Following the launch of its all-translucent Phantom Collection (green translucent peripherals) earlier this year, Razer is now expanding the lineup with a clean and striking new colour option. The new Phantom White collection takes the same transparent design philosophy and applies it to a white finish, creating a retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by vintage gaming hardware.

Razer says the internals of each device have been re-engineered and colour-matched to ensure a cohesive look through the transparent white chassis. The design aims to highlight the internal mechanisms of the hardware while also amplifying the effects of the integrated Razer Chroma RGB lighting.

The Phantom White treatment is being applied to a range of Razer's most popular peripherals. The lineup includes a Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K wireless mouse, a Razer BlackWidow V4 75% hot-swappable mechanical keyboard with translucent keycaps, and a Razer Barracuda X Chroma wireless headset. The world's first fully illuminated RGB mouse mat, the Razer Firefly V2 Pro, also gets a transparent white top layer to show off its circuitry. In a first for the Phantom line, the new colour option is also extending to mobile gaming with the Razer Kishi V3 Phantom White Edition.

The Phantom White collection products are slightly more expensive than their standard counterparts, though. Each costs £10/$10/€10 more, putting the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K Phantom White at £169.99/$169.99/€179.99, the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Phantom White at £199.99/$199.99/€229.99, and the Razer Barracuda X Chroma Phantom White at £139.99/$139.99/€149.99. As for the Razer Firefly V2 Pro Phantom White, it costs £109.99/$109.99/€119.99, and the Razer Kishi V3 Phantom White costs £109.99/$109.99/€119.99.

KitGuru says: Do you like the aesthetics of Razer's Phantom White collection? Planning on getting any of them?

The post Razer goes retro-future with new Phantom White transparent peripherals first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo has been expanding its list of emulators for Switch Online ever since launch. At this point, the service contains classic games from each Nintendo console up to the Game Boy Advance. Now, a new patent filing has seemingly revealed plans for the Nintendo DS to join the line-up. 

The patents, first spotted by Mike Odyssey, show how Nintendo plans to handle dial-screen functionality on a Switch-like device. The implication here is that the Nintendo DS will join the list of emulated consoles supported on the Switch 2 console.

Nintendo hasn't announced anything officially yet and just because there is a patent doesn't mean there is a product. With that said, Nintendo will expand its Switch Online emulation offering at some point during the Switch 2's lifespan, and a trip back to the DS days could be a lot of fun.

There is no word on what games could be included here, but titles like The World Ends with You, Mario Kart DS, Brain Age, Professor Layton and the Curious Village and Ghost Trick could be a good place to start, offering a mix of familiar titles, with a few cult classics that some fans may have missed at the time.

KitGuru Says: What DS games would you like to see join the Switch Online library? 

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After many, many years in development and numerous delays, Vampire The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is officially launching. For those looking to snag a DRM-free copy, you'll be pleased to know that GOG has opened up pre-orders.

GOG, the PC game store dedicated to DRM-free games, has opened up pre-orders for Vampire The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. On top of that, those who purchase the game before October 24th will also receive a free copy of Vampire: The Masquerade – Reckoning of New York, a narrative adventure set in the same universe.

The new game, Bloodlines 2, is set twenty years after the events of the original. Players will find themselves in the shadows of a modern city teeming with intrigue, supernatural politics and moral dilemmas.

If you end up wanting to go back to experience the first game, then GOG sells the DRM-free version of that too.

KitGuru Says: A DRM-free game gives you more ownership over the product, with no weird rules around the number of installations or hardware changes allowed, no online check-ins and no data tracking components.

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Lian Li's power supply line-up expands this week with the new R8 550W, 650W and 750W models. All three are fully compliant with the new ATX 3.1 standard, so you can be sure that this PSU will be suitable both now and well into the future.

The RB Series features an integrated cable management system with a built-in groove and Velcro straps to secure excess cables, paired with a semi-modular layout that lets users connect SATA and peripheral cables only when needed. The 650W and 750W units also include a native PCIe Gen 5.1 12V-2×6 connector (up to 450W) for next-gen GPU support.

With a high amperage single +12V rail and a DC-to-DC conversion design for enhanced voltage stability and power quality, the RB Series is engineered for reliable performance. Cooling is handled by a quiet 135mm FDB fan, ensuring efficient airflow while keeping noise levels in check. Operating at just 33.2 dBA to 40.1 dBA, depending on the model, the fan delivers quiet performance even under full load. Other built-in protections include OPP, OVP, SCP, OCP, UVP, and OTP.

