Back in 2020, Blizzard co-founder and former CEO, Mike Morhaime, returned to the games industry with a new company, Dreamhaven. With ambitions of being both a publisher and a game developer, Dreamhaven is now ready to reveal its first projects.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark, a new co-op action game from new studio, FuzzyBot, is set to be the first game published by Dreamhaven. We won't have to wait long to form our own opinions on the game either, as it is set to release as a Steam Early Access title on the 22nd of October.

In a report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, it is also claimed that Dreamhaven will also reveal another new game soon, developed by Secret Door, a studio that, you guessed it, was founded by another Blizzard veteran – Chris Sigaty, who previously worked as a producer on Starcraft 2.

KitGuru Says: Former Blizzard developers have gone on to set up a number of their own studios and each of them are working on interesting projects, showcasing the kind of creativity we used to expect from Blizzard on a regular basis.

For years, Games for Windows Live (GFWL) was seen as a blight on PC gaming. Fortunately, Microsoft ditched it, but in the process, some games were left inaccessible. A number of major games have been updated since to remove all traces of GFWL, including titles like Fallout 3 and Grand Theft Auto 4. Now, Capcom has committed to going back to some of its older titles to do away with the defunct online service in order to make those games available once again. 

When Games for Windows Live shut down, Capcom had to delist a number of titles from PC storefronts like Steam, including Ultra Street Fighter IV, Street Fighter X Tekken, Lost Planet 2 and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. Now, each of those games are set to make a comeback.

By monitoring SteamDB, we can see that Capcom has been making updates on the backend for each of these games. While no longer publicly visible on the Steam Store, the games are still in the database and Capcom is able to flip the switch and make them available again at any time. The depot updates are similar to those found in 2023 for Resident Evil 5, which was updated to remove GFWL.

By removing Games For Windows Live, Capcom can ensure that these classic games are playable for future generations and more importantly to Capcom's bosses, they can legally be sold once again too. There is no exact timeline for when these titles will be made available again, but chances are, they will be restored on Steam before the end of the year. So far, it appears that this process has already been ongoing for several months.

KitGuru Says: Over the past decade, Capcom has really switched gears, with a heavier focus on the PC gaming market. They have been rewarded for that with high sales for newer games like Devil May Cry 5, Monster Hunter World, and the new mainline Resident Evil games and remakes. Now, they are reinvesting at least some of that money into fixing their backlog for PC, which is always great to see. 

Nintendo has finally briefed development partners on its next-generation console, commonly referred to as the ‘Switch 2'. As a result, a fresh batch of leaks are in, giving us our first look at what the new system should look like, as well as a detailed breakdown of technical specifications. 

While there are two leaked photos of a physical device, the more interesting images are actually 3D Renders, based on all of the information Nintendo has revealed to partners so far. The two photos of the physical hardware simply show a bare logic board, and casings for the Switch 2 itself, as well as the newly-tweaked Joy-Con controllers.

These images first appeared on the GamingLeaksandRumours subreddit, but after asking around its game development sources, VGC found that the renders are accurate to what Nintendo showed to partners during briefings earlier this month. The end result is a sleeker version of the Switch and annoyingly, they've opted to leave the USB-C port at the bottom of the console rather than moving it to the top, which is about the only criticism I can offer about the device at this time – although I do understand that this is only an issue for someone like me, who uses the Switch entirely in handheld mode, without ever wanting to dock it. With the Switch 2's more powerful hardware, that could very well change once this new console comes across my desk.

Through shipping manifests tied to Nintendo and its known suppliers, we also have a pretty detailed look at the technical specifications of the Switch 2. The new console will utilise dual-channel LPDDR5X memory running at fast 7500MT/s speeds. Nintendo will also catch up to current-gen consoles when it comes to storage standards, with a much faster 2100MB/s UFS 3.1 drive under the hood, which is just a little under the speed of the SSD found in the Xbox Series X.

The new Switch system will utilise a new SoC, known currently as the GMLX30-R-A1, which will contain updated Nvidia graphics architecture, enabling support for features like AI-assisted upscaling to aid in performance testing. It is expected that the Switch 2 will be roughly on par with a PS4 in handheld mode, and capable of boosting to near PS4 Pro levels of performance in docked mode. To handle all of this, Nintendo has opted for a more powerful dual-fan cooling solution.

