Styx Blades of Greed Performance Benchmark Review


The first of Steam's triannual showcases of upcoming games is now live and features dozens of PC VR demos.
This is the first chance for many players to try popular upcoming titles for the first time like Beyond Frames' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City.
Some of the participating games released demos prior to the start of Next Fest, like Echoes of Mora, Alliance Tales: Battle For The Frontier, Birdseed VR, and How To God.
Please note that this list was provided two weeks ago by Valve and is subject to change. Developers can (and previously have) drop out of Next Fest if their demo is not ready or release a demo on short notice.
For now, here are the games we're aware of:
• Alliance Tales: Battle For The Frontier
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City
• Project Louisiana - The BOUNDS VR Demo
• Combat Pilot: Carrier Qualification
• Annulus
• Get Out
• Gun X
• Enigmo
Steam Next Fest runs until 10am Pacific Standard Time on March 2nd.

In response to fan feedback, the new 'Survival Mode' allows players to play the game without the restrictions of the main campaign.
Neolithic Dawn, a survival game set in the neolithic era, started out in Early Access on Quest in June 2025 followed by PC VR in September. Both versions went to full release in December 2025.
The latest update from developer Neolithic LLC adds a fan-requested quick play 'Survival Mode' option. This new mode has every map unlocked and is free of any objectives and story-based missions to complete, designed for players looking for a more open, sandbox survival experience.
The update also expands the Saugeen Bluffs area, adds support for bHaptics vests, and improves the main menu interface and inventory system.
We went hands-on during the Early Access period and had a mostly positive experience despite the bugs and jank to be expected in Early Access titles. In our hands-on piece, we said "Exploring the world is wonderful. Environments are vast and varied. There are moments of pure wonder and true terror."
UploadVRJames Tocchio
Neolithic Dawn is available now on Steam and Meta Quest for $19.99.

Iron Guard: Salvation, a VR sci-fi tower defense game, is launching on PlayStation VR2 in March.
Iron Guard: Salvation is a tower defense strategy game in which players must build and upgrade bases and weapons while managing resources and fending off waves of enemies in VR. A story-driven campaign mode offers a cinematic experience across 30 hand-crafted missions.
Iron Guard: Salvation is a direct sequel to Xlab Digital's Iron Guard, which first debuted in 2021 and was ported to PS VR2 last year.
We previously reviewed Iron Guard: Salvation when it released on Quest, where our reviewer found it to be a strong tower defense game that might have benefitted from heavier implementation of RTS mechanics and inclusion of a multiplayer mode.
Iron Guard: Salvation launches March 5th on PlayStation VR2. It's out now on Quest and PC VR.

