When compared to the ASUS PRIME series of RTX 5070 the TUF Gaming cards will cost you almost $200 more to pick up.  For that extra dosh you will get a card…

While Pat Gelsinger was Intel CEO the company announced a huge change in focus for the company.  His vision of Intel was of a company far more focused on fabrication, but it…

Blizzard has done little with the StarCraft IP since rounding out the StarCraft 2 trilogy. However, South Korean studios are desperate to get their hands on it to produce a new game themselves. 

According to Asia Today (via IGN), a number of Korean studios have pitched ideas for StarCraft games to Blizzard. Specifically, pitches are reported to have come from NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble and Krafton.

NCSoft specialises in MMOs, so it is unclear what kind of StarCraft game they pitched. However, it is known that Netmarble pitched a mobile spin-off game, which is very on-brand, while Krafton's pitch was claimed to have been “based on its own development capabilities”.

While Blizzard might not be working on a StarCraft RTS right now, previous leaks have indicated that a new shooter is in development. That could potentially rule out action-focused spin-offs from companies like Krafton. Getting someone to take on the task of continuing the RTS would be huge though, particularly for the still-popular scene in many Asian countries.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see a new StarCraft RTS, or a new-genre spin-off? 

It would seem that despite the Switch 2 launch being a few months away, ‘many developers' still don't have development kits for the new console, which will limit third-party output for the console over its first year or so on the market. 

According to former Game Informer editor and current Kinda Funny host, Imran Khan, Embracer Group is one of the larger publishers being left out of the loop on Switch 2 dev kits. It is claimed that Nintendo deemed their situation “too chaotic”, as any studios in possession of dev kits that closed could lead to hardware going missing and eventually, ending up in public hands.

John Linneman of Digital Foundry has also supported the idea that Switch 2 dev kits are few and far between, saying that ‘many developers' still don't have the hardware on-hand. Much of this is based on discussions at GDC, where the Switch 2 was an open secret, but few had any experience with the hardware.

Nintendo will be unveiling new Switch 2 details during a Nintendo Direct stream tomorrow. The console is expected to release this Summer.

KitGuru Says: While there will be a lot of cross-generation releases this year, I still expect Nintendo to have a strong year-one line-up for the Switch 2, even outside of older games being upgraded to run better on Switch 2. 

Alternate, which had previously listed a Zotac RTX 5090 Solid OC graphics card with missing ROPs as B-stock on its website, has clarified this situation. The company has stated that the card was a customer return and should not have been offered for resale in that condition.

According to Alternate (via ComputerBase), the Zotac GeForce RTX 5090 Solid OC in question was indeed a returned item. Upon internal inspection, it was discovered that the card had only 168 active ROPs instead of the intended 176. This “partial defect” led to its classification as B-stock, and a corresponding note was added to the product page.

However, Alternate emphasises that the card should not have been relisted for sale. The error in processing the customer return resulted in the card being incorrectly categorised as B-stock. Furthermore, the B-stock depreciation table did not accurately reflect the defect, leading to an inflated B-stock price. At the time of the listing, Alternate offered the allegedly B-stock card for €2,899, the same price as a new card with the full 176 ROPs. Other online retailers were listing similar cards for €2,999 or more.

The issue of ROP deficiencies in RTX 50 series graphics cards first surfaced in late February this year. The first cards to be spotted with missing ROPS were RTX 5090, but we learnt later that RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 cards were also affected. These cards lacked the full number of ROPs Nvidia advertised, resulting in a small but noticeable performance reduction compared to the standard specifications.

KitGuru says: Selling this ROP-defective RTX 5090 isn't an issue per se, as long as the customer knows what they are buying. However, asking for the same as a fully functional RTX 5090 didn't seem fair.

Asus and Xbox recently teased their upcoming Xbox-branded handheld device. Coinciding with that, dataminers have discovered new code in the recent Insider build of Windows 11, hinting at the long-awaited implementation of a gaming UI. 

