When Intel launched Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 200V) in 2024 we gave you the technical details and followed up with a review of the Asus Zenbook S 14 which has incredible battery life. In the following month we discussed Intel Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200S) and how we considered it was unfit for review in a situation that was not resolved until February 2025. On the one hand we have Lunar Lake which we like, while on the other hand we have Arrow Lake which is troubled, yet both families of processors run on Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores and have a huge amount in common.

Another point which we mentioned in our reviews but didn't cover in much depth is that Lion Cove ditches SMT or Hyper-Threading which has been a feature since Pentium 4 in 2002. We are familiar with an eight-core CPU with 16 threads but we now have to get used to the idea of 8P+16E=24T. We figured the best way to understand this significant change was to ask, Ori Lempel, the leader of the team that designed Lion Cove.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and set-up
02:56 How far ahead do designers work when they design a CPU core?
08:28 Are decisions about power, clock speed, cache and cost handed to designers as parameters
12:17 Exactly who is the customer for a particular CPU core
14:03 Are the choices of memory controller, storage and PCI Express deeply exciting for a core designer?
15:26 Fubs (Functional Blocks) and large partitions – core designs move from 300 cells to six
20:33 AI as part of the CPU design process
23:59 The removal of SMT from Lion Cove
25:30 Ori does maths to explain when SMT becomes a problem
35:13 Thread Director is still hard at work
35:40 Windows 10, Windows 11 and Linux
36:52 Quantum Computing
38:58 How did Intel conjure up Raptor Cove from Golden Cove
41:48 Sign off

KitGuru would like to thank:

Ori Lempel, Senior Principal Engineer in Core Design Team
Robert Hallock, VP and General Manager, Client AI and Technical Marketing

KitGuru says: Thanks to Intel for their time and be sure to let us know your thoughts on the interview.

The post Senior Intel Engineer Explains the Radical Shift in CPU Design first appeared on KitGuru.

The PCIe 5.0 SSD market is heating up, with increasing competition and a wider variety of controller technologies entering the fray. Kingston, through its Fury brand, has entered the PCIe 5.0 arena with the Fury Renegade G5 SSD, a drive that boasts impressive sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s.

Based on VideoCardz's report, the first thing that caught our attention about the upcoming Fury Renegade G5 is its controller. Unlike many existing PCIe 5.0 SSDs, which rely on Phison-based controllers, Kingston has opted for Silicon Motion's SM2508 SSD controller (based on a 6nm process node). Silicon Motion touts the SM2508 as being up to 70% more power-efficient than competing controllers, a benefit that translates to lower heat generation and cooler operating temperatures for the SSD.

Kingston plans to offer the Fury Renegade G5 SSD in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. All three variants will adhere to the industry-standard M.2 2280 form factor and utilise 3D TLC NAND flash memory. Moreover, these SSDs use a 12-layer PCB to enhance signal integrity, an independent Buck IC for consistent power draw, and low-power DDR4 DRAM as cache to further reduce power consumption.

Sequential read speeds can reach up to 14,800 MB/s, pushing the PCIe 5.0 interface to the limit. Sequential write speeds can reach 14,000 MB/s. Achieving speeds significantly higher than this would require either more PCIe lanes or a transition to the faster PCIe 6.0 standard. All models in the series can exceed 2.15 million read and write IOPS and offer a massive TBW of up to 4 Petabytes.

KitGuru says: Assuming it has comparable performance to the current top PCIe 5.0 SDs, how much would you be willing to pay for the upcoming Fury Renegade G5 SSDs?

The post Fury G5 PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD to feature up to 14,800MB/s speeds first appeared on KitGuru.

Nvidia has announced the latest round of games to get DLSS 4 upgrades. This week, both Cyberpunk 2077 and FragPunk get updated to Nvidia's latest DLSS transformer AI models, and gain the ability to switch on Multi-Frame Generation, allowing users to boost frame rates even further.

For newer titles, both Steel Seed and STORROR Parkour Pro are both launching with DLSS 4 support. Steel Seed is a new stealth-action game set in a dark sci-fi world where humanity stands on the brink of extinction. RTX 50 users can enhance the game with Multi-Frame Generation, while RTX 40 users can use standard Frame Generation. STORROR Parkour Pro comes from Sleeve Game Studios and is an Early Access multiplayer parkour game.

Cyberpunk 2077 & FragPunk are two already-released but ever-popular titles getting updated with DLSS 4 this week, enabling the new, more precise upscaling algorithm, alongside RTX 50-exclusive feature, Multi-Frame Generation.

At this point, DLSS is present in over 700 games and applications. Despite only being a few months old, the latest version, DLSS 4, is already making good progress in being adopted by developers.