Intel has reportedly finalised the specifications for its long-rumoured “Bartlett Lake-S” Core 200E family of processors, a platform that's expected to use only P-cores for the ageing LGA-1700 socket.
Despite the gaming community calling for a P-core-only desktop chip, Intel might be skipping this market with Bartlett Lake-S.
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The technical specifications leaked by Jaykhin (via VideoCardz) showcase a 12-core, 24-thread flagship dubbed the Core 9 273 PQE. This high-performance SKU features a base frequency of 3.4GHz and can reach a single-core boost of 5.9GHz, with an all-core boost of 5.3GHz. The processor is equipped with 36MB of L3 cache and a 32-EU integrated Xe-LP graphics engine, all while operating within a 125W TDP. The lineup is segmented into three distinct power tiers: the higher-end PQE (125W), the balanced PE (65W), and the efficiency-focused PTE (45W).
Across the stack, Intel reportedly offers configurations with 8, 10, and 12 P-cores, all of which feature Hyper-Threading. All high-power PQE models support Intel vPro and ECC memory, though these features are selectively omitted from certain lower-power PE and PTE variants to better align with specific price points. The detailed table shared by Jaykhin can be found below:
| BTL-S P | Base Power (W) | Core Count | ST Boost (GHz) | MT Boost (GHz) | Base Clock (GHz) | EU Count | L3 Cache (MB) | vPro | ECC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 273PQE | 125 | 12 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 3.4 | 32 | 36 | Yes | Yes |
| 253PQE | 125 | 10 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 3.5 | 32 | 33 | Yes | Yes |
| 223PQE | 125 | 8 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 32 | 24 | Yes | Yes |
| 273PE | 65 | 12 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 2.3 | 32 | 36 | Yes | Yes |
| 253PE | 65 | 10 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 32 | 33 | Yes | Yes |
| 223PE | 65 | 8 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.9 | 32 | 24 | Yes | Yes |
| 213PE | 65 | 8 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 24 | 24 | No | Yes |
| 273PTE | 45 | 12 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 32 | 36 | Yes | Yes |
| 253PTE | 45 | 10 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 32 | 33 | Yes | Yes |
| 223PTE | 45 | 8 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 32 | 24 | Yes | Yes |
| 213PTE | 45 | 8 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 24 | 24 | No | Yes |
KitGuru says: Gamers have asked for a modern Intel CPU without E-cores, and the Bartlett Lake-S series offers just that. Unfortunately, we do not know if Intel will be serving the gaming market with this release.
The post Intel “Bartlett Lake-S” lineup reportedly leaks first appeared on KitGuru.MSI has started teasing a limited-edition graphics card collaboration with the popular fantasy anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, signalling another high-profile crossover.
The announcement first appeared on MSI's official Chinese Bilibili accounts (via Ruby_Rapids), featuring imagery that confirms a partnership with the series' copyright holders. While the specific product has not been officially confirmed, MSI's history suggests the collaboration will likely centre on a graphics card.
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If it's indeed a graphics card, it will likely be based on one of MSI's existing high-end cooling platforms, such as the Gaming series, though customised with unique artwork.
This follows a growing trend of anime-inspired hardware, such as the Asus x Hatsune Miku series, or before that, the Evangelion collaboration. US custom PC company, Starforge Systems, also built a Frieren-themed PC. While this specific MSI teaser was primarily aimed at the Chinese market, there is a chance that we'll see it in the West as well.
KitGuru says: If this collaboration does exist it will also be interesting to see if it ends up being region specific.
The post MSI is teasing a collaboration with anime Frieren first appeared on KitGuru.During a Dragon Ball anniversary event last night, a new, untitled game was teased. Now just weeks later, it appears a YouTube playlist update has revealed this game to be Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3.
The Dragon Ball ‘Age 1000' game announcement teaser was accidentally put into a public playlist on YouTube by the Bandai Namco YouTube channel. The playlist revealed the teaser as an initial announcement for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. Considering the game's codename and the Xenoverse' series' reliance on time travel, more than a few fans likely anticipated this anyway.
The Dragon Ball Xenoverse games have largely taken the spotlight on from previous 3D fighting games like the Budokai Tenkaichi series. In the Dragon Ball Xenoverse games, fans get to relive a mix of classic story fights, brand-new content and what-if scenarios. It has a massive character roster that has only grown through years of DLC support. However, with Xenoverse 2 having been around for almost 10 years now, this year would be a good time for a fresh new game in the series.
We will no doubt be getting more news on Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 in the coming months considering Bandai Namco is already preparing its back end for new trailers.
KitGuru Says: Did you play much of Xenoverse 2 since its launch? What would you like to see in a third game?
The post Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is officially on the way first appeared on KitGuru.For around a year now, there have been rumours of a major Starfield 2.0 update, one that would fix much of the criticism levied at the game at launch, while also bringing the game over to PS5 consoles. Unfortunately, one of those rumours has been shut down over the past week.
While it still seems likely that Starfield will make its way over to PS5, Todd Howard did want to address one of the recent rumours surrounding the game. In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, the long-time Bethesda game director said that ‘Starfield 2.0' is not a thing, although there are some big updates coming to the game this year.
“It is not Starfield 2.0 – I’ve seen some of that, and for expectation setting, I think it’s the kind've thing where if you like Starfield, we think you’re going to love this”, Howard added that the team is focused on “using outer space in ways that we haven't”. That last part is interesting, as one of the biggest fan requests for this game has been open travel between planets and space.
While not announced yet, it is also expected that Starfield will be getting a second story expansion at some point.
KitGuru Says: I really enjoyed my time with Starfield but I have yet to go back and play the DLC, in part because rumours of ‘major updates' have been floating around for so long.