The Lian Li R8 550W PSU will be available for around $49.99, going up to $59.99 for the 640W model and $69.99 for the 750W model.

KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for a new build?

The post Lian Li’s new R8 PSUs debut with integrated cable management first appeared on KitGuru.

While the community has plenty of freedom to come up with its own game modes for Battlefield 6, that doesn't mean the developers don't have more official game modes up its sleeve. Datamining through the launch version of Battlefield 6 has revealed references to as many as six game modes not yet featured in the game. 

Insider Gaming reports that references to six unannounced game modes have been found within the Battlefield 6 files. These modes include Raid, Payload, Sabotage, Squad Shootout, Strike Point and Tank Hunt.

Two of these modes, Strike Point and Sabotage, will be launching within the next month, as part of the season 1 content rollout for Battlefield 6. The other modes remain a mystery.

Aside from these modes mentioned here, it has been claimed that Battlefield Studios is also working on a dedicated naval combat mode.

KitGuru Says:  Are there any modes you would like to see in Battlefield 6? Have you tried any of the custom-made modes through the Portal? 

The post Datamine reveals six new game modes for Battlefield 6 first appeared on KitGuru.

Asus ROG has today expanded its Azoth keyboard family with a new, feature-packed model, the ROG Azoth 96 HE. This new board adopts a compact 96% layout and is loaded with the latest gaming features, including new magnetic switches, a true 8000 Hz polling rate, and an integrated full-colour touchscreen.

The new Azoth 96 HE features hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 magnetic switches. These switches, combined with a new ROG Hall sensor, allow for a highly customisable actuation point, adjustable from 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm. This also enables support for a Rapid Trigger function, giving gamers a significant competitive advantage in fast-paced titles.

The keyboard boasts an 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless modes, a feature that previously required a special booster dongle on other ROG keyboards. It also offers standard Bluetooth connectivity, allowing it to pair with up to five devices simultaneously. For on-the-fly control, the Azoth 96 HE features a 1.47-inch OLED touchscreen and a three-way control knob, both from the flagship Azoth Extreme. This allows users to adjust settings like the actuation point and trigger sensitivity directly on the board, without needing to open any software mid-game.

The keyboard also features a premium build with a metal top cover, gasket mount structure, and a full six-layer sound-dampening system with multiple layers of PORON foam and silicone to provide a cushioned and refined typing sound. Lastly, Asus has even included some transparent ROG-branded keycaps in the box for an extra touch of customisation.

KitGuru says: Asus has not shared pricing information but given that the cheapest Azoth keyboard goes for more than £200, the ROG Azoth 96 HE won't certainly come cheap.

The post Asus’s new Azoth 96 HE keyboard packs 8KHz wireless polling and magnetic switches first appeared on KitGuru.

Embark Studios has been busy preparing for the launch of its next game, Arc Raiders. Today, a massive open playtest begins, giving everyone a chance to download and try out a slice of the game ahead of its full launch.

The Arc Raiders Server Slam is now officially live, running across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. The game is playable on PC via both Steam and the Epic Games Store, with cross-play between all platforms.

This is not a beta test, but rather a server infrastructure test. By making the playtest open to all, Embark Studios wants to see how things run at mass scale, allowing them to tackle any glaring issues before the game's full release on October 30th.

During the playtest, you will have access to The Dam Battlegrounds, a sprawling map, much of which is flooded, with abandoned research centres, forests and swamps sprinkled throughout. You'll have access to most weapons, but the highest-tier gear in the game is being kept under wraps until launch.

Progression earned during the server slam will not carry over to the full game, but those who do take part will get an exclusive cosmetic reward when the game does fully launch.

While Embark Studios' previous release, The Finals, was a free to play game, ARC Raiders will have a £32.99 purchase price, so this may be one of your only chances to try the game out for free.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on taking part in the ARC Raiders server slam this weekend?

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It is officially the 25th anniversary of the HITMAN series. To mark the occasion, IO Interactive is releasing a new limited-edition 25th Anniversary version of HITMAN World of Assassination, the full package that combines Hitman (2016), Hitman 2 and Hitman 3 into one set.

