for heat exhaust and seven 120 mm ARGB PWM fans (space for up to 10x). This model is the more capable of the two in terms of raw cooling potential, supporting a “stack-effect” configuration. Alternatively, the Nex C56 VC (Vision Compact) goes all-in on the showroom aesthetic, replacing the mesh roof with a third tempered-glass panel and packing 4x 120 mm ARGB PWM fans (space for up to 7x). This creates a seamless “triple-glass” panoramic view, though builders will likely have to rely heavily on the side and bottom intakes to keep temperatures in check.
Despite being entry-level options, the specification sheet is surprisingly generous. Both cases support ATX motherboards and offer clearance for graphics cards up to 425 mm in length. Liquid cooling support is good, with space for dual 360 mm radiators, and the chassis includes a height-adjustable GPU anti-sag bracket, a feature often missing in this price bracket. Connectivity is handled via a front I/O panel featuring one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Storage options support up to 2x 3.5-inch HDDs and 2x 2.5-inch SSDs, hidden in the rear chamber.
GameMax is positioning these cases firmly in the entry-level segment, undercutting many competitors. The standard NEX C56 starts at just $69.99 for the black model, while the glass-topped NEX C56 VC is even cheaper at $59.99. Both versions are available in white for a $5 premium.
KitGuru says: These cases certainly look the part and the price tag is decent too.
The post GameMax introduces NEX C56 series with ‘inclined’ airflow design first appeared on KitGuru.Asus has been expanding its ProArt sub-brand from monitors and motherboards into a whole ecosystem for creators, and recently, that expansion has reached the cooling sector. The company has officially announced the ProArt PF120, a high-performance 120mm case fan designed to compete directly with the industry's heavyweights like the Phanteks T30 and Noctua NF-A12x25.
The ProArt PF120 removes the RGB lighting common in gaming builds, offering an industrial aesthetic in both black and white colourways. Asus has utilised Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) for the fan blades, a material choice prized for its rigidity and resistance to thermal expansion. This allows for extremely tight tolerances, with the PF120 boasting a blade-to-frame gap of just 0.5mm to minimise turbulence and maximise pressure efficiency.
The fan operates at a maximum speed of 3000 RPM, at which it delivers a rated static pressure of 7.3mmH2O and an airflow of 104.8 CFM. Unusually, the frame thickness is 28mm. For the motor, the fan uses a three-phase, six-pole design within a brass bearing shield to reduce vibration. To keep cable clutter to a minimum, the units feature a patented daisy-chain interconnect system that allows users to link adjacent fans, passing power and PWM signals through a single cable.
For users who don't need the 3000 RPM jet-engine experience, the three-pack includes an inline cable controller. This allows builders to cap the maximum speed at three distinct presets: 1400 RPM for silent builds, 2200 RPM for balanced use, or the full 3000 RPM for maximum thermal dissipation. Pricing and regional availability have not yet been confirmed, but given the LCP construction and performance claims, we expect these to sit at the premium end of the market.
KitGuru says: Asus isn't the first name that springs to mind for case fans, but that could change if these perform as well as their spec sheet suggests.
The post Asus challenges the performance fan market with new ProArt PF120 first appeared on KitGuru.LG Display has released teasers showcasing its latest advancements in OLED technology. While the video focuses on highlighting the benefits of its “Primary RGB Tandem” tech, it has also confirmed that several long-rumoured panel specifications are now ready for mass production. With CES 2026 just around the corner, it appears the manufacturer is preparing to flood the market with new high-performance options for PC enthusiasts.
The most immediate takeaway from the new footage (via FlatPanelsHD) is a subtle rebranding. LG Display appears to be streamlining the nomenclature for its fourth-generation technology, dropping the clunky “Primary RGB Tandem” moniker in favour of the cleaner “Tandem WOLED”. This helps differentiate the stack from “Tandem OLED” solutions currently used in the automotive sector, which have a different structural composition. Interestingly, the video also makes a fleeting reference to “Primary RGB Tandem 2.0”, suggesting that an iterative update to the underlying tech is already in the pipeline for the coming year.
The other teaser explicitly references a 39-inch ultrawide panel sporting a “5K” resolution. Based on previous roadmap leaks, this is almost certainly the anticipated 5K2K (5120 x 2160) unit. At 39 inches, this resolution delivers a pixel density of approximately 142 PPI, bringing it in line with the text clarity of 32-inch 4K displays. Visuals from the clip also suggest a shift in display curvature. While LG's previous 34-inch and 39-inch gaming panels featured an aggressive 800R curve, this new flagship model appears to adopt a significantly gentler radius.
The manufacturer also nodded to the 27-inch 1440p panel with a native 540 Hz refresh rate (up to 720 Hz in Performance mode), a unit we have already seen deployed in the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W. Another confirmation taken from the teaser is the 27-inch 4K WOLED panel. This form factor has been dominated by Samsung Display's QD-OLED technology for some time, and LG's arrival in the WOLED stable marks a crucial catch-up move, offering consumers more choice in the 27-inch segment.
KitGuru says: Have you been waiting on new-generation panels before making the jump to an OLED display?
