Obsidian has been hard at work on Avowed updates since launching the game in February. Patch 1.4 just dropped and now, Obsidian has revealed its roadmap for future updates, which will be spread out over the year. 

The Spring update for Avowed is now live, bringing an Arachnophobia Safe mode setting to the game that removes spiders. Other highlights of this new update include mouse and keyboard support for Xbox, Fog of War improvements, an increase in gold and crafting materials available to the player and some tweaks to unique gear.

This summer, Avowed will get cooking and crafting improvements, new NPC abilities, new active and passive abilities, new unique gear and at long last, the ability to create your own custom map markers.

After that, Obsidian will begin cooking up the Fall update for Avowed, which will include New Game Plus, an in-game photo mode, new character creation presets and the ability to change your appearance mid-game.

KitGuru Says: I've finally begun playing Avowed in the past few weeks and I'm already thinking about additional playthroughs, but it sounds like New Game+ won't be available until much later in the year. At that point, I'll be in Outer Worlds 2 mode. 

Prepare your PCs, as Shift Up has finally released the official system requirements and key features for Stellar Blade's upcoming launch on the platform. The developers have confirmed that the game will utilise Denuvo's anti-tamper technology and is set to arrive on PC on June 11th.

Built on Unreal Engine 4, Stellar Blade's PC version will support modern upscaling and frame generation technologies. At launch, it will feature Nvidia DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation, alongside AMD FSR 3.0 support (though there's currently no information on Intel XeSS). The game will offer uncapped framerates, support ultra-wide displays, and include Japanese and Chinese voice packs in addition to the English one.

Looking at the system requirements, Shift Up has provided targets for 60 FPS gameplay. For the minimum experience, targeting 1080p resolution at low settings, players will need at least an Intel Core i5-7600k or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X CPU paired with 16 GB of RAM. According to the developer, the bare minimum GPU is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580, and the game will require 75GB of storage space.

Moving up to the recommended specifications, targeting 1440p resolution at medium settings and 60 FPS, the CPU recommendation increases to an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, keeping the 16 GB RAM requirement. The recommended graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super or an AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT. Stellar Blade is coming to PC on June 11th.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on getting Stellar Blade for PC? Is your system ready for it?

Bungie has come under fire for copying artwork in the past, but the latest allegation is alarmingly bigger. An artist has discovered that the design language they developed, and elements from a number of their own posters, are plastered all over Bungie's next major game, Marathon. 

The artist, Fern Hook, was made aware of their work being copied after Marathon became publicly playable for the first time. In a series of tweets, he shows screenshots of areas where Marathon uses art lifted from his series of posters. There are examples spread out all over the maps present in the Marathon alpha.

the Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017.@Bungie @josephacross pic.twitter.com/0Csbo48Jgb

— N² (@4nt1r34l) May 15, 2025

Bungie has already confirmed that pieces of Hook's artwork were indeed present in the Marathon alpha. Bungie has reached out to Hook, likely to offer compensation.

We immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorized use of artist decals in Marathon and confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game.

— Marathon Team (@marathonteam.bungie.net) 16 May 2025 at 04:21

In its statement, Bungie also explained that the artist responsible for putting pieces of Hook's posters in the game is no longer employed at Bungie. However, that doesn't really account for the fact that so much of the game's design was seemingly informed by this artist's previous work.

In a separate case, Bungie is being sued for allegedly copying story elements for the original Destiny 2 Red War campaign. Bungie is unable to submit evidence to argue against the claim due to the Red War campaign being removed from Destiny 2.

KitGuru Says: This isn't the first time that Bungie has had to pay an artist after using their work. At a certain point, it starts to look like a pattern, and they keep getting caught, something that will be hugely concerning to Bungie's new owners at Sony. 

Following the cancellation of the original PC version of Blue Protocol, the game appears to be getting a second chance in North America, Europe, and Latin America. The mobile version, previously known as Star Resonance, has reportedly been adapted into a full-scale PC MMO and will release under the name Blue Protocol Star Resonance.

Blue Protocol Star Resonance is being created by Bokura, a Tencent-owned studio, in collaboration with Bandai Namco. A Plus Japan will handle the Western release, which is primarily geared towards English-speaking audiences in North America, Europe, and Latin America.

The game aims to build upon the franchise's signature anime aesthetic, offering players a vibrant, action-packed MMORPG experience. It's expected to feature the dynamic combat system, open environment, character customisation, and multiplayer social experiences like guilds that players have anticipated from the franchise. Specific details are limited for now, with no release date announced beyond 2025.

The system requirements have already been shared, and it seems the game will be relatively easy to run. Across both minimum and recommended tiers, players will need Windows 10 64-bit, 16 GB of RAM, and 35 GB of storage space. For the minimum experience, the developers list an Intel i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or an AMD Radeon RX 580. Stepping up to the recommended specifications, CPU recommendations rise to an Intel i7-11700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, and the recommended graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or an AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.

KitGuru says: Were you interested in the previous iteration of Blue Protocol? Will you try the new one, even knowing it's not from the same developer?

Today Fractal Design is expanding its portfolio with numerous new products, including the Meshify 3 case, new Momentum series fans and the new Adjust Pro Hub. 

The Meshify 3 case focuses on performance and airflow with its signature rockface-inspired mesh front. The Meshify 3 comes with three Momentum 140mm fans included and supports extensive cooling, including up to a 280mm top radiator and a 360mm front radiator, with room for graphics cards up to 349mm. For builders needing even more space, the Meshify 3 XL boasts a larger interior, accommodating up to a 420mm top radiator and 360mm front and side radiators, plus room for graphics cards up to 512mm long and broad compatibility with high-end components.

