AMD's Socket AM4 launched way back in September 2016, and it's still getting new CPUs released to this very day. However, some of the earliest boards may not have ever gotten the necessary BIOS updates to support newer-generation CPUs, while others that did receive the necessary BIOS updates had to drop support for earlier generations of SocketWhile Age of Empires 2 has been eating up all the headlines recently thanks to new DLCs, the latest entry in the series, Age of Empires 4, was a very decent comeback game. Now, it appears that World's Edge is gearing up for Age of Empires 5, which may utilise an entirely new engine for the series.
As spotted by eagle-eyed fans on Reddit, World's Edge is now hiring for developers to aid in the support of “AAA pipeline for unannounced titles using Unreal Engine 5”. The job listings indicate a shift away from the previous engines to Epic Games' popular Unreal Engine technology.
It is unlikely that a new Age of Empires game would be announced in the coming year. However, 2027 marks the series' 30th anniversary, which would make it an excellent landing spot for a new game after a lengthy break from Age of Empires 4.
Fans should expect a new round of historical single-player campaign scenarios, as well as a renewed push for Age of Empires multiplayer should a new game come around in the next couple of years.
KitGuru Says: Did you play Age of Empires 4 when it came out? Would you play Age of Empires 5?
The post Age of Empires studio hiring for unannounced Unreal Engine 5 game first appeared on KitGuru.For years, fans have been hoping for a revival of the Dissidia Final Fantasy series. This weekend, Square Enix granted that wish, but with a twist. A new entry in the Final Fantasy fighting game series has been officially announced, but it's not coming to consoles or PC. Instead, the next battle between heroes and villains will take place exclusively on iOS and Android mobile devices.
The announcement, which dropped on social media and the official Square Enix website, was met with scepticism from much of the community. This is rooted in Square Enix's less-than-stellar track record with its live-service mobile spin-offs. Fans were quick to point to the fates of past Final Fantasy mobile titles like Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia and Final Fantasy: Record Keeper, both of which were shut down after a few years.
For now, the future of the Dissidia franchise lies on mobile. A full reveal, including the game's official title and a first look at gameplay, is scheduled for this Tuesday, October 14th.
KitGuru says: Final Fantasy mobile games have been a bit of a mixed bag in the past. It will be interesting to see how this one looks when its revealed tomorrow.
The post A new Dissidia Final Fantasy is coming, but it’s a mobile game first appeared on KitGuru.It has long been rumoured that Valve is working on a new VR headset under the codename Deckard. Now, it is claimed that production on Valve's next generation VR product has begun.
UploadVR reports that Chinese analyst firm, XR Research Institute, estimates that around 400,000 to 600,000 new VR headsets are being produced, with a potential announcement due before the end of the year.
The next VR headset from Valve may launch under the name ‘Steam Frame‘, which was a recently filed trademark from Valve. It is also expected that the new VR headset will be a wireless device but not necessarily a Quest competitor. The headset may focus on low-latency streaming from your PC, rather than running games on the headset itself.
If Valve is indeed making moves, then there will likely be some leaks via software like SteamVR. Recent leaks have also pointed to the existence of a new Half Life title deep in development, although it is expected to be a PC game, not a VR exclusive.
KitGuru Says: How much would a new VR headset from Valve need to cost in order for you to consider buying one?
The post Report claims Valve has begun production on new Steam VR headset first appeared on KitGuru.
Apple isn’t done releasing new products this year after it launched its latest set of iPhones last month. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is reporting that the company has a slew of device updates coming this week that will be powered by the M5 chip (sorry, no iPhone 18 Fold just yet, though it's coming). Instead of a keynote event video, Apple will
Battlefield 6 is enjoying a healthy launch, but not without issues. To that end, EA has been fairly communicative with its community, declaring a set of benefits for preorder players who were locked out of the game during this critical launch window and addressing a jump momentum bug.
For those not in the loop, there were actually two major
After more than a decade of service, Windows 10, once pitched as the last monolithic version of Windows ever, is just hours away from officially reaching end of life (EOL) status, which Consumer Reports deemed a national security threat. That means no more technical support or free security updates (with caveats) despite a petition to compel
Here's a secret that every DIY PC builder knows -- piecing together a system is not that difficult. The real challenge comes in selecting the parts, and of course some setups require more effort than others, like a small form factor (SFF) build. But for the most part, building a PC is easy. It can also be affordable, especially if you take
If you want to buy an Xbox console, be it an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, chances are good you can waltz into your local Target or Walmart and pick one up. And if not, there's always the online route. Despite some recent hysteria suggesting otherwise, Target and Walmart have no plans of phasing out Xbox consoles, Microsoft confirmed inIn recent weeks, art leaks have revealed evidence of several cancelled Xbox games, ranging from Perfect Dark to Zenimax Online Studios' cancelled MMO. Now, a new leak has revealed a few screenshots from Rare's now cancelled game, Everwild.
