DOOM, a series likely thought dead during its twelve-year hiatus (not including re-releases) between DOOM 3 and 2016's DOOM reboot, is on a high. The success of DOOM, followed by the release of DOOM Eternal, means it was inevitable that a new release would come. What I didn't expect was the direction of that, which is where DOOM: The Dark Ages comes in. By abandoning multiplayer and opting for a pure single-player and narrative-focused experience, DOOM: The Dark Ages takes the series somewhere different and a little medieval. DOOM: The Dark Ages is a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/doom-the-dark-ages-review/

Razer is expanding its lineup of gaming gear with the launch of two new wireless peripherals: the Razer Basilisk Mobile mouse and the Razer Joro portable keyboard. These devices are designed to bring high-quality gaming and productivity performance to users who are frequently on the move, setting a new standard for portable gaming gear without sacrificing key features.

The Razer Basilisk Mobile draws inspiration from the popular Basilisk line, aiming for comfort and precision in a compact form factor. Weighing just 76g, it features a small, ergonomic shape and boasts up to 105 hours of battery life with versatile tri-mode connectivity (including Razer HyperSpeed Wireless). It packs a Focus X 18K optical sensor (99.4% accuracy), durable Optical Mouse switches Gen-3 (90M click lifespan), a HyperScroll 4-way tilt scroll wheel (with Free-Spin/Tactile modes), and ten programmable controls. Notably, it adds a new AI Prompt Master feature, integrating tools like quick in-game search and allowing users to tailor gaming strategy via Synapse 4 shortcuts.

Complementing the mouse is the Razer Joro, billed as Razer's most portable keyboard yet. Weighing only 374g and 16.5mm thick, this tiny form factor keyboard includes a function row and full-size arrow keys. Its ultra-low-profile design promotes ergonomic hand posture, while the keys offer rapid, accurate actuation and satisfying tactile feedback on UV-coated ABS keycaps. Key gaming features include Snap Tap mode for responsive counter-strafing in FPS games and fully programmable keys supporting remapping, Hypershift, and macros via Synapse 4. It also features a Microsoft Copilot Key for easy AI access on Windows. Connectivity is done via multi-device Bluetooth 5.0, allowing seamless switching between up to three devices. It boasts an impressive battery life of up to 1,800 hours and includes single-zone Razer Chroma RGB lighting for a touch of visual customisation.

The Basilisk Mobile and Joro are designed for broad compatibility, connecting to PCs. Joro is specifically optimised to include Mac legends for seamless use with macos, iPadOS, and iOS devices, but Windows is also supported. The Joro is now available for £129.99/€129.99/$139.99 and the Basilisk Mobile for £89.99/€99.99/$89.99

Razer is also expanding its software ecosystem by launching Razer Synapse for Mac (preview), bringing the customisation and control tools expected from Razer's software to macOS users. The preview supports 17 Razer peripherals and allows users to access advanced features like Snap Tap (on supported devices like the Joro), macro creation, and RGB configuration.

KitGuru says: Do you usually play games on the go? Will you consider something like the Joro and the Basilisk Mobile, or are you already well served?

Fractal is venturing into a brand new product category. They've announced their first audio product: the Scape wireless gaming headset, set to launch on June 18th. Designed to provide an intuitive wireless audio experience, the Scape combines its signature Scandinavian design philosophy with versatile connectivity.

The Scape features clean lines and soft fabric, embodying Fractal Design's minimalist Scandinavian design, and includes a functional wireless charging station. The headset offers flexibility for audio connectivity: it connects via a low-latency dongle for reliable wireless audio or via multi-device Bluetooth 5.3 for broader compatibility. Communication is handled by a Super Wideband microphone that is both detachable and features a convenient flip-to-mute function.

Adding a personal touch, the Scape allows customisation of ambient lighting and music settings. This is managed through Fractal Design's online configuration tool, Adjust Pro, notably without requiring software installation or user login.