Xeno Panther first shared the discovery, but Windows Central verified the claims. The new strings hint at a new “full screen experience” as part of Xbox's continued influence on Windows. The specific code string is as follows: “Gaming_GamingPosture_ChooseHomeApp”.

Microsoft has been experimenting with a ‘gaming UI' for Windows for a couple of years now. As part of an internal Hackathon event, one Microsoft developer showcased their prototype Windows Gaming UI for handhelds. It is anticipated that the final product will offer something very similar to this, with a controller-friendly, full-screen view of a gaming library, rather than booting into the Windows desktop.

It has also recently been rumoured that next-generation Xbox consoles will essentially be PCs, potentially with full access to Windows.

KitGuru Says: Would you be more inclined to replace your console with a living-room friendly PC if Windows had a gaming-friendly, console-like UI mode? 

Nintendo had already announced plans for a Switch 2-focused Direct stream this week but now we have more details. It would appear we are in for a much larger event compared to the initial console reveal. 

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 goes live tomorrow, the 2nd of April, at 2PM UK time. The stream will run for around 60 minutes, giving us a good hour of new announcements about Nintendo's next-gen plans.

Just last week, leaks indicated that the Switch 2 will go up for pre-order in April, following this Nintendo Direct stream. It has also been claimed that the console will release in June.

So far, Nintendo has announced very little about the Switch 2, outside of the new Virtual Game Card system for sharing digital titles, and a few key spec details. Tomorrow's Direct showcase promises a much wider look at the new system and its features, as well as key launch titles for the console, a list that is bound to include patched versions of major titles already available on Switch 1.

We'll get a closer look at some Switch 2 games in action later in the week as well, as Nintendo has also announced plans to host Treehouse streams on April 3rd and April 4th.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the Switch 2? 

Today we are back with more RTX 5070 Ti coverage, as we check out MSI's Vanguard SOC model. Packing in a triple-slot, triple-fan cooler, this card also boasts plentiful RGB lighting alongside dual-BIOS support, making it a prime contender for anyone interested in a high-end solution. We put it through its paces today and see what it can bring to the table.

A lot has changed since we first got hands on with the RTX 5070 Ti back in February – primarily, AMD has since unleashed RDNA 4, with the RX 9070 XT proving to be a capable competitor in this market segment. However, the RTX 5070 Ti still has plenty of merit, primarily due to its superior ray tracing performance alongside its support for DLSS. Let's see what MSI's RTX 5070 Ti Vanguard SOC partner card adds to the mix.

First, a quick spec recap. Whereas the RTX 5080 is a full implementation of the GB203 die (378mm²), RTX 5070 Ti is cut down across the board. Comprised of six Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each holds up to eight Texture Processing Clusters (TPCs), with a total of 35. Each TPC is home to two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), giving us 84, and each SM still holds 128 CUDA Cores, meaning the RTX 5070 Ti has a total of 8960 shaders. We also find 70 RT cores, 280 Tensor cores, 280 Texture Units, and 96 ROPs.

This time around, however, there's no node-shrink, and GB203 remains fabricated on TSMC's N4 node, as per the RTX 40 series. As such, rated clock speed has not stepped forwards this generation, with the RTX 5070 Ti rated at 2452MHz, though MSI has increased this to 2588MHz using the Vanguard's Gaming BIOS.

The memory configuration is almost identical to the RTX 5080. That means we find 16GB of GDDR7 memory, but it's clocked slightly slower, at 28Gbps, and that puts total memory bandwidth at 896 GB/s, a 33% increase over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. L2 cache still comes in at 49MB.

Lastly, the RTX 5070 Ti features a 300W TGP, which MSI has not increased out of the box with the Vanguard SOC.

Starbreeze has had its troubles over the years and the poor performance of Payday 3 at launch didn't quite help matters. Now, the publisher has a new CEO who will attempt to turn the company into a multi-project studio.