The HITMAN World of Assassination 25th Anniversary Edition will be a physical-only release and to top that off, it will also only be available for PS5, so there will be no equivalent 25th Anniversary release for Xbox or PC. The 25th Anniversary limited edition set goes up for pre-order today, with the first units set to ship out on October 17th.

This special release features an exclusive shadowbox, a special visual for the PS5 game case, four highly acclaimed celebrity DLCs (The Undying, The Drop, The Splitter, and The Banker), along with a collectible Lenticular Art Card celebrating the HITMAN legacy.

The Hitman World of Assassination 25th Anniversary Edition will cost $49.99 and will be available in limited quantities.

While this 25th Anniversary Edition set is exclusive to PS5, HITMAN: World of Assassination is available across a broad range of platforms, including Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PlayStation VR2, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS and PC. On the 21st of October, IO Interactive will host a special stream where we may get a sneak peek at upcoming content for all platforms.

KitGuru Says: Are you a fan of the Hitman games? Will you be picking up the limited edition 25th anniversary release?

The post Hitman World of Assassination 25th Anniversary Edition launches today first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past few months, Ubisoft and Tencent have been forming a new subsidiary, splitting off key franchises like Assassin's Creed and handing them off to the newly formed Vantage Studios. With the launch of Vantage Studios happening recently, Ubisoft made it clear that one long-time franchise leader, Marc-Alexis Côté, would no longer be working with the company. At the time, Ubisoft stated that Côté opted to leave, but he is now claiming otherwise.

Marc-Alexis Côté had worked at Ubisoft for over two decades, working on the Prince of Persia before moving on to Assassin's Creed, where he has served as the franchise boss for years. With the shuffling of Ubisoft and the new subsidiary, Vantage Studios, forming, Ubisoft has let go of a number of executives and moved others to new posts. Ubisoft claimed that they offered Côté a leadership position at Vantage Studios but he turned it down. Now, Côté has said via LinkedIn that he was actually “asked to step aside”.

“From the messages of colleagues, friends, and fans, a recurring theme has emerged that I feel the need to clarify. Many of you have expressed surprise that I would choose to leave Assassin’s Creed after so many years, especially given the passion I still hold for it. The truth is simple: I did not make that choice. Ubisoft decided to transfer the leadership of the Assassin’s Creed franchise to someone closer to its new organizational structure.”

Côté adds that Ubisoft did offer him a position at Vantage Studios but explained that it “did not carry the same scope, mandate or continuity of work” as his previous role.

While things may not have ended 100% amicably, Côté says that he holds “no resentment” towards Ubisoft.

Development of Assassin's Creed games is expected to continue as usual, even with things moving over to Vantage Studios. This new subsidiary will also oversee development of other key franchises like Far Cry.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see what direction Assassin's Creed goes in next. Personally, I'd like to see Assassin's Creed go smaller in scope, rather than continuing to rely on these overly bloated open worlds.

The post Former Assassin’s Creed boss says Ubisoft asked him to ‘step aside’ first appeared on KitGuru.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master is an interesting open-world racing game which puts as much emphasis on feeling cool as it does in winning, with near-constant drifting, tight turns and flashy finishes. Following its release on PC earlier this year, the simcade racer has now been officially announced to be coming to Xbox consoles next month – and PS5 in 2026.

Making the announcement, the team at Gaming Factory officially confirmed that JDM: Japanese Drift Master is coming to consoles following its launch on PC back in May.

Interestingly, the game is set to arrive on Xbox first, launching in just over a month’s time (the 21st of November) – followed by its arrival on PS5 sometime in Q1 of 2026.

As mentioned, JDM: Japanese Drift Master is a unique open-world racer which, unsurprisingly, is all about drifting around the streets of Japan in an experience which takes you right back to the early 2000s Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift era of racing.

While the game was received warmly following its PC launch back in May, recent reviews have trended downwards, with the primary complaint being that the physics feels somewhat awkward when using a racing wheel.

However, the game is designed primarily with a controller in mind (even if wheel support was directly stated to feel “as smooth on a controller as it is with sim racing hardware”), and so it will be interesting to see what Xbox players think of the game when it arrives next month.

KitGuru says: What do you think of JDM: Japanese Drift Master? Are you excited for its console launch? Why do you think the PS5 version is arriving later? Let us know down below.

The post JDM: Japanese Drift Master officially announced for PS5 and Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.