The last little nugget of info worth noting is that the Switch 2 will utilise the HDMI 2.1 standard, which paves the way for 4K at 120Hz, although we are unlikely to see any games actually running anywhere close to 120Hz at such a high native resolution.

As Nintendo has now briefed developers on its new hardware, it is expected that the company will announce the console publicly before the end of the year, with a launch planned for the first half of 2025.

KitGuru Says: I loved my Switch for the first four years but after that, the hardware really began to struggle with some of the games I was most interested in playing. Thanks to upscaling techniques, it is my hope that the Switch 2 will have a bit more longevity, especially for third-party AAA games. Considering all current-gen titles have to support the Xbox Series S, developers may not need to scale graphical features back much further in order to support the Switch 2. 

Netflix has had a decent amount of success with its animated videogame adaptations so far. The Castlevania series stands out as a highlight, but we've also seen excellent collaborations with companies like CD Projekt Red and Riot to produce shows like Cyberpunk Edgerunners and Arcane. The next wave of animated shows are now on the way, with Netflix focusing on classics like Splinter Cell, Devil May Cry and Tomb Raider. 

During Netflix's Geeked Week event, four trailers were shown that will capture the interest of gamers. For starters, there is a new Splinter Cell animated series on the way, titled Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, but the series does not yet have a release date.

The next trailer on the list is for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, which actually does have a release date – October 10th. Unlike the reboot trilogy of games from Crystal Dynamics, the series won't focus on the early days of Lara Croft turning into a daredevil adventurer, instead opting for a more seasoned version of the character, akin to the classic Tomb Raider games.

While Capcom and Netflix announced plans for a Devil May Cry series quite some time ago, it is only just returning to the spotlight now. Produced by Adi Shankar, the same producer responsible for the Castlevania show, Devil May Cry will follow Dante, with action scenes that appear to be inspired by classic anime like Trigun. The Devil May Cry series comes to Netflix in April 2025.

The final trailer on our list today is a very quick teaser. Netflix has renewed its collaboration with legendary anime studio, Studio TRIGGER, and CD Projekt Red to produce a new Cyberpunk anime.

It is unclear if this new series will carry the ‘Edgerunners' name, or shift to a new title to separate it from the original series, as Edgerunners did tell a complete, succinct story in its one season. As we've had little more than a logo from this teaser, it is safe to assume that it will be at least a couple of years until it is ready for us all to watch.

KitGuru Says: Of the new video game adaptations coming from Netflix, which one are you most interested in watching? 

HTC has launched its latest VR headset, the Vive Focus Vision. Aimed at gamers and business clients, the new Vive Focus Vision VR headset builds upon the Vive Focus 3 platform, introducing visual and comfort improvements and enhanced operational efficiency, including features oriented to scenarios with multiple users.

The Vive Focus Vision has a DisplayPort mode for PCVR, enabling lossless image quality when connected directly to a PC graphics card. This mode ensures that users can experience content as intended, without any loss of quality, making it an ideal choice for PCVR enthusiasts and corporate users seeking a top-tier experience.

Furthermore, the Vive Focus Vision offers integrated eye tracking and motorized auto-IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment, allowing for seamless headset sharing among multiple users while ensuring optimal viewing experiences for each individual. It also includes dual 16 MP colour cameras for stereoscopic passthrough, which enhances mixed reality experiences, providing users with authentic depth perception while wearing the headset.

In addition to these features, the Vive Focus Vision boasts a 5K resolution across both eyes, a depth sensor for scene identification, and an infrared sensor for improved tracking in low-light conditions. The headset also features a redesigned cooling system and a built-in sub-battery to ensure uninterrupted usage during battery changes.

Pre-orders are available until October 17th. Those who pre-order it will get a Vive Wired Streaming Kit and one game pack (PC VR Wild Pack, PC VR Epic Pack, or MR Fun Pack).

KitGuru says: Have you tried VR at this point? Would you be willing to spend this much on a new headset when solutions like the Quest 2 and Quest 3 are so much cheaper? 