The Scape is planned for a global release on June 18th, 2025, with an MSRP of $199.99. The headset will be available in black and light grey.

KitGuru says: Like it did with the Refine chair, the Fractal Scape offers a more understated design than your usual gaming headset. Do you prefer these aesthetics over those of the standard gaming headset?

Intel's investigation into ongoing instability issues affecting some Raptor Lake CPUs continues, with the company recently releasing another microcode update to help address the problem. The new version, 0x12F, comes after complaints that some systems, even those running for several days with minimal activity, were still experiencing stability problems.

While Intel (via VideoCardz) has not publicly confirmed the specific modifications made in the 0x12F microcode update, they have stated that this version has no performance impact compared to the prior microcode update (0x12B, released in September 2024), which focused on stability fixes.

Despite efforts to mitigate the issue and avoid a broad recall, it's evident that not all scenarios were entirely handled, and this might not be the final update required. As such, Raptor Lake users may still need to monitor for frequent microcode updates from motherboard manufacturers to ensure their systems remain stable.

Intel continues to suggest that consumers with Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors apply the most recent BIOS updates and use the Intel Default Settings profile (set in the BIOS) to reduce the risk of Vmin Shift Instability.

KitGuru says: Do you own an Intel Raptor Lake CPU? Have you ever had any issues? 

Alien: Rogue Incursion has been available for VR platforms since last year, but now, the full game is coming to PC and console for the first time, removing the need for a VR headset. 

The non-VR version of Alien: Rogue Incursion will release for PC and PS5 later this year, titled as Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition. The game is similar to Alien Isolation in that players will be tasked with surviving on a ship where absolutely everything is going wrong, and Xenomorphs are crawling through the vents looking to take you out.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is described as Part One of a two-part story, so a sequel will be coming at some point.

Fans of the Alien franchise will also be pleased to know that Creative Assembly is also officially working on Alien Isolation 2, more than a decade on from the first game's release.

Alien: Rogue Incursion on PC (Steam) and PS5 will cost £24.99 for the standard edition, or £34.99 for the Deluxe Edition, which contains some weapon and armour skins, as well as a digital art book. The game becomes available on the 30th of September.

KitGuru Says: Will you be picking this game up now that it is coming to non-VR devices?

The first season of Amazon Prime's Fallout TV series ended up being a huge hit in 2024 and fans have been eager for news on Season 2 ever since. Following an unfortunate production delay, filming on Season 2 has now wrapped. 

Fallout Season 2 began filming in late 2024, however, Los Angeles was hit by wildfires earlier this year, shutting down and delaying many productions, Fallout included. Filming picked back up again and now, as confirmed by the show's social media accounts, Season 2 has wrapped production.

Achievement unlocked! Fallout Season 2 has wrapped production. pic.twitter.com/cbLNCvLLRB

— FALLOUT (@falloutonprime) May 8, 2025

Stars of the show, like Ella Purnell and Walter Goggins also shared the news on Instagram. However, there is no release date for season 2 at this time. Season 1 of the series wrapped filming in March 2023 and didn't air until a year later. With that in mind, we could be looking at a premiere date around March or April of next year.

Fallout Season 2 is expected to partly take place in New Vegas, a fan favourite setting in the Fallout universe. Season 1 largely took place around New California.

KitGuru Says: We've still got quite a long wait ahead. Still, we'll hopefully at least get a trailer before the end of the year. 

Love it or hate it, the Pokémon franchise is a juggernaut whose reach extends far beyond the gaming space. While the series has had its fair share of controversies stemming from GameFreak’s handling of the console titles, the games remain as popular as ever – with Scarlet and Violet already becoming the second highest-selling entries of all time.

As part of the company’s latest fiscal earnings report, Nintendo released updated sales figures for its hardware and software, revealing that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have now become the 2nd best-selling game(s) in the franchise – taking the second-place podium from the previous generation’s Sword/Shield with 26.79 million copies sold.