The post Todd Howard pours cold water on ‘Starfield 2.0’ rumours first appeared on KitGuru.Our review of this HP Zbook Ultra G1a features the AMD Strix Halo APU which was announced at CES 2025. Despite its age this is the most powerful APU that money can buy, and both the CPU and graphics are truly impressive. To make things interesting we put the HP laptop head-to-head with Intel’s brand new Panther Lake Core Ultra X9 388H so we could see the best integrated graphics in action.
Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:52 AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Series
03:36 Intel Core Ultra Series 3 thoughts
04:19 A quick test or 2
06:32 Physical Size / Battery
07:37 Connectors / Keyboard / Looks
08:33 Hardware
09:17 Comparisons and Performance Hardware
11:13 GeekBench 6 Multi Core
13:20 Geekbench 6 Single Core
13:53 Cinebench 2026 Multi Core / Points Per watt
14:44 Cinebench 2026 Single Core
15:24 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
15:54 Cinebench 2024 Single Core
16:15 Cinebench R23 Multi Core
16:34 Cinebench R23 Single Core
16:44 7-Zip V25 Benchmark
16:56 Aida64 Memory Bandwidth
17:09 3DMark Fire Strike
17:52 Assassins Creed Mirage
19:57 FarCry 6
21:48 Cyberpunk 2077
24:21 PCMark 10 Battery Test
25:05 Closing Thoughts
Main Features
Specification
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
In Geekbench 6 Multi Core we see the HP Zbook in an effective tie with the Asus Zenbook Duo and Intel Panther Lake. This indicates that Core Ultra X9 388H has something extra that makes up for the lack of pure CPU grunt.
Cinebench 2026 Multi Core
This is the result we expected in Cinebench 2026 Multi Core with the AMD Strix Halo powering the HP Zbook to a clear victory by a massive margin.
AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth
The HP Zbook is loaded with a massive 128GB of LPDDR5x-8533 and the Strix Halo has a quad channnel memory controller which combine in AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth to deliver a decisive victory.
Far Cry 6 at 1,280×800 on Ultra Preset
We show a number of gaming tests in our video. This particular test shows a low resolution with the clever image enhancements disabled, and the result is the HP Zbook runs at over 100fps on average which is impressive.
Cyberpunk 2077 at 2,880×1,800 with Frame Generation Enabled
Cyberpunk 2077 is a stiff test for any laptop and 2,880×1,800 is a huge resolution so it comes as quite a surprise to see the HP Zbook using Frame Generation to play at nearly 100fps.
Battery Life
The HP Zbook does well in our battery test and shows that you can work all day on a single battery charge. Having said that, you will want to take the charger with you to guarantee you get maximum performance.
If KitGuru were to invent an award for Most Stealthy and Under Stated Product Ever, the HP Zbook Ultra G1a would make the list and would likely win the award. It looks like a dull, grey 14-inch laptop that is thin and light yet it packs the most amazing punch and delivers epic performance from the AMD Strix Halo APU without any need for add-in graphics.
You may have noticed in our video that we barely discuss operating temperatures and don't mention noise levels at all, and that is for good reason. The innards typically run at 60 degrees C on battery and 70 degrees C on charger, and the cooling system wasn't the least bit intrusive. It is a remarkable laptop that is mainly back by its hefty £3k+ price tag and slightly affected by the annoyingn amount of HP software.
You can buy the HP Zbook Ultra G1a for £3,204 HERE.
Pros:
Cons:
KitGuru says: The HP Zbook Ultra G1a is deeply impressive and shows we can live without Nvidia graphics.
The post HP Zbook Ultra G1a Review (Strix Halo) first appeared on KitGuru.Lenovo has reportedly notified its channel partners that significant price increases are expected to hit its PC and server line-ups starting in March 2026. In a letter, North America channel chief Wade McFarland and regional president Ryan McCurdy confirmed that the company’s Intelligent Devices Group (IDG) and Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) are adjusting pricing to offset the soaring costs of memory and storage components.
Also in the letter obtained by CRN (via TechPowerUp), to mitigate the impact on long-term projects, Lenovo has advised partners to finalise and submit orders before the end of February to lock in current rates before the March transition takes effect.
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The new strategy is particularly pronounced within Lenovo’s ISG unit, which manages server and storage solutions. Price quotes for internal bidding platforms are now being restricted to a 14-day window, while external quotes are capped at 30 days. This way, the company avoids being caught in long-term contracts that no longer reflect the rapid rise in component costs. Furthermore, Lenovo has moved to simplify its enterprise offerings by consolidating product lineups and reducing configuration complexity.
This situation reflects a broader trend affecting the entire hardware sector. The surge in demand for High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI data centers has syphoned off production capacity that would normally be allocated to the DDR5 and LPDDR5X modules used in consumer systems. As manufacturing lead times for these components continue to increase, other major PC providers are expected to raise prices as well.
KitGuru says: Lenovo might be the first, but it won't be the only company raising prices this year.
The post Lenovo announces impending PC price hikes as memory supply tightens first appeared on KitGuru.Underwater PC VR narrative puzzle game Echoes of Mora will launch in April on Steam.
Selkies Interactive announced at the recent Convergence Games Showcase that their debut title, Echoes of Mora, will launch April 29 on Steam. The announcement comes alongside a haunting story trailer and a 30-minute playable demo during Steam Next Fest, which begins today.
Echoes of Mora is described by its makers as an exploration-driven mystery with high emotional stakes, a fusion of Subnautica's atmospheric aquatic exploration and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture's melancholic storytelling. You follow and guide Mora. After her brother disappears near a cursed lake, Mora sets out to find him. As the lake's water rises, threatening the village, your help is crucial. You'll share clues you find in the underwater world, guide Mora in the past, and accompany her on a time-bending journey that could decide the fate of her family and village.
When we previously covered Echoes of Mora, our writer felt that "While [Echoes of Mora] is by no means a seamless swimming simulator, its compelling narrative beats and dreamy world design provide more than enough intrigue to earn it a place on my wishlist."
You can wishlist Echoes of Mora on Steam today in advance of its full release in April.