Elgato has unveiled two new mic accessories for its Wave mic series. One is the Wave Mic Arm Pro, featuring a premium design with smooth movements and a low profile. The other one is the Wave Desk Stand, a portable studio arm that can be attached to any flat surface, catering to podcasting and other recording needs. Moreover, it also shared details on the upcoming Wave Link 2.0 update, which will introduce new features to the app.

The newly unveiled Wave Mic Arm Pro takes the lead in Elgato's Wave mount family, designed to meet the demands of studio production and integrate with high-end setups. The arm's low-profile design elevates microphones from below, offering unimpeded views. Its gas-spring suspension ensures smooth and quiet movement, and thanks to its all-metal construction, it can support mics weighing up to 3kg. The arm is available in black and white, with the option to customise it further with hinge caps in various colours.

For creators who are constantly on the move or working within a tight budget, the Wave Desk Stand is an excellent option. Offering versatility akin to a boom arm, it is quick to pick up and reposition, making it ideal for podcasting scenarios. The stand is compact, adaptable, and mounts on any flat surface, accommodating microphones, cameras, and lighting equipment.

Last but not least, the Wave Link 2.0 update brings many new features to the table, making audio organising and mixing easier. With the new update, Windows users can now experience seamless audio routing similar to macOS. In addition, the upgraded version allows for bundling various programs into a single channel for easier management, and users can visualise their configuration with icons for each app linked to a channel. Also, Wave Link 2.0 enables Stream Deck users to quickly transform their device into an efficient audio controller, simplifying the management of audio effects and such. The last addition worth mentioning is Sound Check, allowing users to record a short sample, which Wave Link will then process and playback through any active VSTs to enable you to hear as a listener would.

The Wave Mic Arm Pro and the Desk Stand are now available for £179.99 and £59.99, respectively. The Wave Link 2.0 is expected to come out soon.

KitGuru says: Do you have an Elgato Wave mic? Are you planning to use it with one of these mounting accessories, or are you pleased with your current solution?

Thermaltake is launching two new colour variants of its Tower 300 Series: Limestone and Gravel Sand. Inspired by the autumn season, these new colour options bring a touch of refinement to the already popular Tower 300 series, offering potential customers the option to get a PC case in a colour that's not as common as black or white.

The Limestone edition of the Tower 300 boasts a sophisticated grey tone, while the Gravel Sand edition features a warm and earthy beige hue. Both colours are designed to complement and elevate any setup, providing a modern and stylish aesthetic to your workstation or gaming environment.

Remaining true to its signature vertical body design and distinctive octagonal prism form, the Tower 300 series continues to captivate, offering a compact footprint and efficient use of space. The optional Chassis Stand kit allows for customisable horizontal positioning, offering a unique viewing angle and enhanced adaptability. Cooling components compatibility is pretty good for a compact case, supporting up to a 420mm radiator on the right side. The chassis delivers ample airflow but only comes with two CT140 fans.

Moreover, the Tower 300 features tool-free panels, including three 3mm tempered glass panels and two perforated side panels. The retractable fan bracket increases cooling options, accommodating up to three 120/140mm fans or a 360/420mm AIO radiator. For users wanting more from their case, the optional LCD kit includes a 3.9-inch screen compatible with the TT RGB Plus software to display real-time information, custom photos or GIFs.

KitGuru says: Of the two new colour variants, which one do you prefer?

The RX 7700 XT launched over a year ago now, and we recently published a revisit of the GPU to see how it stacks up in 2024. It seems Sapphire is not yet done with this market segment however, as the company recently launched the RX 7700 XT Pure Frostpunk 2 Edition, a card we first got hands-on with back at Computex 2024. Sporting a unique aesthetic that directly ties in with the game, today we take a look at this graphics card and see what it can bring to the table.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:50 Meet the 7700 XT Frostpunk 2 Edition
01:21 Unboxing experience
02:01 Design impressions + RGB
03:35 Heatsink and PCB analysis
04:53 Test setup
05:20 Thermals and noise
06:35 Power + efficiency
07:24 Clock speed, game benchmarks
08:34 Overclocking
09:20 Closing thoughts

The first thing you need to know about the Sapphire RX 7700 XT Pure Frostpunk 2 Edition is that it is fundamentally the same card as the regular RX 7700 XT Pure, which we have previously reviewed. By that I mean it's the same heatsink design, same fan layout, same PCB – the underlying card is identical, but Sapphire has changed up the visual appearance quite significantly, plus it comes with a bunch of Frostpunk 2 extras in the box, as well as a deluxe game code.