The post LG Display teases new Tandem WOLED panels ahead of CES 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.Bandai Namco has released the PC system requirements for the upcoming anime-styled action RPG, Code Vein 2. The specifications confirm that aspiring Revenants will need significantly more robust hardware than the 2019 original to play the new game when it launches on January 30th, 2026.
First teased during Summer Game Fest 2025, Code Vein 2 expands on the “anime Dark Souls” formula with a new narrative centred on time manipulation, larger environments, and a deepened partner system. While the first game was known for being relatively lightweight, the sequel demands a modern rig to hit 60 FPS, even at 1080p. Bandai Namco has set 16 GB of RAM and Windows 11 as the absolute floor for entry. This effectively leaves Windows 10 users behind, a trend we are seeing more frequently in 2025-2026 releases. Storage requirements have also ballooned to 70 GB, with the publisher strongly recommending an SSD.
For a 1080p experience at 30 FPS on Low settings, users will need at least an Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 paired with a GTX 1660 Super or Radeon RX 5700. Those looking to push the visual fidelity to High at 60 FPS will need to step up to an RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 6800, alongside a beefier CPU like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D or the Intel Core i7-12700KF. The detailed system requirements can be found below:
MINIMUM
RECOMMENDED
Pre-orders are currently live on Steam, with Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Collector's Editions available. All pre-orders include a face paint and a weapon. The deluxe edition includes the base game with a 3-day early access, a custom outfit pack (3 costume sets and a weapon), and the upcoming DLC Mask of Idris. The Ultimate Edition adds to the Deluxe Edition with a digital mini artbook, a soundtrack, and a character costume set (6 costumes). Lastly, the Collector's Edition has everything included in the Ultimate Edition, plus an 18 cm figure, a 60-page artbook, and a metal case.
KitGuru says: Did you play the original Code Vein? Are you planning on getting the sequel? Is your PC ready for it?
The post Bandai Namco confirms PC system requirements for Code Vein 2 first appeared on KitGuru.For Day 21 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with ADATA to give one lucky winner a memory and SSD upgrade. Our prizes today include the ADATA XPG Lancer Neon RGB DDR5 32GB CL30 memory and XPG Mars 980 Blade 1TB SSD!
The ADATA Lancer Neon RGB DDR5 32GB CL30 kit contains high‑performance dual‑channel memory, offering fast DDR5 speeds, low‑latency CL30 operation, on‑die ECC, a power‑stabilising PMIC, and a distinctive RGB‑lit eco‑friendly heatsink. The Mars 980 Blade 1TB SSD is a PCIe 5.0 NVMe drive that delivers up to 14,000MB/s read and 13,000MB/s write speeds.
To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – How much RAM is in your current system?
This competition is open worldwide.
The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 22nd, and a new competition will be announced for Day 22. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.
Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide, starting at 11AM GMT on December 21st and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 22nd. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.
KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 22!
The post KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 21: Win an Adata 32GB DDR5 RAM kit and 1TB M.2 SSD! first appeared on KitGuru.
Intel has released version 3.0 of its AI Playground tool, which brings new multimodal upgrades to the app's functionality thanks to modern vision models like Qwen3 VL as well as agentic tool calling support, that allows users to orchestrate actions across different tools and features from within a single chat flow. Instead of completely separate
Compromised home networks are an increasing concern. Most recently we've written about the SantaStealer malware, budget Android TV boxes doubling as botnets, and compromised routers. Fully securing your home network requires an assortment of proper cybersecurity practices, but a great place to start is GreyNoise's recently released IP Check
We're in the midst of the season of giving, but that doesn't mean you can't also treat yourself. There are plenty of deals to take advantage of too—be sure to check out our ho-ho-hot tech gift roundup with a curated selection of items from each us here at HotHardware, and if you own a Switch or Switch 2, have a gander at some deeply discounted
The countdown to Christmas is quickly winding down with now just a handful of days to get your holiday shopping finished for the big day. After you've perused our ho-ho-hot tech gifts selections compiled by all of us here at HotHardware, turn your attention to a big sale going on for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 consoles, with some discountsUpdate: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winner today is Sean Tugman. If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have a new giveaway each day through to the end of the month. Today's giveaway can be found HERE.
For Day 20 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with Thermaltake to give one lucky reader a big prize bundle. The winner today will receive a Thermaltake View 290 TG case, along with a set of ARGB Sync fans, a ToughLiquid 360 EX AIO liquid cooler and a Toughpower GF A3 power supply, creating a perfect starting point for a new build.
The Thermaltake View 290 TG ARGB is a mid‑tower chassis built around a curved tempered‑glass front panel and a full glass side panel. Thermaltake’s Toughpower GF A3 PSU is an ATX 3.0–ready power supply designed for modern GPUs, while the Toughliquid 360 EX AIO fits neatly into the case’s top‑mount radiator support, offering ample thermal headroom for high‑performance CPUs. The ARGB‑sync fans will allow you to add some extra colour to your rig.
To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What was your most played game this year?
This competition is open worldwide.
The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 21st, and a new competition will be announced for Day 21. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.
Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide, starting at 11AM GMT on December 20th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 21st. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.
KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 21!
The post KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 20: Win a Thermaltake hardware bundle! (Closed) first appeared on KitGuru.
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