For context, this puts Scarlet / Violet at roughly 5 million copies away from the best-selling Pokémon game of all time – that being the original Red/Blue/Green – which amassed over 31.38 million sales.

Of course, the original Pokémon was a phenomenon which helped spark the franchise’s current-day popularity. Even so, Scarlet and Violet being just 5 million away from the top spot is certainly surprising, especially given the game’s tepid critical reception (and the fact that it’s only been out for just over two years).

It will be interesting to see how many units the upcoming Pokémon Z-A performs when it arrives later this year.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Pokémon Scarlet / Violet? Do the Pokémon games have an upper ceiling of 30 million players? Will a Pokémon game ever reach 50 million copies sold? Let us know down below.

G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 memory has been designed for overclocking on AMD platforms with EXPO support. It is available with a choice of two coloured aluminium heat spreaders and features customisable RGB lighting. We test a low-latency CL26 kit today.

G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB product line runs from 5600MT/s up to 8000MT/s in four kit capacities: 32GB (DDR5-5600, 6000, 6400, 7200 and 8000), 48GB (DDR5-5600, 6000, 6400 and 8000), 64GB (DDR5-6000), and finally 96GB (DDR5-5600 and 6000) in a wide range of latencies.

The G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB kit we are reviewing here uses a pair of single-rank 16GB DIMMs (using SK Hynix A-die 2GB ICs), EXPO rated at 6000MHz at 26-36-36-96 at 1.45V.

G.Skill backs the drive with a lifetime warranty.

Specification

• Model Number: F5-6000J2636H16GX2-TZ5NR.
• Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16).
• Rated Frequency: 6000MT/s
• Rated Timings: 26-36-36-96.
• Voltage: 1.45V.
• Module Height: 42.8mm.
• XMP/EXPO: EXPO.
  The post G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO RGB DDR5-6000MT/s CL26 32GB Review first appeared on KitGuru.

After a ton of trailers and a great deal of waiting, Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is almost here. Ahead of its launch on the 26th of June, previews for the game have now gone live – alongside the announcement of a limited edition DualSense controller.

Making the announcement on the PlayStation Blog, Sony officially unveiled their limited edition DS2 controller, writing “Keep the supplies moving with the latest piece of hardware for Porters heading out on a new journey – we’re excited to reveal the new DualSense wireless controller – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Limited Edition.”

Designed in collaboration with Kojima Productions, preorders for the DualSense will go live on the 22nd of May via PlayStation Direct (as well as participating retailers) for £74.99, putting it in line with the likes of The Last of Us’ controller pricing-wise.

The Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Limited Edition DualSense officially arrives on the 26th of June; the same day as the game itself.

Considering just how creative many of Kojima’s characters/worlds/products have been, the DualSense controller feels a bit understated design-wise, though is admittedly still quite slick.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the controller’s design? Are you excited for Death Stranding 2? How do you think the game will further utilise the DualSense? Let us know down below.

Despite being an undeniable classic, the Silent Hill franchise has never been a massive seller. That said, its recent resurgence with the success of the Silent Hill 2 Remake has now helped push the franchise past its first major sales milestone of 10 million copies.

As part of the publisher’s latest fiscal earnings report, Konami offered updated stats for the sales of its top franchises. While Metal Gear Solid remains one of Konami’s biggest (with 62.9 million copies sold across the series), the success of the recent Silent Hill 2 Remake has finally put the franchise on the map – with the series now surpassing the 10 million sales mark with over 11.5 million copies.

For context, Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 Remake sold 1 million copies in under two weeks following its 8th of October launch. Then, back in late January the game was confirmed to have surpassed 2 million total sales.

So, while we don’t have the most up-to-date figures, the success of Silent Hill 2’s remake has clearly made an impact on the franchise. Hopefully Konami chooses to capitalise on its newfound popularity in the correct way. We will have to wait and see.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by Silent Hill’s mild franchise sales? Has SH2 Remake revitalised the series? Let us know down below. 