First, let's take a quickly recap the specs. Unlike the smallest RDNA 3 GPU – the RX 7600 – AMD has made a return to its chiplet-based design for the RX 7700 XT, as we initially saw last year with the RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT. This time around, the 7700 XT offers a 200mm² Graphics Compute Die (GCD) using TSMC's 5nm process, flanked by four 150 mm² Memory Compute Dies (MCDs) built on TSMC's 6nm node. One of those MCDs is disabled however, as the 7700 XT is not a full implementation of Navi 32.

Internally though, the compute makeup hasn't been radically changed. The cut-down Navi 32 silicon deployed here packs in 54 Compute Units, each of which houses 64 Stream Processors, for a total of 3456 shaders. There's also 54 Ray Accelerators – one per CU – and 96 ROPs.

As for clock speed, this remains high with the RX 7700 XT, with AMD touting a boost of up to 2544MHz, though a slightly lower game clock of 2171MHz. The Pure Frostpunk 2 Edition is slightly overclocked, with a 2584MHz boost clock.

Meanwhile, the memory configuration is almost identical to the previous generation RX 6700 XT. We still find 12GB GDDR6 operating over a 192-bit interface, but this time the memory clocks in at 18Gbps, up from 16Gbps. This gives a memory bandwidth of 432 GB/s, though AMD claims an ‘effective' bandwidth of 1995.3 GB/s due to the 64MB of 2nd Gen Infinity cache.

Power draw for the RX 7700 XT is rated at 245W Total Board Power (TBP), though AMD pointed out to us that this is an ‘up to' figure. We are using our well-established GPU power testing methodology in this review, so read on for our most detailed power and efficiency testing yet.

With Battlefield 2042 being sunset and the team at DICE fully moving onto their next project, the studio recently shared its first official details on the next Battlefield game; including its modern day setting. With talk of the game now out in the open, insiders have begun to share more details on the next Battlefield.

In a report by known leakers Insider-Gaming, the publication shared a bunch of new details on DICE’s upcoming Battlefield, while also reaffirming some older rumours.

According to Insider-Gaming, the next Battlefield will either be named just ‘Battlefield’ or Battlefield 6 – either is possible, especially as the series has not had the most consistent naming structure.

In terms of the game’s content, Battlefield will finally be getting a free-to-play Battle Royale experience, with the studio ‘Ripple Effect’ said to be in charge of its development.

The premium-priced Battlefield meanwhile is reported to take place between 2027 and 2030, with a campaign “focused on a massive private military going up against NATO,” taking players to multiple locations across the world.

Beyond this, the game is said to feature a significant overhaul to destruction physics and mechanics, including new calibre-based destruction. Additionally, movement is seeing a buff, with one improvement being the ability to now pick up and move downed teammates.

Last but not least, the Battlefield 6 is said to include a solid 45 weapons at launch, though with a much more conservative 10 maps.

Of course, Battlefield 6 or whatever it will be called is still a long ways away, and so we will have to wait and see how much of this comes to fruition – especially with the Battlefield series’ rocky history of development.

KitGuru says: Are you at all hopeful for the next Battlefield? Can the series ever return to its prime popularity? Is the F2P mode a big deal? Let us know down below.

By now, many are familiar with the overwhelming failure of PlayStation Studios’ Concord, with the live-service hero shooter from Firewalk Studios selling an estimated 25,000 copies and being shut down in under two weeks. While the state of the studio itself remains up in the air, Concord’s game director has decided to step down.

In a lengthy report published by Kotaku going into the past, present and future of Firewalk Studios, it was revealed that Ryan Ellis – the director for Concord – “told staff at Firewalk last week that he would be stepping down from his game director role and move into a support role instead.”

In discussing the studio’s current position within PlayStation Studios, sources who spoke to Kotaku were not optimistic, believing Concord may never resurface in a new form – however much of it remains speculative for now.

The full report is lengthy and goes into much greater detail on the feelings inside Firewalk Studios, but regardless, it’s quite clear that Concord’s unprecedented failure for PlayStation is going to impact the team further at some point or another.