MacGyver-esque narrative VR puzzler Fixer Undercover hits Quest on February 26, with PlayStation VR2 and PC VR to come later.
Fixer Undercover was first revealed as a demo on the now defunct Meta Quest App Lab in 2024 and officially announced at the UploadVR Summer Showcase last year, promising a return to the VR escape room style puzzles popularized by games like the I Expect You To Die series and The Room VR: A Dark Matter.
As a special agent codenamed 'The Fixer', players will infiltrate a prison under the guise of a maintenance worker. Alongside a witty drone named Winston, a set of basic handyman tools like a hammer, grinder, pliers, and pipe wrench are used to solve a series of environmental puzzles.
Per a post on developer Creativity AR's Discord, it expects a full playthrough to take roughly six to eight hours.
Fixer Undercover Gameplay Trailer
Fixer Undercover was originally planned as an Early Access release in late January, but Creativity changed course in a social media post, saying "To be completely honest: we looked at the project and realized it wasn't ready to open its doors yet... We want to release a complete game, not a broken one. We apologize for the delay."
Fixer Undercover releases this Thursday on Meta Quest 3, 3S, and Pro for $14.99. The game's official website states that versions for Steam and PlayStation VR2 are planned for "a later date." The game can be wishlisted on Steam now.

Apple Immersive documentary Top Dogs brings you up close with spectacular champion breeds, but traditional filmmaking choices keep the immersion from taking Best in Show.
Apple Immersive Video is particularly well suited for narrative documentary content. It can give visitors virtual access to real, visually stunning moments in behind-the-scenes experiences and destinations that most of us will not be able to physically visit in our lifetime. The forced perspective of the 180-degree format also offers a familiar entry point for acclaimed directors accustomed to crafting video content for traditional flat screens.
The Apple Immersive Video format is 180° stereoscopic 3D video with 4K×4K per-eye resolution, 90FPS, high dynamic range (HDR), and spatial audio. It's typically served with higher bitrate than many other immersive video platforms.
We highly praised Apple Immersive Video in our Vision Pro review. It's not possible to cast or record Apple Immersive Video though, so you'll have to take our word for it unless you have access to a Vision Pro.
Paired with Apple TV’s reputation for visually polished and compelling storytelling, I went into the two Top Dogs Apple Immersive episodes with high expectations. But narrative and compelling visuals were not enough to create quality immersion. My role in the world of Top Dogs remained undefined, and certain creative choices gave me reason to…paws. It did not fully consider how experiencing the benefits of immersion inside a headset should feel different from simply watching a story unfold on a screen.
Spectacular dogs and clear storytelling.
The behind-the-scenes access that gets you up close to some incredible dogs makes this worth stepping into. I found myself face to face with breeds I have only ever seen on screens or in photos, and others I had never encountered before, each impeccably groomed and styled for the spotlight. The sheer range of dogs and their personalities is striking. They are the undeniable stars, and the stereoscopic depth brought me closer to these dogs than a traditional screen ever could.
The narrative also worked well. In just a combined thirty three minutes, I walked away with a clear understanding of how this renowned competition works. I learned what judges evaluate and gained insight into different aspects of the events. Participants are introduced cleanly. Stakes are easy to follow. Despite the short runtime, nothing feels rushed.
In many ways, I felt closer to this world than I would through a traditional screen. But getting close is not the same as feeling fully present within it.