MP1st found the screenshots through the website of an unnamed artist who worked on the game. It shows a handful of in-game scenes, as well as UI elements like inventory menus and the graphics settings screen. Some of the collectable resources in this early development build were figments, mosaics, seeds and plants.
Apparently, the images come from a version of the game “relatively close” to its cancellation. It is clear that a plan for the game was taking shape prior to the cancellation, but it was still very early on.
At this point, Everwild will no longer be coming out. Rare was one of a number of studios to be hit by layoffs at Microsoft this year, although a small portion of the Everwild team is now working on Sea of Thieves instead. At this time, it is unclear what we can expect out of Rare beyond continued updates for Sea of Thieves.
KitGuru Says: Previous reports have claimed that Everwild went through many stops and starts after being announced in 2019. Based on these screenshots, it would have been a survival / crafting game of sorts.
The post Screenshots of Rare’s Everwild leak following cancellation first appeared on KitGuru.Antec has two new cases heading to the European market in November. The new P30 Air and P30 ARGB cases offer support for multiple cooling configurations, with a design prioritised towards ventilation for optimal airflow.
Both versions have the same overall design with large, perforated intake areas around the case. However, the P30 ARGB has the added benefit of pre-installed RGB fans, while the P30 Air has standard black fans.
These cases offer space for up to a 360mm radiator for liquid cooling, with large cable-management space at the back to minimise airflow obstruction within the main chamber. A tempered glass side panel gives a suitably sized window into your system.
The case has a steel frame with mesh front panels, with removable dust filters placed around to protect your components. The Front-panel I/O includes USB, USB 3.x, audio jacks and LED control.
The P30 Air and P30 ARGB will be available starting November, priced at £79.99 / €89.99.
KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for a new build? Will you be opting for an airflow focused chassis like this?
The post Antec launches P30 Air and P30 ARGB airflow-optimised PC cases first appeared on KitGuru.While the immediate reaction to Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds 2 was spoiled by Microsoft’s reveal that it would be the first title from the publisher to launch at $80, the game itself looks to be a solid follow-up to 2017’s RPG. Of course, Microsoft ultimately rescinded on their $80 price tag, and so with just under two weeks to go the team at Obsidian have now revealed that The Outer Worlds 2 has officially gone Gold.
As reported by the Xbox-focused Klobrille, The Outer Worlds 2 has now officially Gone Gold ahead of its launch on the 29th of October (or the 23rd/24th for those with ‘Advanced Access’ via the Premium Edition).
For the uninitiated, ‘Going Gold’ means that The Outer Worlds 2 master disc (if it has one) has been submitted to the game’s publisher. After this, discs can then be pressed with finalised software and digital storefronts can upload the 1.0 version of the game ready for release.
It’s a process that every game in development goes through, and means that (aside from post-launch patches and DLC) The Outer Worlds 2 should be complete and ready to play.
As mentioned, The Outer Worlds 2 did not have the smoothest of introductions, with its big blowout showcase earlier this year being mired by talk of Microsoft’s game price hike to $80.
While the revised price tag of $70 is still too much for some, as a sequel, The Outer Worlds 2 looks to offer plenty of improvements over the first entry. Hopefully the relatively short period between going gold and its official release is no cause for concern.
KitGuru says: Are you excited for the next Outer Worlds? Is the game worth $70 in your mind? What are your expectations for the sequel? Let us know down below.
The post The Outer Worlds 2 has gone Gold ahead of launch later this month first appeared on KitGuru.This is the Montech HyperFlow Digital – a 360mm AIO cooler with a digital display, RGB lighting, and black or white colour options. In this review, we’ll take a look at the design, ease of installation and test how it performs in terms of thermals and noise. So if you're considering this £90 cooler for your next build, here’s all you need to know before making a decision…
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:37 Sizes and Prices
01:09 Some Features / Overview
03:13 CPU block
03:48 Radiator / Pump / Tubing
04:15 Digital Display
04:53 Fans
06:15 Accessories
07:16 Test System and Installation Process
10:05 Thermal Performance and Noise output
11:57 Is it worth buying?
Features:
Specifications:
While the first entry in their second attempt at a live-action Mortal Kombat film may not have held as much cultural awareness as the classic 90s entries, Warner Bros. seems quite confident in the upcoming Mortal Kombat II – recently pushing the film back to a more favourable season. Though the sequel is now slated to arrive in May of next year, a 3rd entry is announced to already be in the works.