For the past few generations we’ve seen Ubisoft move away from many legacy franchises, ignoring its classics including the likes of Rayman; Call of Juarez and of course Splinter Cell. Fortunately, the latter seems to be making a slow comeback, starting with the recent release of the animated Netflix show Splinter Cell: Deathwatch. Following its arrival just a couple days ago, Netflix has now confirmed that a second Season is on its way.

Making the announcement during IGN’s Fan Fest event, John Wick creator and Splinter Cell: Deathwatch writer/executive producer ‘Derek Kolstad’ confirmed that a second season of the animated series is in the works, stating:

“We’ve got a season two coming your way,” adding that while they don’t yet have a premiere date for Season 2, the follow-up is currently “fully into pre-production and everyone is super excited about where we go next.”

Seeing as how Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is a Netflix original, it is entirely possible that both Seasons 1 and 2 were being developed concurrently (as has been the case with other animated Netflix shows).

As such, while it is exciting to see a second Season already having been confirmed, the real test for its success will be whether the show winds up getting a 3rd Season.

We will have to wait and see, but regardless it is exciting to see Sam Fisher return – even if not in video game form.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Season 1? Are you looking forward to its follow-up? What are your thoughts on Netflix’s other animated adaptations? Let us know down below.

The post Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Season 2 confirmed just days following Season 1 premiere first appeared on KitGuru.

While MLB: The Show had for the longest time been a PlayStation console exclusive (owing to it being developed by Sony’s San Diego studio), the annual baseball series was finally brought over to Xbox following a renegotiation of the series’ licensing contracts. That said, MLB: The Show has yet to make its way to the PC platform. Fortunately, it appears as though this might be changing soon.

As discovered by ResetEra user ‘Aspect’, Sony San Diego recently published a new job listing for a Senior Graphics PC Programmer, with the description reading as follows:

“Come join San Diego Studio making a AAA PC title. Our focus is on delivering innovative, high quality gaming experiences. We are seeking a Senior PC Graphics Programmer to join our team in advancing the visual and technical quality of a AAA PC title.”

It continues, “You will focus on writing and optimizing our PC engine, debugging performance issues, implementing new graphics features, and ensuring the game takes full advantage of platform specific technologies offered by NVIDIA and AMD.”

Though not yet officially announced, this all-but-confirms that MLB: The Show is planned to come to PCs in the future. Given that Sony San Diego has worked almost exclusively on MLB for the past 20 years, this job listing is unlikely to be referring to anything else.

Sports games in general are console-centric, with the likes of EA’s Sports FC and 2K’s NBA series selling best on console. That said, given that the series has already found its way onto Xbox (and later Switch), it makes sense that Sony would choose to support the PC platform regardless of whether their hand was forced or not.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the job listing? Could it be for anything else other than MLB: The Show? Have you been hoping the series would come to PC following its arrival on Xbox/Switch? Let us know down below.

The post MLB: The Show is seemingly finally coming to PC first appeared on KitGuru.

Sony is currently locked in a legal battle with Tencent due to the latter’s announcement of Light of Motiram – an open world game which looks eerily similar to PlayStation’s Horizon Zero Dawn / Forbidden West franchise. Previous revelations from the lawsuit included the fact that Tencent had previously pitched a Horizon game to Sony – which the console maker rejected. That said, this wasn’t the only potential project, with the two companies at one point planning to work on a new game based on The Last of Us.

As reported by the publication TheGamePost, a recent court filing by Sony revealed that the PlayStation maker and Tencent were at one point planning to collaborate on a Last of Us project, with PlayStation Studios’ Olivier Courtemanche stating:

“With respect to Aurora Studios [the team behind Light of Motiram], we went into the meeting under the impression that they wanted to do a potential collaboration for The Last of Us”. This was in the wake of Sony having already rejected their pitch for a Horizon title (which was codenamed project Z).

That said, according to Courtemanche the meeting took a different turn, with the pitch including “images resembling a potential Horizon collaboration from the ‘Project Z’ concept discussed in March 2024,” adding that “I believe that these images contained assets from the Light of Motiram game. I was confused by the slide given that we had rejected a potential Horizon collaboration and thought we were there to discuss The Last of Us, among other opportunities.”

Given just how close Sony seems to hold The Last of Us to their chest, it is interesting to see that the console maker had rejected a pitch for Horizon, but was willing to work on a new Last of Us with Tencent.