Across both episodes, I kept returning to one question: who am I supposed to be here? Given Apple TV’s storytelling pedigree and the immersive potential of Apple Vision Pro, I expected Top Dogs to place me unmistakably inside its world rather than remind me at times that I was still watching from constantly shifting camera positions that were often stationary and sometimes moving speedily. My sense of embodiment wavered as scale and perspective changed without explanation or logic. Quick cuts shifted me from floating down an aisle of Dalmatians at eye level with their handlers, to sitting close-up at eye level with dogs, to looking up at handlers.
As a visitor to the documentary, I also did not feel like my presence was intended to be acknowledged. Those being interviewed spoke to an off-camera interviewer and avoided glancing into the lens, a choice typical of traditional flat-screen content. The only characters that seemed to recognize my presence on occasion were some of the dogs who took momentary interest in the camera. Locking eyes with Australian Shepherd Viking, 2024 Best in Show winner, was memorable. I impulsively shifted back when another dog jumped to the camera for a kiss. More moments like this would have helped with the sense of presence.
Directed and narrated by BAFTA and Peabody winner John Dower in his first immersive documentary, Top Dogs reflects a filmmaker clearly comfortable with traditional documentary language. But immersive storytelling demands intention around experience, not just storytelling.
The flyball competition segment showed what worked. The camera remained steady and well positioned as if I was watching from the sidelines. It gave me enough time to take in the space and choose where to look. The more time I had to notice details within the scene, the more immersed I felt. As the dogs sprinted back and forth, I turned my head naturally to follow them. The action defined my movement in the world. In contrast to many other moments in Top Dogs, this moment allowed me to feel confident in my spectator perspective, and present.
Framing and editing choices, however, often reflected traditional documentary grammar in ways that weakened immersion. Action and even faces were occasionally partially cropped within the 180 degree frame. Extreme close ups that might feel intimate on a flat screen felt odd and uncomfortable in headset. Photos appeared floating in black backgrounds rather than integrated into the environment. On screen text reinforced the sense of watching a framed production rather than being there. The quick cuts also shifted me between locations and perspectives without spatial grounding or transition of any sort. I would have liked to see more movement from the dogs and less movement from the camera.
When traditional documentary grammar dominates, the headset begins to feel optional. At several points, I found myself toggling from full Immersive Video to the windowed view to avoid some creative choices that felt jarring when fully immersed. I also found myself wondering why this was not simultaneously released as Apple TV content for more people to see it outside headset, given how closely its film language already aligns with traditional screens.