Alongside the cases comes the new Momentum fan, designed for high performance, noise reduction, and efficiency. These fans use sweeping Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) blades, vibration-reducing rubber bushings, and fluid dynamic bearings for quieter operation. ARGB versions of Momentum 14 fans (140mm) are available and featured in the Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB and standard RGB variants. The standard Meshify 3 has non-RGB Momentum fans, which can be acquired separately.

Connecting and controlling compatible components within the case is the Adjust Pro hub. This hub is configured via the Adjust Pro software, a web-based configurator tool with no software download or installation needed. It allows users to personalise the lighting of their ARGB Gen 2 components, such as Momentum RGB fans and case lighting, and define speed curves for Momentum and other PWM fans. The Adjust Pro Hub acts as the central connection point and stores lighting and fan speed parameters locally, enabling detailed customisation without processor-intensive background software.

All these products are now available with the Meshify 3 cases starting at £129.98 for the non-RGB versions, £149.98 for the RGB version, and £204.98 for the Ambience Pro RGB version. The Meshify 3 XL cases are slightly more expensive, as the standard model costs £159.98, the RGB model costs £174.98, and the Ambience Pro RGB costs £234.98. As for the Momentum fans, the single Momentum 12 costs £20.99, the RGB model costs £25.99, and the 3-fan pack (RGB) costs £67.99. A single Momentum 14 non-RGB goes for £23.99, the RGB model for £28.99, and the 3-fan pack for £76.99. Lastly, the Adjust Pro hub costs £41.99.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the new Meshify 3? Would you consider getting one? If so, which variant would you choose?

KitGuru visited Acer HQ in Lugano earlier this year to get hands-on with the next generation of laptops for the Nitro, Predator, Aspire and Swift ranges. Today, we are able to share everything we learned and saw, with the new laptops being officially announced ahead of Computex. 

Unlike ultraportables, where weight and battery life dominate, Acer Predator systems prioritise power, thermal headroom and user control – key elements for running demanding games, heavy production workloads or AI-enhanced applications. Traditionally they will be designed around peak specifications, but the models we got hands-on with were fitted with RTX 5070 graphics – with a parting message that “The best is yet to come” – which naturally leads to speculation that more models will be introduced before the end of Q3 2025.

Both new models in Acer’s 2025 Predator AI refresh – the Helios Neo 14 AI and Triton 14 AI – bring with them significant upgrades, including Intel Core Ultra 9 processors and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs. Shared core specifications include:

• Up to 32GB LPDDR5X memory
• Up to 2TB NVMe SSD storage, though only the Triton uses PCIe Gen 5
• Up to RTX 5070 Laptop GPU
• Support for Thunderbolt 4, Windows 11, AI-enhanced video and audio processing, and PredatorSense system tuning software

Both systems also include Acer’s PurifiedView 2.0 and PurifiedVoice 2.0, which use AI to optimise webcam and microphone performance. They each offer high-resolution WQXGA+ (2880×1800) displays with DCI-P3 100% coverage, and both feature high-speed wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E on the Neo, and Wi-Fi 7 on the Triton. We’re not quite sure why the entire range would not have been fitted with WiFi-7, but in real world use-case scenarios – you’re unlikely to feel the difference.

So what is the difference between the Helios Neo 14 AI and the Triton 14 AI? Well, the Helios Neo 14 features a 14.5-inch 120Hz WQXGA+ display, combined with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor. It uses LPDDR5X 6400MHz memory and offers up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. The thermal solution includes 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans, Vortex Flow, vector heat pipes, and liquid metal grease, making this configuration ideal for high frame-rate gaming and sustained GPU workloads in a compact chassis.

The Predator Triton 14 AI is positioned more toward creators and premium users, the Triton 14 AI includes a 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen with Calman verification and a Core Ultra 9 288V processor with RTX graphics. Notably, it features much faster 8533MHz LPDDR5X memory and PCIe Gen 5 SSD support—a clear step up in bandwidth. It also introduces a 6-speaker array, per-key RGB lighting, haptic touchpad with pen input, graphene thermal interface, and a vapor chamber, indicating a stronger emphasis on content creation and premium thermals.

The Acer Aspire was originally introduced in the late 1990s. The latest refresh is built around Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative and looks to respond to a growing demand for accessible systems capable of supporting AI-assisted workflows and enhanced multitasking.

So what do these new models have in common? The new Aspire AI models – Aspire 14 AI, Aspire 16 AI (Snapdragon) and Aspire 16 AI (Intel) share a consistent foundation in both industrial design and technical specification. All three feature a slim aluminium chassis with a 180-degree hinge and offer battery life rated up to 22 hours. The displays support 16:10 aspect ratios, with optional touchscreen functionality.

On the specification side, each model supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. AI functionality is a central feature across the range, with Copilot+ PC support, integrated Copilot and Cocreator tools and Acer’s own enhancements for voice and video, including PurifiedVoice and PurifiedView (both version 2.0). Other commonalities include IR cameras with privacy shutters, integrated security features, HDMI output (up to 8K), and microSD card readers. Connectivity standards are also high across the board, with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 or newer.

It's not exactly the case that all of Ace's new laptop are available in black or white – with a choice of three CPUs – but it's close.

The Aspire 14 AI is the most compact model in the line-up, featuring a 14-inch OLED display (16:10 aspect ratio). It is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI processor and includes Wi-Fi 6E. The size and weight make it more suitable for users prioritising mobility.