Of course, both deals ultimately fell through, with Tencent then going on to announce Light of Motiram – leading Sony to file this lawsuit…and the rest is history.

Regardless, it appears as though the events leading up to this lawsuit were perhaps even more messy than original thought. It will be curious to see how the lawsuit proceeds – and whether any other secret cancelled projects are brought to light as a result.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the lawsuit in general? Does Sony have a solid case? Would you have preferred Tencent to make a licensed Horizon or Last of Us game? Let us know down below.

The post Sony lawsuit reveals Tencent was also working on a Last of Us game alongside Horizon first appeared on KitGuru.

 

Quantic Dream has been working away on its own original Star Wars game for years, but very few details have surfaced about it since its announcement in 2021. Now, Quantic Dream has spoken out about the project for the first time in a while. 

In a new blog post, Quantic Dream founder, David Cage, revealed how Quantic Dream has transformed from a single-project studio into a multi-project studio, with multiple games in the works. This includes a first for this studio – a competitive multiplayer game. Typically, Quantic Dream has only produced interactive single-player adventures, so a step into the multiplayer realm is a bold move.

“This new title may surprise our fans as it is very different from what we have done so far. But taking risks, challenging ourselves, exploring new ways of playing and telling stories, and attempting what seems impossible, has always been part of our DNA.”

After quietly announcing this secret new multiplayer game, Cage also added that “development of Star Wars: Eclipse continues”, but there is still no word on when we might see more of the game.

While we know very little about Star Wars Eclipse currently, we do know that the game will be one of the first to explore the High Republic era of the Star Wars timeline. This era is set centuries before the main film saga, showcasing a period of time where the Jedi and Sith were both in their prime.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Right now might be the worst time in gaming history to be an unproven studio working on a new IP multiplayer project. The market is so dominated by just a handful of free-to-play shooters that breaking into this market as a newcomer seems impossible. 

The post Quantic Dream founder says Star Wars Eclipse still in development first appeared on KitGuru.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 became one of the highest-rated shooters of 2024 but Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive are not done with the game just yet. Following on from a massive Anniversary Update this summer, the developers have now made a free demo available across all platforms. 

From today until October 20th, players on Xbox or PlayStation consoles can play the free demo, which will let you try out each of the game's playable modes. On PC, the demo will be available for a bit longer, lasting until October 23rd on Steam.

If the demo scratches an itch, then you will be pleased to know that the full game will also be purchasable at a 50% discount during this same time period and you won't lose any of the progress made during the demo.

Alongside all of this, there is a limited-time Discord quest, so if you link your Discord and Steam accounts, you can claim some extra goodies, including an exclusive Bolt Rifle skin to use in-game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Will you be trying out Space Marine 2 while the free demo is available? 

The post Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 gets free demo this week first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this week, an analytics firm predicted that Battlefield 6 had sold over seven million copies during its first five days on the market. Now, EA appears to have official numbers in hand, brandishing Battlefield 6 as the biggest launch in series history.

EA has confirmed that Battlefield 6 sold over 7 million copies at launch, with that number split between platforms like Steam, the EA App, Epic Games Store, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Aside from the high sales numbers, the game also saw high watch time across various gaming streams, with over 15 million accumulative hours watched.

In a statement, Battlefield general manager, Byron Beede, said: “First and foremost we want to thank our players. Battlefield 6 was built with our fans. From the initial concept through to the implementation of Battlefield Labs and into the record-shattering Open Beta we have been obsessed with player feedback. Together, with our players we've had a singular goal: to craft the best Battlefield ever. And this is just the beginning – our first season of new content is just 12 days away”.

Battlefield 6 will get its first round of post-launch content later this month. On top of that, the game's big Battle Royale mode is also set to debut.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you jumped into Battlefield 6 already? How are you finding the game so far?

The post Battlefield 6 has biggest launch in franchise history first appeared on KitGuru.

MSI is looking to accelerate AI development with its new mini supercomputer, the MSI EdgeXpert. Available starting this week, the EdgeXpert bridges the gap between desktop performance and portability, with a small desktop system based on the Nvidia DGX Spark platform.

At the heart of the MSI EdgeXpert is the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, combining CPU and GPU architecture to deliver up to 1 petaFLOP of AI Tensor performance within a compact 1.2L form factor. Featuring 128GB of unified LPDDR5X memory and NVLink-C2C interconnect technology, the EdgeXpert ensures lightning-fast data exchange and high-efficiency inference even with the most demanding large language models. Users can fine-tune and deploy models with up to 200 billion parameters locally, or scale to 405 billion parameters with a dual-system configuration powered by NVIDIA ConnectX networking.