The new CEO of Starbreeze, the company behind the Payday series, is Adolf Kristjansson, the former director of global commercial strategy at EA, as reported by Insider Gaming. In his opening statement as CEO, he gave a shoutout to the studio's upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game, but also expressed a desire to build Starbreeze into a “true multi-title studio”.

Here is the full statement: “I join Starbreeze with great enthusiasm for the company’s current and future projects, not the least the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title. I look forward to continuing the work of expanding the Payday franchise further and building Starbreeze into a true multi-title studio. Most of all, I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and engaging with our passionate player community as we build the next chapter of Starbreeze together”.

The previous CEO of Starbreeze, Tobias Sjögren, stepped down from the position following the mixed reception to Payday 3 at launch. Starbreeze continues to support Payday 3 with updates, in addition to developing its upcoming D&D game.

KitGuru Says: The Payday series is a very fun one so I do hope to see Starbreeze turn things around.

Since acquiring the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex IPs, along with the Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montreal studios, Embracer Group has done very little with any of it. Amazon has stepped in to publish the next Tomb Raider game and reports indicate that a new Deus Ex game was put on ice. Now this week, both Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montreal have been hit by layoffs. 

Just a few days ago, Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind Tomb Raider, confirmed it is letting go of roughly 17 employees. Now, Deus Ex studio, Eidos-Montreal, is also undergoing layoffs as well, amounting to a much higher 75 employees being let go this week.

“Today, we informed our studio staff that we are going to let go up to 75 valuable members, as one of our mandates is coming to an end”, Eidos-Montreal confirms in a statement on LinkedIn. “It is not a reflection of their dedication or skills, but unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to entirely reallocate them to our other ongoing projects and services.”

The studio says that it will offer help to impacted employees with finding new work. Right now, it is unclear what Eidos-Montreal is working on, as in 2024, Embracer confirmed that a Deus Ex game had been cancelled. Based on these layoffs, it would appear that whatever project they pivoted to has been scrapped as well.

KitGuru Says: Embracer has sold off some of the big studios it acquired between 2018 and 2021, along with IP rights. At this point, we have to wonder if Eidos-Montreal and the beloved Deus Ex IP might be better off somewhere else. 

In recent weeks, we've heard rumblings about an upcoming Xbox handheld, in partnership with another big gaming brand. As rumours predicted, that brand appears to be Asus, with an Xbox branded version of the popular ROG Ally handheld. 

This week, Asus shared a teaser video showcasing an ROG Ally, complete with an Xbox style gamepad. Naturally, the official Xbox account was the first reply to the tweet, indicating that this is indeed a marketing teaser for the upcoming Xbox-branded handheld.

pic.twitter.com/ONZpeEmNka

— Xbox (@Xbox) March 31, 2025

This all follows leaks from March, in which it was claimed that Microsoft would be launching its first Xbox handheld device this year. While the company is still thought to be making its own first-party handheld gaming system, Microsoft has opted to test the market first by partnering up with Asus, who already make well-received Windows 11 handhelds. The new ROG Ally will be an officially licensed Xbox-branded product.

Part of this launch will include more gaming-friendly UI elements for Windows 11, alongside other features intended to help boost game performance.

KitGuru Says: The ROG Ally is already quite expensive compared to the Steam Deck, although it does pack more power. This new Xbox-branded version should come with new Windows features to improve the handheld gaming experience, something Microsoft has been working on for a couple of years already. 

HP is making a strategic move to broaden its Omen gaming brand. This expansion will extend beyond pre-built desktops and laptops, including individual PC components for custom PCs and upgrades.

As noted by PCWorld, the newly listed components on HP's website include a 120mm RGB fan (25 mm thick), a 3-pack of 120mm modular RGB fans (28 mm thick), and a 1000W modular power supply unit. Additionally, HP will be offering modular liquid cooling solutions in 240mm and 360mm radiator sizes.