Aspire 16 AI is built around Qualcomm's Snapdragon X platform with an 8-core CPU and a 45 TOPS NPU, this variant features a 16-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports Wi-Fi 7 and is positioned as the model most aligned with extended battery life and native ARM optimisation for AI tasks.

Finally, the Intel based Aspire 16 AI uses a 16-inch form factor, incorporating an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with Arc graphics. It includes a 2K OLED display, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.4, suggesting a stronger emphasis on high-speed peripheral compatibility and enhanced display fidelity.

Since its inception, Acer’s Swift line has focused on delivering thin, lightweight laptops designed to balance usability, style, and efficiency. Positioned between entry-level consumer devices and high-spec productivity systems, Swift has historically targeted users who need strong day-to-day performance in a chassis that won’t weigh down a bag or briefcase.

When you’re in a shop, the difference between 1.1kg and 1.6kg can seem minute, but if you’re carrying it on your shoulder all day long – you start to notice the extra half a kilo.

For 2025, the Swift range evolves again with the introduction of the AI-enhanced Swift Go 16, Swift X 14, and Swift Edge 14. All three are part of the Copilot+ PC initiative with NPU acceleration for AI-assisted workflows and enhanced battery management. Despite their compact builds and modest positioning in the market, these systems incorporate a number of flagship-level features—particularly around display quality, AI capabilities, and connectivity.

What do the specifications have in common?  Well, all three models feature:

• Intel Core Ultra 9 processors with 48 TOPS AI compute capability
• Up to 32GB LPDDR5X memory and up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSDs (1TB max on Swift Edge)
• Copilot+ PC features, including Microsoft Copilot and Acer's PurifiedVoice, PurifiedView, and User Sensing (all in version 2.0)
• OLED panels with at least 2K resolution and 100% DCI-P3 colour coverage
• VESA DisplayHDR 500, Eyesafe Certified 2.0, and facial recognition via IR webcams
• Wi-Fi 6E or 7, Bluetooth 5.3 or 5.4, and Thunderbolt 4 ports
• Slim chassis designs with 180° hinges, and all are EPEAT Gold certified

That leaves the key differences. Swift Go 16 AI is a larger-format device with a 16-inch OLED display (2K, 120Hz), this model aims to balance workspace, battery life, and overall flexibility. It includes an enhanced multi-control touchpad, HDMI 2.1, and a weight of around 1.5 kg – which is still competitive for its class.

Swift X 14 is the most performance-oriented of the three, the Swift X incorporates a 3K OLED panel, up to an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU (Studio validation), and stylus-supported haptic touchpad. It’s still relatively light at under 1.6 kg, and clearly targets creators or power users seeking a lightweight system with discrete graphics support.

Finally, the Swift Edge 14 AI (seen here in white) weighs in at less than 1kg – prioritising mobility while retaining most of the AI and display features seen across the range. It uses Corning Gorilla Matte Pro Glass for added durability and offers a 14-inch 2K OLED panel, making it one of the lightest OLED Copilot+ laptops in its class. If you’re considering ‘working on the go’, then it would be worth you checking this unit out in a local store – just to experience what a 1kg laptop feels like.

Microsoft’s insistence on a 40 TOPS minimum for Copilot+ PCs feels more like a marketing line than a meaningful performance threshold, especially when even ‘entry-level’ discrete GPUs like the RTX 5070 can deliver over 2,000 TOPS without breaking a sweat. The idea is that NPUs offer ultra-low power AI processing for tasks like live transcription or background blur – without waking the fans or hitting battery life too hard.

To make a judgement, we will need to see final ‘street pricing’ and to test them thoroughly but, on paper, Acer certainly seems to have a competitive line-up for 2025. Will be interesting to see just how much of a difference ‘local AI’ makes to ever day users. We will probably have a handle on that by this time next year.

KitGuru Says: We'll be seeing many more laptops over the next week, as Computex 2025 gets underway. Stay tuned for our daily updates and reporting straight from the event. 

This week, we learned that the founder of one of PlayStation's newest multiplayer-focused game studios, Jade Raymond, had stepped down and left the company. As it turns out, there might be more to the story, with reports painting a worrying picture for Haven's first title, Fairgames. 

Originally announced in 2023 as ‘Fairgame$', the multiplayer title is set to offer co-op heists with quick action-packed matches and live service elements. The game was one of at least a dozen ‘live service' titles greenlit under Jim Ryan's tenure as head of PlayStation. After Ryan departed, Sony began cancelling many of these projects, but Fairgames was one of just a handful to survive. Now, Sony might actually be regretting that decision.

According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, external playtests for Fairgame$, now rebranded as ‘Fairgames', took place in recent weeks and there is now internal concern as to how well the game will be received. The game was also recently delayed from its planned 2025 launch to ‘Spring 2026', which now puts the title in competition with Grand Theft Auto 6.

Sony PlayStation has not yet made any announcements about Fairgames, nor has it publicly shown any gameplay. So far, the only real look we've had at the game is a CGI reveal trailer, released two years ago.

KitGuru Says: Concord failed to grasp an audience and as a result, the studio behind it was shut down. If Fairgames faces similar launch struggles, Haven Studios may have a short-lived history. 

After leaving Google following the closure of the Stadia cloud gaming service, Jade Raymond set up a new studio. Quickly after coming up with plans for their first game, Haven Studios was acquired by Sony to join PlayStation Studios. Now, ahead of the release of that first game, Raymond has left the studio.

As reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Jade Raymond has left Haven Studios. Sony did not give much of a reason for the sudden departure, but the company said it remains committed to Haven Studios and their first game, titled ‘Fairgames'.