Built for on-premise deployment, the EdgeXpert ensures that sensitive data remains local, providing zero-latency operation and full compliance with enterprise-level security standards. Its architecture supports complete AI workflows, from model prototyping and optimisation to real-time inference, without transferring data to external servers.

Running on NVIDIA DGX OS and the NVIDIA AI software stack, the EdgeXpert delivers a unified development platform that supports mainstream AI frameworks and tools. This consistent environment simplifies setup, accelerates research timelines, and enables seamless scaling across multiple devices or NVIDIA DGX Cloud for expanded computational power.

Here is the full spec sheet:

While different specs will be priced differently, SCAN has one version of this system available in the UK, priced at £3,799.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: These systems will be rolling out soon. While they are primarily intended for enterprise environments, an enthusiast with deep pockets should also be able to buy one at a number of retailers across the globe. 

The post MSI launches EdgeXpert AI mini-PC based on Nvidia Grace superchip first appeared on KitGuru.

Apple has taken the wraps off its next-generation silicon, the M5. Built on a third-generation 3nm process, the new chip is a major leap forward, with a clear and aggressive focus on GPU and AI performance. The M5 is now available in new versions of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and the Apple Vision Pro, with pre-orders live now.

While the CPU sees a respectable generational uplift, the GPU is the clear winner here. The new 10-core GPU architecture from Apple is a radical redesign, now featuring a dedicated Neural Accelerator in each core. Apple claims this new design delivers a massive 4x increase in peak GPU compute performance compared to the M4 and over 6x compared to the M1. This is a huge boon for GPU-based AI workloads, with Apple specifically highlighting faster performance in diffusion models and local LLMs.

Graphics capabilities have also been substantially improved, as the M5 features a third-generation ray tracing engine and an upgraded shader pipeline that, combined, deliver up to 45% faster graphics performance than the M4. For the Apple Vision Pro, this extra horsepower enables a higher 120 Hz refresh rate and a 10% increase in pixel count for a sharper and smoother experience.

On the CPU front, the gains are more modest. The M5 features an up to 10-core CPU with four performance cores and six efficiency cores, delivering up to 15% faster multi-threaded performance than the M4. This is complemented by an enhanced 16-core Neural Engine for on-device AI tasks and Apple Intelligence features. To feed these more powerful components, the M5 also gets a boost in unified memory bandwidth of about 30%, now hitting 153 GB/s. Apple says this, combined with capacities up to 32 GB, allows for larger AI models to run entirely on-device and provides a better multitasking experience in creative suites like Adobe Photoshop.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: With the new M5, can Apple convince users from Linux and Windows to jump into its ecosystem?

The post Apple’s new M5 chip promises 4x AI performance and 45% faster graphics first appeared on KitGuru.

With its launch just around the corner, developer The Chinese Room has finally pulled back the curtain on the full PC system requirements for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. The detailed specs give us a clear picture of the hardware needed to run this Unreal Engine 5 title, from a basic 1080p experience all the way up to high-framerate 4K.

Built on Unreal Engine 5 and utilising its key features like Lumen and Nanite, it's no surprise that you'll need some decent hardware to get the most out of the game's visuals. For those just looking to get in the door, the minimum requirements are pretty forgiving. To hit 1080p at 30 fps on Low settings, you'll need something like an Intel Core i3-8350K or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, 8 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480.

To hit the sweet spot of 1080p at 60fps on High settings, the developers recommend a more modern setup. This calls for a mid-range CPU like an Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 16 GB of RAM, and a graphics card in the class of an Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT. Interestingly, the developers note that this same hardware (with the Nvidia GPU) can push 1440p at 60 fps on Ultra settings by enabling DLSS Performance Mode.

For those wanting to jump to 4K, you'll need to bring some serious firepower. To achieve native 4K at 60 fps on High settings, the recommended spec jumps up to a high-end CPU like an Intel Core i7-13700K or AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D, paired with a top-tier graphics card like an Nvidia RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Lastly, the developers have outlined what it will take to hit 4K on Ultra settings with high frame rates. This top-tier spec requires the same i7-13700K or 5800X3D, but calls for an Nvidia RTX 5080. With this setup, and by leveraging DLSS 4 in Performance Mode with Multi-Frame Generation, players can reportedly hit 240 fps.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is set to launch on October 21st.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning to get Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2? Is your PC ready for it?