Google Glimmer is the company's design language for the interfaces in coming Gemini smart glasses with transparent heads-up displays, and eventually true AR glasses too.
On a traditional screen, designers fill a rectangle, and a VR headset stretches the canvas to a full sphere. On display glasses, the usable area is much smaller and always competes with real life. That alone calls for apps with glanceable layouts and a simple menu system. We saw a demo of Google’s prototype smart glasses at last year’s I/O.

Google describes the display as a space you opt into with focus, not something you passively absorb. These glasses are essentially heads-up displays (HUDs), not screens you stare at for hours. For daily use, display smart glasses should use a small area that allows you to shift attention briefly, then return to the real world at a moment’s notice.
Since screen colors blend with the background, Google recommends maintaining intensity instead of maximizing saturation since darker colors fade away on transparent screens.
Google also covered legibility, noting designers should base font size on what the eye can see clearly at arm’s length. Smart glasses displays often have tighter resolution limits and less forgiving optics, especially near edges. The predictable aspect ratios of mobile design no longer apply.

Apps shouldn’t display dense lists in tiny type, and even content should shift toward fewer words. Readability requires stronger contrast, heavier fonts, and clearer spacing. Google suggests its Sans Flex typeface as a good choice.
Battery life is another hard constraint for smart glasses, since weight is held to a minimum. Google calls for outlines instead of filled blocks to avoid halation (light bleed) and reduce power drain. Fewer lit pixels, transient messages, and optimizing motion are less taxing on the tiny thermal and battery envelope of smart glasses.

Google’s Glimmer is more than a style preference. It’s a plan to make the most of the limited display area, real-world backgrounds, legibility limits, and the challenges of daily use. To learn more, check Google’s guide on Jetpack Compose Glimmer.


Almost a decade ago now, Square Enix released NieR: Automata – a beautiful, evocative and highly fun game which introduced millions to the unique and bleak world of NieR. Despite the game’s critical and commercial success, we still have yet to receive a proper follow-up entry. Finally however, alongside the announcement that Automata has sold over 10 million copies, Square Enix confirmed that NieR will ”be continued…”
As part of the game’s 9th anniversary stream, publisher Square Enix officially confirmed that NieR: Automata has sold over 10 million copies – a massive achievement for what was a relatively unknown IP upon its release.
While passing such a milestone is nothing to sniff at, by far the biggest announcement at the event was the subtle confirmation that a new game is in the works, with the celebration video concluding with the words “NieR: Automata to be continued…”
While the wording itself is a little odd, it is in reference to one of the more iconic lines from the game. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that they specifically stated NieR: Automata, suggesting that the next game could be a direct sequel.
For the uninitiated, NieR: Automata is a sequel to 2010’s NieR: Replicant / Gestalt, set thousands of years after the first game. Furthermore, the original NieR was itself a spin-off of sorts to the Drakengard series of games. All this is to say that it appears as though the popularity of Automata and its characters are not going to waste, with a direct sequel likely in the works.
Though it's coming almost a decade later than expected, it is exciting to learn that we might finally get a new NieR game at some point.
KitGuru says: Are you glad to see Square Enix returning to NieR? Would you prefer a direct sequel or more of a NieR: Automata type of scenario? Let us know down below.
The post NieR: Automata celebrates 10 million copies sold, teasing the next game first appeared on KitGuru.