“Jade Raymond has been an incredible partner and visionary force in founding Haven Studios. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and contributions, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

While an exact reason for the departure is not given, the report does note that this came several weeks after a playtest of Fairgames. It is rumoured that this playtest did not go very well, creating some concern for this game's ability to succeed.

KitGuru Says: Given this news, we'll no doubt be hearing more about Fairgames in the months ahead, as external playtests tend to result in leaks. 

5 years on from the game’s initial 2019 release, Sony officially launched Days Gone Remastered for PS5 and PC last month. While a solid upgrade overall (especially with its $10 price tag for owners of the previous release) the PS5 version in particular was missing some expected features. As part of the game’s latest patch however, PS5 players can now benefit from a 40FPS balanced mode, VRR support and more.

Making the announcement on BlueSky, the team at Bend Studio wrote: “We have an update beginning to roll out globally addressing player feedback, along with a new Balanced graphics mode, and VRR support.”

The full patch notes can be found HERE, but some of the most notable additions/improvements include the following:

• Added a new ‘Balanced’ render mode to the Graphics menu
  • PS5 – 1800p at 40fps
  • PS5 Pro – 2160p (using PSSR) at 40fps
• VRR support now enabled
• Improved loading times and streaming optimizations
• Updated input lag to feel more consistent across all render options
• Unlocked map FPS
• Overall audio mix improved.
• Various audio adjustments
• Gyro Aiming fixes

Sony’s first-party PlayStation releases have been quite good at supporting 40fps modes as well as VRR and so Days Gone Remastered lacking both at launch was somewhat surprising.

That said, it is welcome at least to see these additions coming within a month of the remaster’s launch.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Days Gone Remastered overall? Is it a solid effort? Do you use 40fps balanced modes if they are available? Let us know down below.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is almost upon us, with the next project from Kojima set to arrive in just over a month on the 26th of June. Ahead of this, the studio has announced the Death Stranding World Strand Tour 2 – coming to a dozen locations starting next month.

Making the announcement via a press release, the team officially unveiled its DS2 pre-release marketing plans, writing: “KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS confirmed today that the studio is gearing up to visit 12 locations across the globe to celebrate the launch of DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, arriving exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26th, 2025. Fans around the world will be able to join a celebration of all things DEATH STRANDING as part of a World Tour, with special guests and events at each stop.”

Exact details on what these events will entail is currently unknown, but given that some of the shows are taking place long after the game’s launch, it’s safe to assume that this event will likely serve as a fan celebration – more so than a simple marketing tour.

With that, the full list of dates and locations are as follows:

• 8th June – Los Angeles  
• 14th June – Sydney   
• 26th June – Tokyo  
• 28th June – Paris  
• 30th June – London  
• 4th July – Seoul  
• 6th July – Taipei  
• 9th July – Hong Kong  
• 12th July – Shanghai  
• August – Riyadh  
• October – Sao Paulo  
• November – Lucca 

Death Stranding was a highly unique and evocative game which – while it did not resonate with everyone – offered a strong and compelling message alongside a surprisingly calming gameplay loop. Hopefully the Death Stranding 2 World Tour proves to be just as unique and memorable as the game itself.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for DS2? What do you think these fan events will entail? Will you try to attend one of the shows? Let us know down below.

The last time we featured a Valkyrie AIO was in our 8-way AIO showdown round-up review back in 2023. Since then, the company has been a little quiet, however they are back with some new coolers including the SURGE 125 200W air cooler. In this review, though, we are taking a closer look at the V360 Lite AIO from Valkyrie with its ‘Mecha Aesthetic' top cover and what the company says is a high-speed pump previously reserved for its top-tier offerings. Let's see how this £110 AIO stacks up against the competition.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:55 Pricing and options
01:21 Overview & compatibility
02:07 The Pump top cover
04:04 The Radiator / Tubing
05:53 CPU Block
06:33 Fans
07:42 Accessories
08:20 Installation
09:51 Noise and Thermal Testing
11:40 Closing Thoughts

Features:

• Valkyrie says that the V-Lite series is a performance-focused AIO, featuring a high-speed pump that was previously reserved for its top-tier offerings and capable of speeds up to 2800 rpm.
• The distinctive pump design stands out with mechanical aesthetics and a magnetic cover that rotates in 90-degree increments for always upright installation.
• Included Valkyrie B12 fans feature high static pressure, fluid dynamic bearing and PWM speed control between 800 – 2150 rpm and it comes with a 5-year warranty for peace of mind.

Specifications:

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA 115X/1155/1156/1200/1366/1700/1851/2011/2066, AMD AM4/AM5
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Radiator Dimensions: 379 x 120 x 27 mm
• Radiator Tube Length: 450mm
• CPU Block/Pump Dimensions: 86 x 74 x 68.5 mm
• Pump Speed: 800 – 2800RPM ± 10%
• Cold Plate Material: Micro Skived Copper
• Pump Connector: 4-pin (PWM) + 3-pin ARGB
• VRM Fan: N/A
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
• Fan Speed (PWM): 800 – 2150RPM ± 10%
• Fan Max Airflow: 81.68CFM (Max)
• Fan Max Air Pressure: 4.0 mmH2O (Max)
• Noise (dBA): 30.5dBa (Max)
• Fan Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
• Fan Connector: 4-pin (PWM) + 3-pin ARGB
• LCD Screen: N/A
• Warranty: 5 Years

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Last month, Ubisoft officially showcased the next major DLC set to come to Star Wars Outlaws – A Pirate’s Fortune. In alignment with this DLC now being officially available, the publisher has released Outlaws’ next big free ‘title update’ 1.6, bringing with it a ton of welcome changes, additions and quality of life improvements.