The post Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 final PC specs revealed first appeared on KitGuru.

Sharkoon has become a relatively well-known brand in the low to mid-tier of PC gaming peripherals and components. The company's product pricing is typically highly competitive, and that’s not changing with their SGM35 and SGM50W gaming mice. Both share the same core design but the SGM50W is wireless and comes with a magnetic charging dock for just £40. The SGM35 forgoes the wireless connectivity but lowers the price to just £20 for its wired connection. Do you get what you pay for, or is this a bargain you need to know about?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:53 Pricing and availability
01:24 Design first impressions
02:53 Primary buttons + RGB
04:06 A charging dock comes included?!
04:51 Mat’s thoughts on build quality
05:53 Specs and switches
07:42 Real-world performance
09:02 Closing thoughts

Specifications

SGM35

• Max. DPI/CPI: 6,400
• Min. DPI/CPI: 400
• Sensor: Optical
• Chip: ATG4090
• Onboard Memory for Game Profiles: ✓
• Capacity of Onboard Memory: 8 kB
• Illumination: RGB
• Max. Polling Rate: 1,000 Hz
• Lift-Off Distance: 1–2 mm
• Frames Per Second: 6,000
• Inches Per Second: 100
• Max. Acceleration: 20 g
• Mouse Feet: 5, 100 % PTFE
• Weight without Cable: 80 g
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 125 x 72 x 42 mm
• Supported Operating Systems: Windows

SGM50W

• Type: Dual Mode
• Wireless Communication: 2.4 GHz
• Max. Wireless Range: 10 m
• Frequency Range: 2.405 – 2.475 GHz
• EIRP Transmit Power: < 0 dBm
• Operating Temperature: 0 to +40 °C
• Max. DPI/CPI: 6,400
• Min. DPI/CPI: 400
• Sensor: Optical
• Chip: ATG4090
• Onboard Memory for Game Profiles: ✓
• Capacity of Onboard Memory: 512 kB
• Illumination: RGB
• Max. Polling Rate: 1,000 Hz
• Lift-Off Distance: 1–2 mm
• Frames Per Second: 6,000
• Inches Per Second: 100
• Max. Acceleration: 20 g
• Mouse Feet: 6, 100 % PTFE
• Weight without Cable: 95 + 60 g (Charging Dock)
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 125 x 72 x 42 mm
• Supported Operating Systems: Windows
• Battery:
  • Type: Lithium-Ion
  • Capacity: 930 mAh
  • Battery Life: Max. 70 Hours
  • Recharge Options: Wired (USB)

You can buy both the SGM35 and SGM50W on Amazon UK, but delivered by Amazon EU, for roughly £20 and £40 respectively: SGM35 – SGM50W.

SGM35

Pros:

• Affordable pricing.
• Included replacement skates.
• PBT main button material improves grip and comfort.
• Decent build quality for the price.

Cons:

• Lack of customisation options.
• Preset DPI levels that cannot be changed.
• Dated sensor specifications.

SGM50W

Pros:

• Affordable pricing, especially considering it's wireless.
• Included replacement skates.
• Comes with a charging dock.
• PBT main button material improves grip and comfort.
• Decent build quality for the price.

Cons:

• Lack of customisation options.
• Preset DPI levels that cannot be changed.
• Dated sensor specifications.

KitGuru says: The SGM35 and SGM50W both offer great value for money and would be a great option for anyone shopping on a tight budget. However, they come up short against more premium mice with more customisation options. 

The post Sharkoon SGM35 and SGM50W Mice Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Building on the success of the Celeris 1800 keyboard and the Thock V2 lineup, ENDORFY continues to update its line-up with new accessories. The Solum Voice S Alt Gray microphone and Viro Plus USB Alt Gray headphones are now launching.

These peripherals had already released in Onyx White form, but now there is a darker colour option for those who want it. This time around, it is Endorfy's signature Alt Gray finish.

The Solum Voice S Alt Gray is a desktop microphone that captures sound in a cardioid pattern, focusing on your voice while naturally reducing background noise. Dual filters – internal and external foam – keep the audio clean from unwanted distortions. It is also functional right out of the box, requiring no additional software, just adjust the gain dial directly on the mic and hook up to your PC via USB. There is a touch to mute function, and if you need to monitor your audio, there is a direct 3.5mm jack on the microphone too.