In the wake of Palworld’s explosive success last year, Nintendo wasted no time in suing the developers – Pocket Pair – due to the game’s Pokemon inspirations. With the proceedings still ongoing, the company has had to make further adjustments to Palworld – including an odd change to the gliding mechanic.

While much of the discussion surrounding Palworld was in its similar character designs to Pokemon, Nintendo opted to sue studio PocketPair based on patents it owns for particular game mechanics instead.

As a result, while the lawsuit is still ongoing, PocketPair have announced some changes coming to the game, writing: “On November 30th, 2024, we released Patch v0.3.11 for Palworld. This patch removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pal Spheres and instead changed it to a static summon next to the player. Several other game mechanics were also changed with this patch.”

They continued, “we regret to inform our players that with the implementation of Patch v0.5.5, we must make yet another compromise. From this patch onward, gliding will be performed using a glider rather than with Pals. Pals in the player's team will still provide passive buffs to gliding, but players will now need to have a glider in their inventory in order to glide.”

While there could be an argument to make that the designs of the ‘Pals’ are inspired by Pokemon, Nintendo was far from the first company to use mounts/gliders in order to fly in a game, and so many of these changes feel unfortunately unnecessary.

Assuming the lawsuit goes their way, hopefully PocketPair will be able to restore these mechanics back to their original state at some point in the future.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the lawsuit overall? Is Nintendo overstepping? Let us know your thoughts down below.

First they came for Python, bombarding the developers with AI generated bug reports which are utter garage, in the hopes of getting a bug bounty.  Now opportunistic people with little to…

AOC is expanding its gaming monitor lineup with four new models. The most interesting is the AOC Gaming U27G4R, a 27-inch display featuring pioneering Dual-Frame (dual-mode) technology. This first-of-its-kind monitor allows gamers to quickly switch between a 4K resolution at 160Hz and FullHD resolution at 320Hz refresh rate, aiming to remove the need to compromise between visual quality and competitive performance.

Built on a Fast IPS panel, the U27G4R provides strong response times, including up to 1ms GtG in both resolution modes and impressive low MPRT figures when Motion Blur Reduction is enabled. Visual performance includes DisplayHDR 400 certification and wide colour coverage, hitting around 125% of sRGB and 96% of DCI-P3 gamuts. HDR mode can reach a 1,000 cd/m² peak, while SDR luminance is rated at 250 cd/m². The display supports Adaptive-Sync for tear-free gaming across AMD and Nvidia GPUs, and is compatible with current consoles at UHD at 120Hz with VRR.

The U27G4R follows the aesthetic of the G4 series, featuring a space-saving base finished in matte black with subtle red accents. Its ergonomic stand offers versatile adjustment, including 130mm height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and pivot functions. Port selection includes two HDMI 2.1 connectors, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and a USB 3.1 hub with four downstream ports for connecting peripherals. Moreover, it also packs a range of gaming features like a crosshair overlay, Low Input Lag mode, and controls for shadow/colour settings, all accessible via the OSD menu or AOC's G-Menu software. Utility features like PiP/PbP modes and comfort tech like anti-blue light are also included.

Besides the U27G4R, AGON by AOC is expanding its G4 series portfolio with three additional models arriving in May 2025. The AOC Gaming CU34G4 is a 34-inch ultrawide curved gaming monitor, offering a 3440×1440 resolution and a 180Hz refresh rate on a Fast VA panel with a 1500R curvature, positioned as a more accessible alternative to their higher refresh rate ultrawide displays. Joining it are updates to their mainstream line: the 24-inch 24G4HA and 27-inch 27G4HA. These models boast an increased 200Hz refresh rate (up from 180Hz on predecessors), and retain features like ergonomic stands and built-in speakers. Both also carry Nvidia G-SYNC Compatible certification.