Releasing the patch notes onto their blog, Ubisoft officially detailed Star Wars: Outlaws’ Title Update 1.6, writing: “The new update arrives alongside our brand-new story pack, A Pirate's Fortune, bringing new improvements and fixes. It also includes a free new cosmetic pack inspired by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, available to all players!”

The full list of changes and additions can be found HERE, but some of the most notable include:

• The ability to free-fire Kay's blaster while riding your speeder
• Seamless switching between two-handed weapons and Kay's blaster
• Enhanced Trailblazer customization with new passive systems
• New space contracts with multiple challenge types and rewards

Other ancillary fixes include the following:

• Improved shooting when behind cover
• Improved enemy AI when moving to cover/being suppressed
• Improved Kay's movement animations on stairs and slopes
• Miyuki Traders have been upgraded to full vendors
• Performance improvements during climbing
• Improved attaching and releasing input when using the grappling hook
• Kay is now thrown off the speeder when hit by a melee attack
• RTXDI improvements
• Ray Reconstruction improvements
• Various accessibility improvements

While Ubisoft titles do have a penchant to release in less-than-complete states, there is no denying that the publisher is willing to make rather sweeping changes and fixes to ensure the game gets closer to meeting fan expectations. It’s just a shame that we’ve had to wait so many months for some of these improvements.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest update? Does Ubisoft rely too much on post-launch support? Let us know down below.

While the Epic Games Store gives away a game or two each week to all those with an Epic account, on occasion the platform holder will up the value of games being offered. Such is the case right now, with Dead Island 2 and Happy Game being given away for free as part of the Epic Games Store’s MEGA Sale.

Available to add to your library from now until the 22nd of May at 4PM, this week’s free headlining title is Dead Island 2 – the long awaited sequel to 2011’s first person Zombie experience.

Following years of delays and multiple development studio switches, the sequel finally launched back in 2023 to pretty decent reviews overall, with particular praise being given to the game’s brutal FLESH gore system.

While not included with the free package, Dead Island 2 did receive two sets of post-launch DLC (alongside other free updates), with the SoLA and Haus expansions currently on sale for 30% off.

Happy Game meanwhile is an indie horror puzzler in which you must “endure and escape three unforgettable nightmares” all the while solving “deeply disturbing puzzles in (not so) charming environments.”

Both Dead Island 2 and Happy Game are available to add to your library for the next week, at which point they will be replaced by two as-of-yet-unknown games, alongside ‘Deliver At All Costs.’

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offerings? Did you enjoy Dead Island 2 more or less than the average person? What titles do you hope will be offered next week? Let us know down below.

Antec had revealed its latest AIO liquid cooler, the Vortex View. One look at it quickly makes the name clear, as it features a massive, rotatable 5-inch display mounted onto the CPU block.

The Votex View AIO cooler stands out with its 360° rotatable 5-inch IPS display. Whether mounted vertically or horizontally, the display can be adjusted seamlessly to fit the setup. Behind the display is an integrated addressable RGB backglow, designed to subtly illuminate surrounding components and fully controllable through the iUnity software platform.

Speaking of the iUnity software, Antec has rebuilt it from the ground up for expanded functionality and smoother system integration. This includes things like fan and pump curve control, multi-device sync and more.

The Antec Vortex View will be demoed at Computex, so we should learn more about the launch window and intended price then. We'll be attending Computex once again this year, so stay tuned for video updates from Leo.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like a large CPU display like this, or do you prefer smaller displays integrated into the block?

We analyze the Fractal Design Meshify 3’s design, specs, build quality, LEDs, and thermals

The Highlights

• The Meshify 3 comes with 3 fans and focuses on looks
• At its price category, there’s a lot of stiff competition
• Overall, we like the case
• Original MSRP: $140 to $220
• Release Date: May 2025

Table of Contents

• AutoTOC

Intro

Today we’re reviewing the Fractal Meshify 3. It ranges from $140 to $220 depending on the level of “integrated atmospheric lighting” you want, but to be fair to Fractal, it does look good with the angular mesh front panel. The good news upfront with this review is that we actually like the case overall.

Editor's note: This was originally published on May 15, 2025 as a video. This content has been adapted to written format for this article and is unchanged from the original publication.

Credits

Test Lead, Host, Writing

Steve Burke

Testing, Writing

Patrick Lathan

Camera, Video Editing

Vitalii Makhnovets

Camera

Tim Phetdara
Andrew Coleman

Writing, Web Editing

Jimmy Thang

Fractal's has added some interesting new features: an air guide in front of the PSU shroud that genuinely helps GPU thermals in our testing, excellent cable aligner clips, and a bizarre PSU filter that blends seamlessly into the side of the case.

This case was going to launch months ago, but was quietly pulled from shelves by Fractal at the last minute because the PCIe slots were too tight. 

Multiple reviewers, including us, noticed that these PCIe slots were too tight for GPUs to slot properly, an issue we had recorded in our notes for the review and were about to film when Fractal sent an email that it was halting the launch. Fractal manually reworked this, meaning someone went through all the cases and shaved them down.

Originally, Fractal would have launched just before the worst of the tariffs, but now is launching into a far more expensive import situation. Fractal says that, for now, its MSRP is unchanged.

But we’re here to review the case. We have a 3-hour documentary about the tariffs’ impact.

The case comes with 3 fans and clearly has a focus on looks with its lighting and front panel design, but also manages to make a number of mechanical choices that affect cooling.