As reported by the publication Deadline, during the most recent New York Comic-Con Mortal Kombat III was officially confirmed to be happening, with Jeremy Slater said to be returning to screenwrite the 3rd entry.
According to Deadline, Warner Bros. is “very high on the second film” leading to their decision to greenlight the 3rd entry well before MKII has hit the screens.
As mentioned, 2021’s Mortal Kombat film came and went with little fanfare, receiving a mixed reception and amassing just $84 million off of a $55 million budget.
That said, the trailer for the sequel blew up following its release earlier this year, becoming the most-watched red-band trailer of all time with 107 million views in its first 24 hours.
Beyond this, Mortal Kombat II is certainly moving away somewhat from the first entry, with the sequel set to include the likes of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage; focusing on more recognisable faces.
Of course, early excitement is just that, and so we will have to wait and see how the film is received when it arrives in May of next year – and whether WB jumped the gun a bit with the announcement of a 3rd entry.
KitGuru says: What did you think of 2021’s Mortal Kombat? Do you have hopes for the sequel? Is Karl Urban as Johnny Cage a big draw for you? Let us know down below.
The post Mortal Kombat III film announced ahead of MKII’s arrival next year first appeared on KitGuru.Though the series is far past its heyday, Serious Sam is still a classic, featuring fast-paced FPS shooting, tons of enemies and plenty of explosions. In celebration of Serious Sam 2’s 20th anniversary, studio Croteam have announced and released a surprise – yet welcome – update on Steam: Adding new content, visual enhancements, quality of life improvements and more.
Making the announcement via the game’s Steam page, the devs at Croteam detailed this surprise anniversary update, writing:
“It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 20 years since one of our boldest and most colorful adventures – Serious Sam 2! A game that’s been both loved and debated, but never ignored, packed with wild ideas, vibrant worlds, and tons of personality that made it truly one of a kind. To celebrate this milestone, we’re rolling out a special Anniversary Update, packed with ways to show off your undying love for Sam 2 and to keep those Serious vibes alive for years to come!”
Sure enough, this update introduces a ton of quality of life improvements, visual enhancements and much more – including but not limited to:
As mentioned, the list of changes is extensive and covers a wide range of elements, from level-specific fixes to decades-old bugs and more. The full patch notes can be found HERE.
While not quite a remaster, this 20th anniversary update is a welcome surprise to all fans of the classic Serious Sam 2, preserving it for many more years to come.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the Serious Sam franchise? How did it compare to other fast-paced FPS shooters from its time? Would you want to see another attempt at Serious Sam? Let us know your thoughts down below.
The post Serious Sam 2 gets surprise 20th anniversary update on Steam first appeared on KitGuru.In recent years we’ve seen Apple lean more heavily into the video game market, with their greatest push being the release of various major AAA console games ported to iOS. Following the likes of HITMAN; Death Stranding; Resident Evil and more, Remedy’s excellent CONTROL has been announced for iPhone, iPad and even the Apple Vision Pro.
Making the surprise announcement via BlueSky, the team at Remedy wrote: “Apple takes CONTROL! You will soon be able to enter the Oldest House on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro alongside Mac. Play with a game controller, or tap into the action with touch controls.”
So far, little else has been revealed regarding the port, with the only other detail announced being that the game is slated to arrive in “Early 2026.”
While CONTROL was originally released for last-gen systems, its heavy emphasis on physics could strain the 8th-gen consoles somewhat, and so it will be interesting to see what the game looks and runs like on the latest iPhones / iPad.
Regarding the Apple Vision Pro, though not officially stated, this port will most likely function the same as the iPhone / iPad versions – except being blown up on a large digital screen as opposed to a full VR port.
We will have to wait and find out, but regardless it is exciting to see more console/PC developers bringing their games over to smartphones.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Apple’s recent gaming efforts? Would you play a game like CONTROL on your phone? What about in a few years’ time? Let us know down below.
The post CONTROL officially announced for iPhone / iPad first appeared on KitGuru.If you've ever wanted to review tech, then this is a perfect opportunity as we are now hiring for a new reviewer to join our team! Prior experience is not strictly necessary, but we would like to see some example works from applicants.
We are looking for someone who will be able to produce reviews of a range of tech gear in video format and in the KitGuru style. Any experience in this sector is beneficial, however we are open to all applicants provided you can give us a sample of your written and video work so we can assess your abilities.
KitGuru is a great company to work with, we are all tech enthusiasts who enjoy gaming, so we all have very similar interests. Behind the scenes it is very close-knit environment and many of our team have been with us for several years.