KitGuru Says: Do many of you regularly play games with DLSS enabled, or do you prefer to switch it off?

The post Cyberpunk 2077, FragPunk and more get DLSS 4 upgrade this week first appeared on KitGuru.

During today's Nintendo Direct, a few first-party exclusives were confirmed for the Switch 2, but there was a much bigger wave of third-party games announced. From promising indie titles to massive AAA ports of next-gen titles, we've rounded up all 22 third-party games announced for the Switch 2 so far.

As there were so many games to cover, Nintendo had to split up the spotlight trailer into two parts. Here is Part 1, including reveals for Elden Ring, Hogwarts Legacy, Hitman and more:

And here is Part 2, including reveals for Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and more:

Here is the full list of third-party games revealed for Switch 2:

• DELTARUNE
• Borderlands 4
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• WWE 2K
• NBA 2K
• Survival Kids
• Enter the Gungeon 2
• STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
• ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition
• Hades II
• Street Fighter 6
• Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
• SPLIT FICTION
• EA SPORTS FC
• EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4
• HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition & Project 007
• BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster
• Yakuza 0 Director's Cut

As some of these games don't have release dates yet, they won't all be available at launch. The next NBA 2K game for instance, won't come out until September, and Borderlands 4 does not yet have a release date yet. Others like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, will be available on Switch 2 from day-one.

KitGuru Says: I was impressed by how good the Cyberpunk gameplay looked for the Switch 2. While we don't have the deep-dive technical specs for the chip under the hood, it does appear to be a powerful one.

The post Nintendo confirms 22 third-party games for Switch 2 including Cyberpunk 2077 first appeared on KitGuru.

The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack will be carrying forward to the Switch 2 console, and those picking up Nintendo's next-gen console will get brand new benefits – starting with a wave of GameCube classics. 

Nintendo GameCube is the latest console to get backwards compatibility support as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription and its Expansion Pack. The GameCube titles will be exclusively available on the Switch 2, but the initial line-up is very good:

Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Strikers are the two stand-out Mario games of the GameCube generation and both will be playable on Switch 2. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Luigi's Mansion are two other classics joining the GameCube library. Pokémon fans will be pleased to learn that both Pokémon Coliseum and Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness will be part of this wave of supported titles as well.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and Soul Calibre 2 (complete with Link cameo) are also confirmed.

Nintendo GameCube will be available to Switch Online Expansion Pack owners on the Switch 2 at launch. More GameCube titles will be added to the library at a later date.

KitGuru Says: I'm sure these games would have run on the original Switch, but still, it is one more incentive to try and push people towards the new hardware. 

The post Some of the best GameCube classics are coming to Switch 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo has confirmed the first six first-party Switch games to get upgrades for the Nintendo Switch 2. This includes new upgrades for both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, as well as still upcoming titles like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends Z-A. 

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gets one of the most impressive upgrades from a technical standpoint. Players will be able to run the game at 120Hz in handheld and TV modes on Switch 2. The game also has a 4K/HDR mode with the console docked.

For the Zelda titles, the updates go further beyond. You will get enhanced resolutions and frame rates, alongside faster loading times. However, you'll also get access to new features, like the companion app, Zelda Notes, which also acts as a hub for players to export and share blueprints for interesting crafts.

The full list of first-party titles confirmed to be getting Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades includes:

• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Pokemon Legends Z-A

Unfortunately for those who already own a game on the Switch 1, upgrades to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are not free. You will have to pay for an ‘upgrade pack', similar to Sony's PS5 Edition upgrades for certain PS4 titles.

KitGuru Says: There are a lot of games I want to see looking and running better on Switch 2, but I don't really want to have to pay for all of these upgrades when a resolution bump and frame rate boost should be free by virtue of the stronger hardware. 

The post Nintendo reveals first games to get paid ‘Switch 2 Edition’ upgrades first appeared on KitGuru.

During today's Nintendo Direct, the gaming giant confirmed its launch plans for the Switch 2. The new console is launching in June, proving the accuracy of a retail leak from earlier this week. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be available from the 5th of June. Mario Kart World has already been announced as one of the major launch-day titles for the new console. However, Nintendo has also announced other features, like GameChat, game sharing functionality and even a Switch 2 camera accessory.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be as thick as the original Switch, however, it has a larger 7.9-inch display with FHD resolution, and up to 120Hz in supported games the new LCD display also supports HDR. The new Switch 2 Dock has 4K support for those wanting to play at higher resolutions on the TV.

The new Joy-Cons have been redesigned to be more comfortable to use in two-handed mode. The Joy-Cons are now magnetically attached to the console, removing the previous rail system. On top of that, a new sensor within the Joy-Cons allow them to be used in mouse mode.