Let’s get into the Meshify 3 review.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Overview

This is Fractal's third generation of Meshify cases, starting with the Meshify 3 and the larger Meshify 3 XL. We're reviewing the shallow front-to-back Meshify 3 today, which is the size equivalent of the first generation's Meshify C and the second generation's Meshify 2 Compact (watch our review). The Meshify C (watch our review) was $90 at launch in 2017, followed later by the Meshify 2 (watch our review) at $110.

The Meshify 3 is launching from $140-$220 (depending on SKU). It’s not distant from Fractal’s Torrent case. We liked that case. It’s priced at around $190 to $230. The increased Meshify series cost goes towards new features.

The flashiest new feature is the "integrated atmospheric lighting" in the top-tier Ambience Pro RGB SKU. Fractal also has committed to proprietary connectors for these cases, which we’re not thrilled about. Fractal additionally has a web tool for the new Adjust Pro fan and RGB hub.

The cases are sold at $140 for 3x 140mm fans without LEDs, $160 for 3x 14mm RGB fans using proprietary connectors, and $220 for 3x RGB fans with a lighting control hub and additional case lighting around the front panel, shroud, and power button.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Specs

Specs copied from manufacturer materials, please read review for our own measurements and opinions

The Build

Let’s get into the build quality and features.

Some of the exterior is similar to the Torrent, especially the way the top panel slides off. Unlike the Torrent, the top panel is mesh in the Meshify 3, although only the central portion is actually open due to the thick plastic frame underneath. 

The front panel pops off from the bottom like the North cases, and the top edge (in the Ambience Pro RGB) has pogo pins to connect the ambient front panel lighting.

There are three plastic "cable aligners" that can be snapped over the main cable channel. We found them to be well-placed and surprisingly sturdy even with large bundles of power supply cables wedged behind them. Our only complaint is that they're keyed for no discernible reason other than preventing users from flipping the Fractal logo upside-down. The cable management space behind the motherboard is a uniform depth at just over 3cm across the entire case. 

There's a massive cutout above the motherboard that runs its entire length, although the cutout at the bottom is undersized and difficult to use when an ATX board is installed. Overall, cable management is above average thanks to the cable aligners and the amount of space, with some velcro straps on the back for exterior cable management. 

The PSU shroud terminates in a plastic "air guide" angled up towards the GPU. 

It reminds us a little of the NZXT toilet bowl fan from the 2022 H5 Flow (watch our review), but more so the extremely similar "PSU optional cover plate" from Corsair's old 5000D Airflow (watch our review). The 5000D Airflow's single intake fan wasn't positioned to make that part matter, though, whereas the Meshify 3's intake-heavy configuration will actually benefit.

The only discrete dust filter in the case is for the PSU. It ejects from the side, which is always a plus for ease of removal, but it's also built into the leg of the case so that there's no externally visible handle. This is completely unnecessary, but it's one of those small features that shows the care that was put into the case's appearance and great attention to detail.

Drives can be mounted to a set of adjustable brackets behind the motherboard tray; Fractal has provided a complicated compatibility matrix, but basically, you can either fit up to 2x 3.5" drives or 4x 2.5" drives. An additional 2x 2.5" drives can be attached directly to the floor of the case underneath the air guide, but if you use those slots, you may want to leave the air guide out to make cables accessible.

The front of the case can fit either 3x 120mm fans or 3x 140mm fans. The rails rotate to switch between the two sizes and there are cutouts at specific heights for each individual fan, which means the rails don't obstruct the fans at all, but also there's little freedom to reposition fans or mix and match different sizes. 

All Meshify 3 SKUs ship with three front fans preinstalled, so this is less of an issue than it would be on a bare chassis. When fans are installed on the rails, the fans and rails can be removed as a single unit by undoing two screws, which is awesome.

The removable top bracket is extremely easy to work with and fits radiators up to 280mm with plenty of room. Simultaneously installing a 360mm radiator at the front of the case would technically be possible using standard 30mm thick rads, but without much room left for fittings, fans, or thicker radiators, so we don't recommend it. Fractal notes that the front mount is compatible with 360mm (3x120) radiators of up to 420mm total length with the air guide or 445mm without it. Critically though, this does not mean support for 420mm (3x140) radiators.

If any radiators are installed at the front of the case, the cable bar has to be shifted back, which makes it harder to route power cables. In addition, maximum GPU length in the Meshify 3 is already only 349mm, and installing a front radiator directly eats that clearance. We recommend relying on the top radiator slot or moving up to the Meshify 3 XL if you really need space for liquid cooling and especially for longer cards.

Along the same lines, Fractal claims compatibility with so-called E-ATX boards up to 277mm wide, but that describes the maximum size that can be installed without completely blocking cable cutouts. Realistically, if you want to install anything even slightly larger than ATX, you should be looking at the Meshify 3 XL instead. Even with a normal ATX board, we shifted the cable bar all the way forward to leave space for the 24-pin power cable.

As a finer detail point, we’re happy to see that Fractal has finally compromised by adding screw holes to the plastic tabs on the side panels. If you want to add some extra security while moving your case, you can put screws through the tabs to lock them down.

The fans and LEDs are complicated and confusing, so that’ll require a whole section -- but we’ll get into the thermal testing first.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Thermals

Fractal's review guide claims that the RGB fans are quieter, lower CFM, but higher static pressure (at max speed) than the non-RGB versions of the same fans. 

Our thermal results with the stock fans are representative of the RGB case SKUs, though any major physical reasons for performance would still be reflected. The standardized fan test is representative of the Meshify 3 in general.