Omen's new fans feature an angular ring-shaped design for optimal airflow and intense static pressure to minimise vibrations. Each fan is equipped with ten customisable LEDs, offering a 16.2 million colour palette and a range of lighting effects controllable through the Omen Gaming Hub software. Moreover, the 28-mm-thick fans feature the Omen modular system, allowing users to connect up to 10 fans per daisy chain and up to 16 fans per Omen modular hub.

Moving on to the 1000W Omen ATX 3.1 PSU, it features a fully modular design and includes a PCIe 5.1 cable capable of delivering up to 600W of power, ensuring compatibility with the latest high-power graphics cards using 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 connectors. A zero RPM mode allows the fan to operate silently under low thermal loads, contributing to a quieter computing experience. The unit has a 135-mm fan to cool it and 105°C Japanese capacitors to ensure stability. Lastly, the PSU is Cybernetics Platinum- and 80 Plus Gold-certified.

As for Omen's new liquid cooling solutions, they both use Asetek's 7th generation pumps equipped with 2.1-inch IPS LCDs and customisable RGB lighting elements. All modular components are designed to integrate with the Omen daisy chain system, enabling users to connect up to 16 fans per Omen Modular Hub, simplifying cable management and expanding customisation options.

KitGuru says: Interested in any of HP Omen's new PC components?

Jagex, the studio behind the iconic RuneScape franchise, has announced its upcoming project named RuneScape: Dragonwilds. This new open-world survival game, built on the Unreal Engine 5, will be playable in single-player mode and online co-op with up to three other players.

In RuneScape: Dragonwilds, players will embark on a cooperative adventure, gathering resources, constructing bases, and crafting tools and equipment to survive. Magic is a key gameplay element, allowing players to adapt to the environment and overcome challenges. The game promises a richly detailed, hand-crafted world, blending high fantasy elements, light RPG mechanics, and the lore of classic RuneScape.

Jagex has also released the preliminary PC system requirements for RuneScape: Dragonwilds. To run the game, players will need at least an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a graphics card equivalent to an Nvidia GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 5600XT, or Intel Arc A750. The game will require a minimum of 25 GB of free storage space. For an optimal experience, Jagex recommends a system equipped with an Intel Core i5-10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a graphics card comparable to an Nvidia RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is coming out in Early Access on Steam this spring. To learn more about the game, tune into Jagex's Twitch channel on April 15th at 17:00 BST for a deep-dive into RuneScape: Dragonwilds.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of RuneScape? Do you think Jagez will be successful expanding to another game genre?

It's been a hectic few months to start the year at KitGuru, but in today's video we take a chill with this all white ASMR Gamdias featured build – enjoy!

Case – Gamdias NESO P1 Pro WH – Coming soon.

• A full tower case in matte black and snow white. It features a dual chamber trapezoidal design, allowing the hardware to be showcased in either vertical or horizontal orientation.
• One-touch mechanisms provide easy removal of panels for quick access and maintenance, while the magnetic feet allow instant and seamless switching from vertical to horizontal orientation.
• Comes equipped with three Gamdias Aeolus P2 fans and a built-in 8-way ARGB and PWM fan hub for optimal airflow and easy configuration, as well as rotatble PCIe slots for vertical or horizontal GPU mounting and 90mm deep space provides ample room for cable management.

Specifications

• Case Type: Full Tower
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 490 x 310 x 495 mm
• Net Weight: 97kg
• Material: SPCC & ABS & Tempered glass
• Motherboard Support: E-ATX (310mm Width)/ATX/Micro-ATX/Mini-ITX
• Expansion Slots: 8 to 8
• Storage Bays: 2 x 3.5″ or 1 x 2.5″+1 x 3.5″(HDD Cage) 2 x 2.5″(HDD Cage)
• Max GPU Length: 426mm
• MAX GPU Width: 192mm
• Max CPU Cooler Height: 193mm
• Max PSU Size: ATX 180mm
• Pre-installed Fans: Side: 3 x 120mm ARGB PWM AEOLUS P2 WH Fans
• Fan Support: Top: 3 x 120mm/2 x 140mm, Side: 3 x 120mm/3 x 140mm, Rear: 1 x 120mm/1 x 140mm, Bottom: 3 x 120mm
• Radiator Support: Top: 360mm/280mm, Side: 360mm/420mm, Rear: 120mm
• Dust Filters: Top, Side, Bottom
• Font I/O: USB 3.0 x2, Type C x 1, HD Audio x1, LED control x1
• LCD Screen: N/A

CPU Cooler – Gamdias CHIONE P5-360WH – Coming soon.