KitGuru says: Did you try Concord? What do you think will happen to Firewalk Studios moving forward? Let us know down below.

Last month, the team at FuturLab officially announced the next crossover DLC coming to PowerWash Simulator with the Shrek Special Pack. No release date was given at the time, however, it has now been announced that players can get stuck into Shrek’s swamp early next month.

Publishing a new trailer to YouTube, the team at FuturLab officially announced the release date for PowerWash Simulator x Shrek, saying: “From Duloc to Far Far Away, travel to enchanted lands with our new Shrek Special Pack, coming to PowerWash Simulator on October 10th.”

The DLC, which will likely cost £6.50, includes 5 new levels to tackle; a custom knight washer player model / skin; and last but not least 10 new achievements/trophies.

PowerWash Simulator has had a ton of major crossovers since its launch back in 2022, including but not limited to Final Fantasy VII; SpongeBob Square Pants; Tomb Raider; and Warhammer 40,000.

It’ll be interesting to see what other random IP power washers will be tasked with cleaning next.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the DLC? Which of the crossovers has been your favourite? What weird DLC do you want them to release next? Let us know down below.

Earlier this month, Sony officially started PlayStation’s 30th anniversary celebrations, teasing a couple of their plans at the time. The PlayStation maker has now ramped up the celebrations in a major way – unveiling a suite of limited edition PS5 consoles and accessories.

Making the announcement on the PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino – the 

CEO of Platform Business Group at SIE said: “As we continue our celebrations leading up to the 30th anniversary of the first PlayStation console launch, we have a special treat to reveal today that brings the past together with the present.”

With that, Sony officially revealed a full set of PlayStation One themed hardware. As expected, the consoles in particular will be in limited supply, and so you’ll have to be quick to nab them when pre-orders go live on the 21st of November; but here’s what you can expect:

• PlayStation 5 Pro Console – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition BundIe
• PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle
• PlayStation Portal Remote Player – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (standalone)
• DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (standalone)
• DualSense Wireless Controller – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (standalone)

Both the PS5 and its Pro counterpart also include a couple bonus additions:

• Original PlayStation controller-style cable connector housing
• Four PlayStation Shapes cable ties
• PlayStation sticker
• Limited Edition PlayStation Poster (1 of 30 possible designs)
• PlayStation Paperclip

PlayStation has always celebrated its major anniversaries in a big way, and its 30th seems to be no different. It’s therefore a shame to see that production is so limited, as in many ways it looks better than the base console.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the 30th anniversary consoles? Do you own any limited edition systems? Would you like a PlayStation themed paperclip? Let us know down below.

There has been a lot of doom and gloom recently around Ubisoft's latest multiplayer shooter, XDefiant. After it was reported that the game is struggling to keep player numbers up, the studio has now addressed concerns around the game, stating that XDefiant is “absolutely not dying”.

Ubisoft San Francisco provided an XDefiant roadmap update this week, unveiling plans for Season 2 and beyond. While many are claiming the game is ‘dying', or in some cases, already dead, the developers are pushing back against that idea, saying the “game is doing well” and “absolutely not dying”. However, the team also acknowledges that there are key areas of the game that need improvement, like netcode and hit registration.

For an online shooter, those are two of the worst issues you can have, as it will do nothing but cause frustration amongst players. In a market filled with popular shooters, they'll simply jump over to one of the other massive free-to-play hits. However, the studio says that Ubisoft is in full support of the game at this stage and has allocated additional resources to the team in order to get the game into shape – although this is contradicted by recent layoffs at Ubisoft, which did see some members of Ubisoft San Fransisco let go.

XDefiant launched in May of this year after a string of delays. While the game initially had a lot of hype around it thanks to a successful beta in late 2023, the game has been unable to maintain that popularity at launch. Like any multiplayer game though, there is plenty of time for a bounce-back. Many of us remember the struggles of Rainbow Six Siege in its first years on the market. In fact, it was only Year 2 when R6 Siege developers had to hit pause and launch ‘Operation Health' to fix the game. Since then, Siege has been one of Ubisoft's most popular titles.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you played any XDefiant since launch? What do you think the developers need to do to bring players back on board?