To be considered for this position you need:
The successful applicant must be based in the United Kingdom, and we pay very well for this kind of work. If you are interested and feel you can meet the criteria above and want to work in this fast-moving sector then please send your CV along with any samples of your work to our Editor in Chief, Allan Campbell – allan(at)kitguru.net.
KitGuru says: We look forward to receiving your application!
The post KitGuru is hiring – tech reviewer applications open! first appeared on KitGuru.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days may be over, but there are still some good deals to be had on GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs. We've narrowed down the most compelling options to six choices below, with two SKUs each for the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, and RTX 5070 Ti—effectively, all of the hottest mid-range NVIDIA GPUs currently available. Many
Just a few weeks after introducing AI agents into Office 365 apps, Microsoft is already testing news ways to bolster the integration of Copilot in Windows 11. Windows insiders will have access to new features that will allow Copilot to connect to personal services and enable the creation and exporting of documents.
With these new features,Alphacool has launched a new version of its premium metal case fan, adding a splash of colour to the design. The new Apex Stealth Metal Aurora takes the existing high-end, metal-framed fan and, as the name suggests, integrates addressable RGB illumination for builders who want both premium construction and customisable lighting.
The new Stealth Metal Aurora fan retains all the high-end features of the original Stealth Metal. This includes the solid aluminium frame, a long-lasting Hydro Dynamic Bearing (HDB), and Alphacool's patent-pending decoupling technology, which is designed to isolate motor vibrations for near-silent operation (rated at 36.4 dBA). The fans are also daisy-chainable for clean and easy cable management, a welcome feature for any builder.
The addition of the ARGB lighting provides a new visual highlight for the fan. Alphacool claims the fans still offer the same high static pressure (3.35 mmH2O), making them a great fit for use on radiators or in cases with restrictive airflow paths. With an RPM range of 300-2600, this fan can provide up to 59.79 CFM of air.
The Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal Aurora fans are available to purchase now directly from the Alphacool online store. They are available in three finishes: a chrome version and a matte black version for €24.98 each, and a white version for €26.98.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru says: These new fans look to be a fantastic premium option for any high-end build. However, their price isn't particularly welcoming, restricting them to a niche within the DIY community.
The post Alphacool’s premium Apex Stealth metal fans now come with RGB first appeared on KitGuru.While I had a very smooth experience with Battlefield 6 in the run up to launch day, all of my testing had been done within Steam, so it came as quite a surprise when the game unlocked on Friday and PC players were having issues with the EA App. The developers have been quick to fix entitlement issues for those impacted and to smooth things over for those locked out at launch, there will be some freebies given out to players.
When Battlefield 6 first unlocked on Friday night, a number of PC players were unable to access the game via the EA App. The developers have now offered “an apology with perks” to smooth things over. The list of free perks includes twelve hour-long XP boosters for rank progression and an additional twelve hour-long XP boosters for weapons.
Players should find these items ready to claim in their inbox before the end of the weekend. On top of that, all impacted players will also get the first Battlefield 6 battle pass for free. If you bought the standard edition, you get Season 1's battle pass. If you bought the Phantom Edition, which already includes the first battle pass, then you will get the Season 2 pass for free.
It is perhaps the best apology EA has ever issued, as these items will make a meaningful difference for players. Typically, in situations like this, the compensation offered to players for downtime is significantly less than what players are being given here.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: Were you caught up in the EA app downtime on Friday? Have you already received your Battlefield 6 freebies?
The post EA unlocks battle pass and XP boosts for all players impacted by Battlefield 6 outage first appeared on KitGuru.The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), along with its global partners, has released its massive 2025 Global Power of Play study. Based on a survey of over 24,000 players across 21 countries, the report paints a clear picture of why people game and the positive impacts it has on their social, emotional, and mental well-being.
While “fun” remains the number one reason people play video games (cited by 66% of respondents), the study (via Engadget) shows that mental health benefits are almost equally important. A huge 58% of players globally use games for stress relief, with 77% agreeing that gaming helps them feel less stressed and 70% reporting it reduces anxiety. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of players credit games with assisting them to feel less lonely by connecting them with others.
The benefits extend beyond mental health into real-world skill development. The report found that a majority of players believe gaming improves their creativity (77%), problem-solving skills (76%), and ability to work in a team (74%). For many, this has had a direct impact on their lives, with 43% of players saying that gaming has influenced their academic or career path.