• Equipped with a 3.4-inch IPS LCD with 480×480 resolution to display real-time system info, pictures and animated GIFs.
• The display is mounted on magnets so it can be easily and quickly rotated, allowing the user to change orientation to suit their build for optimal viewing.
• CHIONE P5 pump features a powerful 12-slot 10-pole motor with a speed range of up to 2700RPM, an upgraded and optimised micro-channel copper cold plate and a 360mm radiator with high-density fins for optimal cooling performance.

Specifications

• Socket Compatibility: LGA2066 / 2011-v3 / 2011 / 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / AM5 / AM4 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1
• Radiator Dimensions: 396 x 120 x 27 mm
• Tube Material: EPDM
• Base plate Material: Copper
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Pump Voltage: 12V
• Pump Connector: 4-pin
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm
• Fan Speed: 400 – 2200 RPM±10%
• Noise Level: 11 – 34.91 dBA
• Air Flow: 81.81 CFM
• Air Pressure: 3.15 mmH2O
• Connector: PWM & 5V sync
• Bearing: Hydraulic

Fans – Gamdias AEOLUS P2-1203U WH – 3 packs available from Amazon UK HERE.

• Cableless daisy chain wiring design for easy cable management, and swappable fan blades for quick push/pull configuration.
• 30mm thick with PWM speed control and hydraulic bearing for extreme cooling performance and low-noise operation.
• Includes a new USB AELOUS BOX II controller with four ports to chain four clusters of fans with a maximum of 16 fans running simultaneously. The controller can also syncronise with motherboard 3-pin 5V ARGB headers.

Specifications

• Connector Type: 8-pin
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 30mm
• Fan Speed: 1000 – 2400 RPM±10%
• Max Air Pressure: 3.1 mmH2O
• Max Airflow: 74.97 CFM
• Bearing Type: Hydraulic
• Operating Voltage: 12 V (Fan) / 5V(LED)

Power Supply – Gamdias Kratos P2-1200G

• Fully modular cable design to reduce cable clutter with native 12VHPWR cable included and 80+plus Gold certification.
• Supports ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 with 100% superior quality Japanese capacitors and a premium 120mm hydraulic bearing fan.
• Features full ARGB lighting effects with 30 built-in addressable lighting effects via simple button on the unit and can be syncronised to motherboard software.

Specifications

• Type: ATX12V v3.0
• Efficiency: Meet 80 PLUS Gold efficiency
• Power Factor Correction: APFC with PF value of 0.99
• Supports MB Sync: 5V 3-pin Addressable (Digital) RGB Header Only
• Dimension (L x W x H): 140 x 150 x 86 mm
• Support C6/C7 power state: Yes
• AC Input: 100-240V~ / 15-7A / 47-63Hz
• DC Output: +3.3V / +5V / +12V / -12V / +5Vsb
• Output Current: 20A / 20A / 100A / 0.3A / 3A
• Output Power: 130W / 1200W / 3.6W / 15W
• Total Power: 1200W
• Peak Power: 1560W
• Protection: OVP / UVP / OPP / SCP / OCP / OTP
• Lighting Effect: 30 Neon-Flex RGB
• Cooling System: 120mm hydraulic bearing fan
• Silent Mode: Yes

Build Specification:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Motherboard – ASROCK X870 Steel Legend WiFi
• Graphics Card – MSI RTX 5080 Gaming Trio White
• Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 Royal Neo DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – Gamdias CHIONE P5-360 WH
• Power Supply – Gamdias Kratos P2-1200G
• Case fans – Gamdias AEOLUS P2-1203U WH
• Chassis – Gamdias NESO P1 Pro WH
• Operating System – Windows 11

KitGuru says: Keep your eye out for these new Gamdias parts hitting UK shelves soon, they offer another option for enthusiasts who want to build with white gaming PC parts.