In recent weeks, there have been rumblings that Sony is planning a new State of Play stream for September, unveiling the next wave of titles for PS5 (and PC). Now, we seem to have a hard date, with Sony planning to go live on the 24th. 

Industry reporter, Jeff Grubb, who has accurately leaked the dates for shows like State of Play in the past, has heard through sources that the next State of Play stream will be taking place on the 24th of September.

Sony typically confirms plans for new State of Play streams a few days before, so it is possible that Sony will confirm its plans before the end of this week, ahead of the stream next Tuesday.

State of Play is Sony's major stream, typically happening three to four times a year. Previous streams have revealed plans for major exclusives like the KOTOR Remake, Silent Hill 2, and the most recent Final Fantasy titles, as well as upcoming first-party games. With Concord bombing at launch and swiftly being taken offline, we are unlikely to see that game return in this stream.

We can expect to see Horizon Zero Dawn remastered during this stream, as the ESRB leaked the game for PC and PS5 earlier this week. Outside of that, any other first-party games are a total mystery.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I've been let down by the last few State of Play streams so I'm hoping Sony has something good to show here from the first-party stable. After all, it has been a while since we've seen anything new from Suckerpunch or Naughty Dog, meanwhile, Insomniac, Sony Santa Monica, Housemarque and Guerrilla Games have all released new games during the PS5 generation. 

This week's GeForce Now update has arrived, with a couple of the biggest PC releases of the year getting swift support, including the likes of Frost Punk 2 and Final Fantasy XVI.

The headlining game in this week's update is none other than Final Fantasy 16, which launched on PC earlier this week. The game is already playable via GeForce Now, and I've already had the opportunity to sink some hours into it on my Steam Deck. Using GeForce Now over WiFi on the Steam Deck OLED, the game runs flawlessly and looks far better than trying to run the game natively on the handheld.

Here is the full list of games joining GeForce Now this week:

• Frostpunk 2 (New release on Steam and Xbox available on PC Game Pass, Sept. 20)
• FINAL FANTASY XVI (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, Sept. 17)
• The Plucky Squire (New release on Steam, Sept. 17)
• Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (New release on Steam, Sept. 18)
• Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (Demo releases on Steam, Sept. 18)
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak (Steam)
• REKA (Steam)

Frostpunk 2 is another big release this week. The original survival-strategy game received rave reviews from fans and now, the sequel has landed. If you have a PC Game Pass subscription, you'll be able to access the game via GeForce Now without having to purchase it on a platform like Steam.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of this week's GFN update? Are you playing any of this week's new additions?

In a blog post simply titled ‘Regarding the Lawsuit', Pocket Pair has publicly acknowledged the pending lawsuit against the company, brought forward by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. While Both parties claim Pocket Pair has infringed on patents, so far, no specific examples of patent infringement have been supplied.

“Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed against our company for patent infringement”, Pocket Pair writes. “We have received notice of this lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement. At this moment, we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details.”

Pocket Pair is a small studio, based in Tokyo, Japan, so it would seem that this lawsuit was filed there simply due to the location of both Nintendo and Pocket Pair, rather than as a tactical manoeuvre due to Japan's stricter copyright laws. The studio acknowledges that this lawsuit will force the team to “allocate significant time to matters unrelated to game development”.

However, Pocket Pair also says that it will do its “utmost” to keep game updates coming for fans of Palworld, a title that garnered tens of millions of players at launch, and is due to get another influx soon thanks to the pending launch of a PS5 version of the game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As the studio wasn't sued prior to Palworld's release, I was of the mind that Nintendo had let this go, but that turns out to not be the case. From the sounds of it, the Palworld team is equally surprised to see the lawsuit at this stage.

Many fans were disappointed when Kingdom Hearts 3 came to an end and failed to wrap up all of the plot threads that sprang to life two decades ago. Fortunately, it looks like Kingdom Hearts 4 will aim to fix that, with the intention of delivering “a story that will be completed”.

As part of the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary celebrations, series director, Tetsuya Nomura, has been speaking with Japanese press about the series as a whole, as well as plans for Kingdom Hearts 4. Speaking with YoungJump, an offshoot of the famous Shonen Jump magazine, Nomura explained that with Kingdom Hearts 4, he's looking to finally wrap up the story so he can retire.