Gaming has also solidified its place as a central social platform. This is particularly true for younger players (aged 16-35), where 67% reported having met a good friend, spouse, or significant other through playing video games. The report also continues to shatter old stereotypes about who a “gamer” is. The average age of a global player is now 41, and the gender split is nearly even at 51% male and 48% female. Those interested in reading the detailed report can do so HERE.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru says: To you, what was the most surprising data in this report?
The post ESA Power of Play 2025 report highlights the benefits of gaming first appeared on KitGuru.It is time to call it a day on the Xbox Series X/S generation. What started off as a promising campaign backed by Microsoft’s (at the time) newly acquired studios has dwindled into a mess of studio closures, game cancellations and perhaps most depressingly, price hikes.
Microsoft has just raised the price of the Xbox Series X console five years after its debut and to top it off, they are now also charging 50% more per month for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. The more I think about it, the less it appears that Microsoft had any concrete plans for its studios.
The Initiative was set up with world class talent, only for Microsoft to push them back out the door and hand the keys to Perfect Dark over to Crystal Dynamics. One year after properly revealing that game to the world, it was cancelled and The Initiative was shut down.
Turn 10 Studios, once hailed as a premier studio known for getting the absolute most out of Xbox hardware, has been gutted and relegated to support studio status. Zenimax Online Studios – also gutted, despite reports of a highly promising new MMO project. Tango Gameworks, Microsoft’s lone foothold in the Japanese game development market, was sold off after shipping one of the best surprise games of 2024 in Hi-FI Rush.
Arkane Austin, the studio best known for its work on immersive sims like Prey, was shut down after being saddled with Redfall, a game that nobody wanted to buy and more importantly, nobody at the studio wanted to make.
Rare Studios has undergone major cuts after failing to ship a game since Sea of Thieves. Creative Affinity’s Halo spin-off game was cancelled. Contraband, a game prominently announced in 2021, had its funding pulled this year, leaving the studio behind it to scramble for a new publisher.
At the rate things are going over at Xbox, I’ll consider it a miracle if the Fable reboot actually makes it out of the door.
On the back of all these cuts, cancellations and closures, Microsoft now wants to charge more money for Game Pass. They claim they’ve shipped more day-one games on the service than ever before, but how many of those games were actually impactful? If Call of Duty couldn’t make a meaningful dent, what makes them think that a dozen extra indie games and a few first-party AAA titles will?
Game Pass has secured some decent third-party deals in the past, but they are few and far between. The only ones I ended up booting up my Xbox app for in recent years were A Plague Tale: Requiem, Stalker 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Atomic Hearts and Rematch. Out of that bunch, there are only two that I would actually buy. Outside of that, I primarily used my subscription to play a maximum of four day-one Xbox titles a year.
Microsoft justified the recent Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price increase with the promise of 75 day-one games next year. Fable will be one, Gears E-Day will be another, COD 2026 will also make it over. Who knows what the other 70+ titles will be, but history has so far conditioned me to expect maybe one or two standouts for the year, while the rest will be thoroughly uninteresting.
Additions like Ubisoft Classics and Fortnite Crew do absolutely nothing to move the needle. Most have already had their fill of Assassin’s Creed and if they haven’t, then the older games in the series can be purchased all together for around the same price as one month of Game Pass Ultimate. If you love Fortnite enough to subscribe to it, then chances are, you aren’t playing much on Game Pass anyway, so I ask – who are these additions for?
These additions to the package can’t be bringing much value to the average subscriber outside of fringe cases. Xbox could turn to its improved cloud gaming offering and call that value, but how big is the cloud gaming market really? In court as part of its argument for why the Activision Blizzard acquisition should be approved, Microsoft admitted that cloud gaming barely has a market right now. As a result, Activision games are available under a free license to all cloud gaming services.
With Game Pass Ultimate rising to around £240 per year, it is now more affordable for me to just buy the 3-4 Xbox games I want on Steam than to carry on with my subscription. Sure, the ‘value' has been ‘boosted' in other areas, but are they areas anyone really cares about? Is a Fortnite battle pass and expanded access to old Ubisoft titles something that meaningfully changes the value proposition of Game Pass Ultimate to the tune of 50% more money per month? To me, the answer is no.
It just really feels like they jumped the gun, expecting the illusion of good value to hold up, without doing enough to earn that reputation.
There is one lone subscription offering here that might still be worth it. PC Game Pass still exists and still includes all of the same benefits it had prior to the recent restructuring, at around £10 less per month than Game Pass Ultimate. But how long will it be before Microsoft decides to move the goalposts there too? My guess would be not too long.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: Are you sticking with Game Pass after the recent price hike?
The post KitGuru Games: After 7 years, I’m cancelling Xbox Game Pass first appeared on KitGuru.
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