Samsung have taken a bit of time to release a consumer grade PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD, but the 9100 Pro has finally arrived.  The 2TB drive is rated for 14,700MB/s sequential reads…

The Duex Float 15.6" is a 1080p, 60Hz touchscreen display with both HDMI and USB-C inputs, which comes with a protector that can double as a stand as well as magnets to…

Microsoft is testing a way to block one of the more popular ways to avoid setting up an online account with them when installing Windows. That is not to say there…

Hideo Kojima took a risk with his first game after leaving Konami. At its core, Death Stranding is a game largely about walking, but that didn't stop Kojima from captivating over 20 million players with his first independent game. 

Death Stranding launched in 2019, the first full game out of the newly independent Kojima Productions, following the famed director's split with Konami. Initially released as a PlayStation exclusive, Death Stranding has since gone on to launch on all platforms, from PS4 and PS5 to PC, Xbox Series X/S and even iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The game surpassed the 20 million players milestone this month, just ahead of the launch of the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Of course, that 20 million number has been boosted by numerous initiatives. Just last year, the game finally released on Xbox consoles. On top of that, the game has been given away for free on the Epic Games Store, and has been given away to PlayStation Plus subscribers in the past too.

KitGuru Says: Have you played Death Stranding since its release? Are you looking forward to the sequel? 

The second trailer for MindsEye has now dropped. The new game from former Rockstar producer, Leslie Benzies, is now set to launch in June for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The new story trailer, titled “Welcome to Redrock” gives a new look at the near-future metropolis:

The game, developed by new studio, Build A Rocket Boy, will put players in the shoes of Jacob Diaz, as he searches for answers about his troubled past. In Redrock, technology is king, with robots performing most manual tasks. The game promises a gripping narrative driven action-adventure.

The game will release on the 10th of June for PC and current-gen consoles, priced at £54.99. Pre-orders for both digital and physical copies of MindsEye are available now. In addition to the full game, players pre-ordering will receive the Deluxe Edition Upgrade that includes the “Premium Pass”, the “Deluxe” Thorn & Kepler Yellowjacket Weapon, “Future” Jacob Vest Skin, “Future” Silva Sedan Vehicle Skin, and the “Future” DC2 Companion Drone Skin.

In addition to the narrative story, players who purchase MindsEye will access bonus missions built in ARCADIA, Build A Rocket Boy’s custom building and distribution tool that enables rapid creation of AAA content, enabling the delivery of new gameplay frequently.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This game is quickly moving up on my most anticipated list. Will any of you be picking up MindsEye in June?

AMD is reportedly gearing up to launch its next generation of APUs in Q4 2025. Given AMD's naming conventions, this update will likely be a successor to the current Strix Point APUs, bringing the Ryzen G-Series (desktop APUs) from the Zen 4 architecture to the more advanced Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 architectures.

This release schedule is based on HXL claims, who also mentioned that MSI may release a Unify-X motherboard in that same period. Given the timing, this high-end motherboard will likely be part of the upcoming 800-series chipset, as no Unify board has been announced thus far.

As of now, we don't know much about the upcoming Ryzen 9000G series. Based on what AMD did with the previous G-series, we assume this one would be based on the Strix Point (Zen5 CPU, RDNA3.5 iGPU). However, given AMD recently confirmed a refresh of Strix Point for mobile, codenamed Gorgon Point, we wouldn't be surprised if AMD decided to use the upcoming platform for the Ryzen 9000G. Moreover, the upcoming APUs are expected to pack up to 16 CPU cores.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever owned a Ryzen G-series desktop APU? If so, how did you use it?