All four new AGON by AOC G4 series monitors are scheduled for release in May. The AOC Gaming U27G4R will cost £299, while the CU34G4 will cost £289. Lastly, the 24G4HA will cost £134, and the 27G4HA will cost £154.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you considering a new gaming monitor in 2025? Would you opt for a dual-mode display to get the best of both worlds? 

Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard back in late 2023, after fighting off an injunction from the US Federal Trade Commission that threatened to blow up the deal. Since then, the FTC has been appealing the original decision, looking to split Microsoft and Activision up after the fact. Now 18 months on, the FTC has lost its appeal. 

Microsoft will face no more hurdles in its merger with Activision Blizzard. The deal already closed in October 2023 and since then, Microsoft has essentially abandoned its exclusive game efforts, instead opting to publish games on PlayStation, alongside Xbox, PC and Nintendo platforms. This has led to significant revenue gains for Xbox, with a good portion of that growth coming via the Activision catalogue.

In its lawsuit to block the merger, the FTC claimed that Microsoft would make major franchises like Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox, and thus squeezing PlayStation out of the market. Microsoft signed deals with regulators in Europe and the UK, and signed agreements with Sony, to ensure that Call of Duty would not become exclusive, but the FTC forged ahead with its case anyway.

According to the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals, the FTC failed to show that Microsoft would prevent rival companies from gaining access to IPs like Call of Duty. Considering that Microsoft has only increased its multiplatform efforts since the merger went through, that was really the only sensible outcome for the court to reach.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Now that there is no more legal threat to the merger, maybe we can finally see Microsoft ramp up its efforts to restore Activision's back catalogue, including long-lost licensed games like Transformers, Deadpool, Marvel Ultimate Alliance and others. 

Last year, we received the first teaser trailer for the next Mafia game. Rather than a sequel, we are getting Mafia: The Old Country, a prequel that explores the origins of the Mafia families. Today, 2K Games and Hangar 13 revealed the latest trailer for the game, along with an August release date.

Mafia: The Old Country is a prequel, set years before the events of the first game. This is essentially an origin story, set in 1900s Sicily, presenting a gritty mob story during an era that was particularly dangerous and unforgiving for those involved.

You can watch the new trailer below:

While previous games in the Mafia series had small open-world maps, Mafia: The Old Country is described as a more linear experience by Hangar 13 President, Nick Baynes, in his statement accompanying the new trailer:

“Mafia: The Old Country is a focused, linear experience that combines quality storytelling, authentic era immersion and a refined take on the familiar Mafia gameplay. That focus allows us to deliver a story that’s gritty, grounded, brutal and emotional. Embracing early 1900s era Sicily, this is a mafia origin story that follows our protagonist, Enzo Favara, as he takes the oath and works his way up Don Torrisi's crime family.”

Mafia: The Old Country will become available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S starting on the 8th of August, roughly one year on from the game's original announcement.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the next Mafia game?

Last month, Acer kicked off its new gaming promotion, offering £50 in Steam vouchers to those picking up an Acer Predator or Nitro series RX 9000 graphics card. Now with Acer's new RTX 50-powered laptops hitting the market, the company is extending this offer to also cover gaming laptops. 

If you pick up a new-gen Acer Predator Helios 16 AI, Helios Neo 16 AI or Helios 18 AI gaming laptop, you can register your purchase to get a code for £50 of Steam credit. You can then use that money to buy whatever you want on Steam, whether it be a game, DLC, an in-game item from the Steam Market or anything in between. The same offer is available to those buying an Acer RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT desktop graphics card.

With the next Steam Sale just around the corner, now is a great time to have some extra credit handy on your account. If you are on the market for a new gaming monitor, you can double-dip on offers and also nab a free £99 accessory bundle.

You can find Acer's redemption page with all of the information on eligible products, participating retailers and more, HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up a new RTX 50-powered laptop this summer?