While some of the broad stroke events from the Kingdom Hearts franchise were planned all the way back in 2002, Nomura has admitted to needing to improvise in more recent titles. During the development of Kingdom Hearts 3, Nomura says he was already thinking about Kingdom Hearts 4, as well as potential future games.

However, with retirement now on the horizon for Nomura, he wants to ‘complete' the story in Kingdom Hearts 4. That doesn't mean there won't be more games in the future, but Nomura is going to wrap things up in the way he sees fit with this next release. As Kingdom Hearts uses a good number of Disney licenses, there is a lot of profit-sharing involved with sales of the game and merchandise. As a result, Square Enix may elect to not continue the series after Nomura is finished, in order to focus more resources on wholly owned IP.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Kingdom Hearts story is incredibly convoluted, in part due to the fact that major events are split between the main games and numerous spin-offs. With that in mind, it may even be a relief to some fans to see the series finally come to a conclusion.

Minecraft was one of the first major titles to offer VR support, starting with the original Oculus Rift back in 2015. Since then, VR support has come to plenty of additional platforms, including Sony's PlayStation VR. However, you won't be able to use PSVR with Minecraft for much longer. 

Roughly four years on from the launch of Minecraft's VR mode on PlayStation, Mojang has announced plans to end support. From March 2025 onwards, PSVR owners will no longer be able to use their headset with the game.

Confirming the move in a blog post, Mojang said: “Our ability to support PlayStation VR has come to an end, and will no longer be supported in updates after March of 2025. After you receive the final update, you will still receive updates on your PlayStation and be able to play without PlayStation VR. From this point on you can keep building in your worlds, and your Marketplace purchases (including Tokens) will continue to be available. You will no longer be able to use your PlayStation VR with Minecraft as it will no longer be supported in the latest updates.”

If you are particularly hardcore about your PSVR setup and require continued access to Minecraft in VR, then you may be able to get away with simply not updating the game and running your PS4 in offline mode.

While PSVR support is coming to an end, Mojang has stated that it plans to provide more frequent updates for Minecraft in the new year. Rather than focusing on one major update each summer, we'll be getting more regular updates every few months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Given Sony's lack of interest in supporting its own VR platform, it isn't surprising to see other developers dropping PSVR development. For now, it looks like there will be no Minecraft PS VR2 update either, leaving PC as the only platform capable of running Minecraft in VR. 

AMD will reportedly launch a refreshed lineup of the Hawk Point SKUs next year. Expected to be named Ryzen 200, the refreshed series would come as a competitor to Intel's Core 200 “Raptor Lake Refresh” CPUs for laptops, expected to come out later this year.

AMD and Intel are expected to unveil updates to their current laptop CPU lineups in the months ahead. The latest rumours around AMD's new-gen processors comes from Golden Pig Upgrade (via Wccftech), pointing to a refresh of the existing Hawk Point subarchitecture, under new Ryzen 200 branding.

The AMD Ryzen 200 series is reportedly a refresh of the Hawk Point APUs, so expect it to resemble the current Ryzen 8040 series closely. This series features up to 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 4 architecture. Moreover, they come with up to 8MB of L2, 16MB of L3 cache, cTDPs ranging from 35W to 54W, and a Radeon 780M iGPU with up to 12 RDNA 3 CUs.

In light of Microsoft's Copilot+ “AI PC” TOPS requirement of at least 45 TOPS, systems using Ryzen 200 “Hawk Point Refresh” APUs won't meet the certification requirement, as the platform is rated at 39 TOPS. The Ryzen 200 series is reportedly slated for a release early next year, coinciding with the Strix Halo and Kraken launches.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Would you prefer a Ryzen 200 series-based laptop instead of a Ryzen AI 300-based one, knowing the latter will probably carry a premium due to being a “CoPilot+ AI PC”?

The CUDIMMs (Clocked Unbuffered Dual Inline Memory Modules) have started to catch the attention of many users. By integrating a clock driver directly onto the module, signal integrity, stability, and reliability at higher speeds are improved, allowing for the development of faster memory modules than standard UDIMMs.