For reasons we’ll explain in the fan control section, we had no way to skip the fan hub and connect the fans directly to the motherboard as we usually would for testing. We validated that the fans reached their rated max speed of 1,800RPM +/- 10% with a laser tachometer. However, the tach signal sent back by the Fractal Adjust Pro hub doesn't line up with standard 4-pole fan behavior: HWiNFO misreports 2295 RPM when the fans are really spinning at just over 1,800 RPM in reality. Fractal's software accounts for this and reports RPM accurately.

As for comparison cases, we’ll mostly focus on the Antec C8 ARGB (read our review) and Antec Flux Pro (read our review) as close matches. The closest match in appearance and function may be Fractal's own Torrent Compact RGB. We haven't added the Torrent Compact back to our charts since our testing overhaul, but in our review, it performed similarly to the larger original Torrent. That is in our charts, so we can use that as a rough equivalent.

We have plenty of other cases on the charts for your own comparisons. Let’s get into the data.

CPU Full Load Thermals - Noise-Normalized

We’ll start with noise-normalized thermals. We use our hemi-anechoic chamber that we spent $250,000 building for validating the noise levels, which allows us to heavily control the noise floor and get super accurate capture.

This is the chart. The Fractal Meshify 3 dominates here, planting itself as the new chart leader and within error of the prior leaders. The Meshify 3's all-core average of 40 degrees Celsius over ambient and 44 degrees for the P-cores is significantly better than previous efforts from the Meshify 2 Compact (watch our review) at 48 degrees average and the Meshify C at 54. Those two cases shared a basic design. The Meshify 3 is more of a departure; Fractal has added an airflow guide to the bottom of the case, the stock fans are higher performance, and all three stock fans are installed in the front of the case. 

That's an arrangement that's worked well for CPU cooling in the North XL (read our review) and Torrent using our test bench, and evidently it works extremely well in the Meshify 3, which is now the coolest case on the chart. The Torrent was a little warmer than the Meshify 3 at 42 degrees above ambient, while the Meshify 3 is instead tied with the previous best results from the Lian Li Lancool 216 (watch our review) and Lancool 207 (read our review). The Antec Flux Pro is a case that Fractal is likely specifically targeting for competition and, like the Lian Li cases, it's within one degree of the Meshify 3. This test is a weak point for the Antec C8 ARGB, which averaged 50 degrees due to its bottom intake layout.

GPU Full Load Thermals - Noise-Normalized

Here’s the chart for GPU thermals when noise-normalized.

GPU cooling performance in the Meshify 3 was also strong. The equivalent cases from the previous Meshify generations didn't have particularly strong stock performance, with the Meshify 2 Compact averaging 52 degrees above ambient for the GPU and the Meshify C averaging 57. This is still noise-normalized, so it's not purely a matter of more powerful fans in the Meshify 3, which averaged 43 degrees for the GPU and 46 for the GPU memory. 

Judging by the performance of the North XL and the Torrent here, it seems possible that the Meshify 3's air guide actually does do something. The North XL and its conventional (although ventilated) full-length PSU shroud averaged 44-45 degrees for the GPU depending on the chosen side panel, while the Torrent with its top-mounted PSU and complete lack of a shroud at the bottom of the case averaged 40 degrees. The Meshify 3 with its shroud and air guide averaged 43 degrees, right in the middle. There are more variables at work here, though, so we need another test to know for sure.

As for the other highlighted competitors, the Antec C8 ARGB averaged 42 degrees and the Flux Pro averaged 41. Technically they both beat the Meshify 3's 43 degree average, but they're all among the best performing results on this chart.

GPU Full Load Thermals - Full Speed

As part of our full speed testing, we ran a test pass with a cardboard box extension taped onto the end of the PSU shroud to bring it up flush with the front intake fans. This test is at full speed case fans and controlled CPU and GPU fans.

Without this extension, the GPU in the Meshify 3 averaged 41 degrees above ambient versus 45 degrees with it. That's a significant increase with the extension, and it shows that it made sense to shorten the shroud and angle it up like a skate ramp. Adding the extension also raised noise levels from a baseline of 37.5 dBA to 38.7 dBA, which we can only really confidently state is a real difference because of our investments in the hemi-anechoic chamber and our test equipment. This is a real change. Although hardly a detectable difference to the human ear, it is a real one and some people might notice it. Fractal’s new shroud design is superior to a square-edge one both thermally and acoustically.

Since we've already seen that the Meshify 3 outperforms its predecessors when noise-normalized, it's no surprise at all that it outperforms them when its 1,800 RPM stock fans are maxed out. 37.5 dBA for the Meshify 3 is definitely louder than the 31-32 dBA levels from the Meshify C and Meshify 2 Compact, but thermal performance isn't even close, with the Meshify C only able to maintain GPU temperatures at 56 degrees above ambient. 

The C8 ARGB tied the Meshify 3's GPU temperature in this test, which is impressive for the Meshify 3 given that the C8 ARGB has bottom intake fans pointed directly into the GPU. The stock Flux Pro and Torrent remain chart toppers at 38 degrees and 39 degrees respectively thanks to their overkill stock fans; this is also evident from the noise levels, with the Torrent's powerful fans pushing it to a maximum of 42.3 dBA to the stock Meshify 3's 37.5 dBA.

GPU Full Load Thermals - Standardized Fans

Standardized fan testing is next.

All of the Meshify 3 SKUs ship with fans, so we're just going to use the standardized fan test as an opportunity to compare directly against the previous Meshify generations when they have the same loadout. 