The Viro Plus USB Alt Gray headphones are powered by large 53mm drivers. Combined with a dedicated 7.1 USB sound card, you can personalize your sound profile through intuitive software. And thanks to soft memory foam padding and an additional pair of breathable ear cushions, the headphones stay comfortable, even during long sessions.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for new gaming peripherals? Are you considering a new microphone and headphone combo?

The post Endorfy debuts new Alt Gray Solum Voice S mic and Viro Plus headphones first appeared on KitGuru.

Arctic is well known for its strong-performing AIO coolers and fans. This week, they are launching their new P12 Pro Reverse fans, adding to the line-up with non-RGB and A-RGB options.

The P12 Pro Reverse fans are specially designed for builds where performance and aesthetics are equally important. They draw air in from the rear – ideal for installation scenarios where fans with classic airflow direction would detract from the look. The P12 Pro Reverse A-RGB is the first model in the series, with non-RGB and 140mm versions to follow.

The Reverse Airflow technology is specifically designed for reverse airflow and is ideal for pull installations and flawless RGB staging. In addition, minimal clearance, automatic balancing, and high-precision measurement reduce vibrations and ensure efficient performance.

The Arctic P12 Pro Reverse fans will be available for $23.99 each, or $51.99 for the 3-pack.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you putting together a build with reverse-flow fans?

The post Arctic launches new P12 Pro Reverse fans first appeared on KitGuru.

GeForce Now had a big weekend thanks to the launch of Battlefield 6. Now this week, Nvidia is following that up with ten more games joining the cloud gaming library. 

This week also marks the launch of RTX 5080 servers for GeForce Now Ultimate members in the UK. The servers in Ashburn, Portland and Dallas have also been upgraded. The US Atlanta servers will be updated next. This week also expands the list of RTX 5080-powered games with the addition of Control, Remedy's excellent supernatural action thriller, which also makes full use of the RTX feature set.

The full list of new games joining the GeForce Now library this week includes:

• Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow (New release on Ubisoft Connect, Oct. 14)
• Ball x Pit (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, Oct. 15)
• Escape from Duckov (New release on Steam, available on Oct. 16)
• Fellowship (New release on Steam, Oct. 16)
• Pax Dei (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass; 1.0 release on Steam and Epic Games Store, Oct. 16)
• Amnesia: The Bunker (Epic Games Store, Free on Oct. 16-Oct. 23)
• Earth vs. Mars Demo (Steam)
• Street Fighter V (Steam)
• Ultra Street Fighter IV (Steam)
• Wobbly Life (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of this week's round of GeForce Now titles? 

The post GeForce Now adds ten more games and expands RTX 5080 support first appeared on KitGuru.

Just seven months after hitting a new peak, Valve's PC gaming platform has done it again. Steam has set a new record for concurrent users, with over 41 million players logged in at the same time this past Sunday, October 12th.

According to SteamDB, while some might be quick to attribute the new record to the ongoing Steam Next Fest, that event didn't kick off until the following day (although some demos were available before its official start). Instead, the massive influx of players can be credited mainly to the hugely successful launch of EA's Battlefield 6, which has clearly brought a massive number of gamers to the platform (peaking at around 650K CCU on Sunday).

Of course, Battlefield 6 didn't achieve this milestone on its own. While the new shooter was a major contributor, sitting comfortably in the top four most-played games, it was the combination of this huge new release with Steam's evergreen titans that pushed the platform over the top. As always, Valve's own titles were a dominant force, with Counter-Strike 2 leading the charge with a peak of over 1.5 million players, followed by DOTA 2 and the ever-popular PUBG: Battlegrounds.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the top charts, however, is the performance of the new Delta Force. Despite a mixed reception from critics and players on Steam, the game has defied expectations, landing in the top five most-played games over the weekend. The rest of the charts were filled with the usual popular titles, including Apex Legends, Rust, and Grand Theft Auto V, as well as the usual non-game mainstays like Wallpaper Engine and the meme-game Banana.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: This new record is a clear indicator of the incredible health of the PC gaming ecosystem, with massive new launches and long-standing favourites combining to push the platform to greater heights.

The post Steam smashes concurrent player record with over 41 million users online first appeared on KitGuru.