While the JEDEC standard specifies a default speed of 6400 MT/s for CUDIMM, it's worth noting that all announced kits at launch had minimum speeds of 9200 MT/s, with some even surpassing 9600 MT/s. Looking ahead, several manufacturers have teased future kits with speeds reaching up to 10,000 MT/s.

MebiuW (via Wccftech) stated that Intel's Arrow Lake-S platform would support this type of memory at least up to DDR5-10000 and showed a screenshot of it running DDR5-9600 memory using Gear 2.

Interestingly, recent news releases showcasing CUDIMM memory have featured screenshots from the Arrow Lake-S platform, but none have explicitly referenced the CPU. This move suggests that memory companies are taking the lead in unveiling this new technology before Intel officially debuts its new platform. The new RAM is set to hit the market in the fourth quarter, aligning with the launch of LGA-1851-based motherboards. However, as of now, it's still uncertain if the Ryzen 9000 series and the 800-series motherboards will support CUDIMM or not.

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KitGuru says: Do you think AMD will also begin supporting high-speed CUDIMM memory? 

Adata XPG announced the release of three new products aimed at the DIY market. With two new chassis, the XPG Invader X Mini and the XPG Valor Air Plus, customers may create eye-catching ATX systems without breaking the budget. Meanwhile, XPG Probe introduces a new Bronze efficiency option to the XPG PSU line.

The XPG Invader X Mini is a new addition to the Invader X chassis line. Modeled after the original Invader X, this compact variant offers ATX motherboard compatibility in a sleek enclosure. This case is equipped with five ARGB fans, four of which are reverse, and offers a broad choice of compatibility options while keeping outstanding cooling performance and space. Specifically, this case uses its size to direct fresh air into the GPU using bottom fans. With its tiny footprint, the XPG Invader X Mini is about the same as many mATX cases but offers a more comprehensive choice of motherboard options.

The XPG Valor Air Plus is a cost-effective variant of the Valor Air chassis. It's the perfect mid-tower chassis for budget-conscious gamers and system integrators, supporting GPUs up to 340 mm in length, 360 mm radiator support at the front, and 240 mm support on top. With a high-airflow magnetic front panel and up to four preinstalled ARGB fans, the stock configuration of this case should be enough to meet the cooling needs of most PC components.

Lastly, the XPG Probe series brings the brand's PSU lineup into the entry-level segment. The Probe is the first of various PSU series the company plans to launch in this segment, introducing Bronze efficiency solutions to the 600-700W sector. XPG collaborates with testing laboratories like Cybenetics to ensure the Probe PSUs fulfill the Bronze certification standards, giving up to 87％ efficiency at 50% load. This inexpensive PSU meets ATX v2.52 specifications, making it among the highest-rated Bronze-level units available.

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KitGuru says: Interested in any of Adata XPG's new PC components?

Back when Palworld first went viral for its ‘Pokémon with Guns' concept, many had assumed Nintendo would try to block the game's release with legal threats. As it turns out, the game was allowed to launch but now, just ahead of the game's impending PS5 release, Nintendo has officially filed a lawsuit. 

Pocketpair, the studio behind Palworld, is being sued by both Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for ‘patent infringement'. Crucially, the lawsuit has been filed with the Tokyo District Court, rather than an overseas court. While Nintendo is no stranger to conducting its legal battles on US or EU shores, copyright laws in Japan are typically much stricter, so this will have been a tactical decision to try and sway things.

Palworld shares one core similarity with Pokémon, it is a game about collecting and taming monsters. However, Palworld takes things a step further by incorporating open-world survival and base-building elements. While all of the Palworld designs are original, with no direct rip-offs of any one particular Pokémon, it is clearly a Pokémon-inspired game, and as there are so many Pokémon in existence at this stage, it would be difficult to avoid making a Palworld creature without any similarities to at least one of the hundreds, upon hundreds of Pokémon that have been designed over the years.

While legal experts in countries like the US believed that Nintendo would not have a strong enough case for a claim, the copyright laws are much more restrictive in Japan, which could lead to some trouble and potentially stop Palworld from becoming available in Japan.

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KitGuru Says: I would have expected this lawsuit prior to Palworld's release but at this stage, the game has been out since January and has been played by over 25 million people. It is a bit late to try and put the genie back in the bottle.