The Meshify 3 has three defined 140mm fan mounting locations at the front, so rather than sticking our two 140mm intake fans somewhere in the middle, we were forced to pick either the upper two slots or the lower two.

The Meshify C and Meshify 2 Compact both had GPU averages of 47 degrees above ambient, while the Meshify 3 literally bookended the chart at 41 degrees with the fans in the lower slots and 53 degrees in the upper ones. If you alter the stock fan configuration, be sure to at least keep one fan in the bottom slot at the front of the case.

CPU Full Load Thermals - Standardized Fans

On to CPU thermals while using standardized fans: There wasn't much difference in CPU thermals between the upper and lower slot tests; although the upper slot technically did better with an all-core average of 39 degrees, the lower slot arrangement is preferable due to the GPU thermals we just discussed. The Meshify C and Meshify 2 Compact tied at 41 degrees all-core, not that far from the Meshify 3's 40 degree average.

VRM & RAM Full Load Thermals - Noise-Normalized

Returning to the noise-normalized results, the Meshify 3 tied the Flux Pro for the best VRM temperature on the chart at 27 degrees above ambient. That's significantly better than its predecessors at 35 degrees for the Meshify 2 Compact and 39 for the Meshify C. The Torrent averaged 29 degrees and the C8 ARGB with its bottom intake layout averaged 33. The ventilated case roof and airflow definitely help here.

The SPD hub (or the RAM temperature average) was better, with the Meshify 3's average of 20 degrees above ambient beating all other stock case results on the chart. The Torrent at 21 degrees and Flux Pro at 22 were also high performers, while the C8 ARGB's more GPU-focused cooling left it with a warmer 24 degree average.

Fans and LEDs

And now we’re back to the topic of fans and LEDs.

The Momentum RGB fans connect through daisy-chained USB Type-C connectors. Fractal describes the connector as "Proprietary USB-C," meaning that the connectors are just USB-shaped out of convenience; the fans are NOT USB devices. 

This part confused us, so here's a breakdown:

• The regular Meshify 3's fans use regular 4-pin PWM fan connectors
• The Meshify 3 RGB's fans use Fractal proprietary connectors, but they're pre-routed with an adapter that terminates in a regular 4-pin fan connector and a 3-pin ARGB connector, so the fans can be connected to a normal motherboard out-of-the-box
• The Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB has the same fans as the other RGB SKU, but they're pre-routed to Fractal's Adjust Pro hub. A "legacy splitter" cable is included for OUTput so that regular ARGB devices can be daisy-chained onto Fractal's devices, but the INput adapter cable from the Meshify 3 RGB is not included. In other words, if you get the Ambience Pro RGB, you're using the hub (or waiting for Fractal to sell an adapter cable separately)

The Adjust Pro Hub can be controlled through a web tool or Microsoft's Dynamic Lighting feature. Fractal can get away with using a simple web app because the Pro Hub is just a USB device, so it doesn't need low-level access to control the motherboard's fan and RGB headers. There’s no launch-on-startup bloatware and the settings are saved locally to the hub. Currently, the app claims to be fully compatible with Chrome, Opera, and Edge (but not Firefox). A sustained internet connection isn't required for this. We were glad to see Dynamic Lighting compatibility, even if it's not perfect. For instance, if you enable Dynamic Lighting, it breaks Fractal's tool, and if you haven't activated Windows then you can't disable Dynamic Lighting without editing the registry.

Fractal's software has a selection of prefab lighting patterns to show off the gen 2 lighting, but the default Northern Lights pattern may be our favorite. The indirect lighting around the edges of the front panel and across the PSU shroud are mostly striking in a dark room. It's unfortunate that such a big part of the case's appeal is limited to the $220 version.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Conclusion

We like the Meshify 3 overall, but we're torn on several points. 

As an immediate positive, as reviewers who don’t normally comment a whole lot about looks, we do think they did well to pull off the LEDs and front panel on the Meshify 3. Fractal has consistently done well to execute on this style.

As for the more difficult points: First off, the Meshify C launched at $90 and the Meshify 2 Compact at $110. Those weren't the lowest prices in context. The Meshify C, however, was on the affordable end of the scale even for that time. Given that Fractal picked the Meshify 3 MSRPs well before the new tariffs, we believe there's a good chance they'll go up. The Meshify 3 isn't in the medium-budget tier you might assume based on the history of the series. If you're looking for cases in that vein, Lian Li has options like the Lancool 217 (watch our coverage), while Antec has some equivalents to the Meshify 3 RGB like the C8 ARGB and Flux Pro.

That's not to say that the Meshify 3 isn't worth the money, just that it’s embattled on all sides. There are a lot of options in this price category, which is good for consumers. The build quality is on par with what we expect from Fractal based on the last few years' worth of cases like the North (watch our review) and Torrent. It’s built well. Thermal performance was extremely good, and although the specs are different for the non-RGB fans as we've explained, we can assume that the performance is also extremely good for the non-RGB case variants. Based on that, the $140 and $160 options are the most competitive.

As for the $220 Ambience Pro RGB, it's basically a $60-$80 upcharge for lighting, but we really like that lighting. That is, however, a big price jump. If you're considering the Ambience Pro RGB with the extra cost for the lighting, you should be comparing it to other flagship showy cases like the HAVN HS420 (read our review) or HYTE Y70 (read our review) (if you can buy one as they can be difficult to find in the US due to the tariffs). You should also look through Fractal's documentation carefully to make sure you like the RGB ecosystem of software and connectors before you commit.
You can check out the competition like the Flux Pro, C8, and Corsair’s FRAME 4000D (read our review). We have more reviews coming up, but overall, we like Fractal’s new case.