The console has dual USB-C ports, so you can charge your console and connect accessories at the same time. As standard, the Switch 2 comes with 256GB of storage space.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be available starting on the 5th of June. Pre-orders will be available starting on the 8th of April, priced at £395.99 for the Switch 2, or £429.99 for the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on upgrading to the Switch 2 when it launches? 

The post The Nintendo Switch 2 releases on June 5th for £395.99 first appeared on KitGuru.

While Nintendo made great strides with its online services in the Switch era, there were still some crucial things missing, such as console-level party chat. That is now changing with the Switch 2, which will offer GameChat and even the ability to share games within chat lobbies. 

The Switch 2 Joy-Con now has a C button, which is a shortcut to the new Chat functionality. Players will be able to set up chat lobbies of up to four players and share gameplay. A microphone within the console has functionality similar to RTX Voice, allowing for background noises to be removed and keeping communications clear.

Aside from game screen sharing, some games will be sharable with up to three friends in a GameChat lobby, so the whole group can play together without having to buy multiple copies of the game. Some of the games confirmed to support this functionality include Super Mario Odyssey, Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain, Club House Games, Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury and Captain Toad Treasure Tracker.

An accessory Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is also going to be sold separately from the console for those who would prefer to video chat.

KitGuru Says: While we can meme on Nintendo for taking this long, it does appear that they put a lot of time and effort into polishing up the chat experience. It essentially seems like an improved version of Discord thanks to the game sharing functionality. 

The post Nintendo reveals Discord-like GameChat for Switch 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

The first big launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed. Mario Kart World will be releasing later this year exclusively for Nintendo's new console. 

The trailer showcases a large level design, in which players can drive from race course to race course, and go off-road to discover secret areas and new routes.

Mario Kart World will also boast the largest races in series history, with up to 24 players per race, and that includes the off-road drives between courses in a Grand Prix. In some ways, it takes inspiration from the likes of Forza Horizon with its bigger and more interactive world and multiplayer.

Mario Kart World will be available for the Switch 2 on day-one.

KitGuru Says: Mario Kart is a good way to kick off a new console generation, although it isn't quite as hype as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Still, this Nintendo Direct has only just begun, so we expect to see some more game announcements. 

The post Mario Kart World announced for Nintendo Switch 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo has announced a double feature of Treehouse Live sessions scheduled for later this week, offering fans an extended look at upcoming Switch 2 gameplay. While the duration of each presentation remains undisclosed, Nintendo has confirmed that both will showcase “hands-on gameplay of Nintendo Switch 2 games”, providing a more detailed look at the software library for the upcoming Nintendo console.

True to the Treehouse format, these broadcasts are expected to feature game developers and potentially key Nintendo personnel, who will play and discuss the featured titles, offering valuable insights into their design and gameplay.

The Treehouse Live sessions will likely offer extended gameplay demonstrations of any new titles revealed during the preceding Direct Showcase, providing a deeper dive into the console's launch lineup.

These Treehouse Live sessions will follow the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase, scheduled for April 2nd at 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. BST. The first broadcast is set to air on April 3rd at 7 a.m. PT / 3 p.m. BST, with a second session following at the same time on April 4th.

KitGuru says: Are you interested in getting the new Switch console? Will you be watching the Nintendo Direct and the Treehouse streams?

The post Nintendo schedules Treehouse streams to showcase Switch 2 in-depth first appeared on KitGuru.

Rebellion, the UK-based studio famed for the Sniper Elite series, has announced that its latest release, Atomfall, has become the developer's “most successful launch” in its 32-year history.

Atomfall, a post-apocalyptic survival game inspired by the real-world Windscale nuclear disaster of the 1950s, launched on March 27th. It quickly amassed a substantial player base, exceeding 1 million players within its opening weekend and reaching over 1.5 million in the following days. The game's inclusion in the Xbox and PC Game Pass libraries undoubtedly contributed significantly to its impressive player numbers. However, Rebellion did not disclose the number of actual units sold.

In addition to the 1.5 million player milestone, the studio announced other achievements from the community, including:

• 316,000 players chose to eliminate the scientist early in the game.
• The humble cricket bat has been wielded for a staggering 3.7 million kills.
• Players have consumed over 4 million pastries and 300,000 cups of tea.

Over at Opencritic, the game sits at a decent 75, with 65% of the critics recommending it. In general, critics have enjoyed the story, but some gameplay issues and design hurdles somewhat deter it from becoming a better game.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried Atomfall? What's your opinion of it?

The post Atomfall is Rebellion’s most successful launch ever with 1.5 million players first appeared on KitGuru.

Known for their work on the somewhat charming Sherlock Holmes series of games, Frogwares’ single most high-profile title is likely The Sinking City. Released back in 2019, this H. P. Lovecraft inspired 3rd person action-adventure game is perhaps known best for its messy distribution – with the devs eventually obtaining full rights to the IP. Now, in anticipation of its sequel, The Sinking City is getting a free remastered upgrade.

Making the announcement on Steam, the team at Frogwares officially unveiled The Sinking City: Remastered, writing: “Charles Reed returns to Oakmont, a city drowning in supernatural mystery and eldritch terror – now fully remastered with Unreal Engine 5! Coming soon to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series, including a free upgrade for existing owners.”

Though we have not gotten a full breakdown of all the changes / improvements coming with this remaster, the team have promised lighting enhancements thanks to Unreal Engine 5. Whether this means ray-tracing is involved however is still unknown.

Beyond this, The Sinking City: Remastered will also benefit from:

• Enhanced locations with additional levels of detail and objects
• 4K textures and improved reflections
• Addition of a Photo Mode
• Support for DLSS, FSR and TSR upscaling

No price nor release date has been given for this remaster, however, as mentioned above, those who already own the game will be entitled to a free upgrade – which is always welcome to see.

In case you missed it, Frogwares is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for The Sinking City 2 with just a few days left to go. The full details can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of The Sinking City? Will this remaster suffer from common UE5 issues? How much do you think the game will cost if you don’t already own it? Let us know down below.

The post The Sinking City Remastered officially announced first appeared on KitGuru.

Nightdive Studios has amassed a solid reputation for their work on remastering many classic titles from history across PC and old-gen consoles. Following the likes of System Shock; DOOM; Quake; Turok and much more, Nightdive looks set to tackle the 7th generation next with PS3 and Xbox 360 remasters.

In an interview conducted by VGC, Nightdive Studios founder and CEO Stephen Kick (alongside director of business development Larry Kuperman) spoke on their future plans for the team. According to the two, Nightdive is gearing up to remaster games from the 7th generation of consoles – meaning PS3 and Xbox 360.

In discussing their approach, Kuperman said “I would begin asking a couple of questions. Was it Xbox 360 exclusive, or was there a PC version out too? Because that also changes things, the little preservation that’s available. Do we have source code? If so, what’s the quality of the source code? How about the assets? Those are the kinds of considerations that we have there. That being said, there were some really good games that came out in that era that shouldn’t be lost.”

In talking about the PlayStation 3 specifically and its unique CELL architecture (which is the reason why there is no backwards compatibility on PS4/5 with PS3), Kick stated:

“If we get to that – or I should say when – we get to the PS3 era games, it will be a challenge that we have to face. But I think that we’ve had enough experience to where we can do a serviceable job on a PS3 remaster”. The full interview can be found HERE.

All in all, there still remains plenty of 7th-gen titles trapped on these older systems – especially on the PS3 front. With Sony recently working more and more alongside 3rd-party developers to remaster their old games, hopefully Nightdive could be tasked with bringing the classic inFAMOUS duology, Killzone or even Resistance back.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Nightdive’s work? What PS3-era games would you like to see remastered? What one game would you want to be their top priority? Let us know down below.

The post Nightdive Studios gears up to remaster PS3 / Xbox 360 exclusives first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the course of this generation, we’ve seen an increasing number of titles offer crossplay between all consoles and PC, opening up the potential pool of players greatly. Interestingly, we’ve now started to see a bit of back-sliding in this regard. As part of Season 3 for Call of Duty Black Ops 6, console players will now be able to opt out of crossplay with PC entirely.

Alongside the launch of Black Ops 6 Season 3 today, console players across both Xbox and PlayStation will now be able to toggle a new option in the settings. Previously, players could enable or disable crossplay, however there was no in-between.

Starting with Season 3, those on console across both regular multiplayer and ranked mode will be able to toggle between full crossplay, console-only crossplay or of course no crossplay – meaning you’ll only match with others on the same platform.

While this new toggle could cause potential matchmaking issues in the future, the move has been met with support from fans, owing to a cheating issue experienced by some console players when engaging with PC folk online.

Though a more permanent solution to the cheating would be preferable, this serves at least as somewhat of a solid plaster on the issue for now.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for Season 3? What do you think of this change? Have you encountered many cheaters when playing Black Ops 6? Let us know down below.

The post Black Ops 6 Season 3 introduces console-only crossplay toggle first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, all those with a Humble subscription are privy to a select number of titles for ‘free’ as part of the company’s Humble Choice service. For the month of April, subscribers can obtain a strong and varied choice of titles, including the remasters for Tomb Raider I-III; Dredge and one of last year’s hottest indie games: 1000xRESIST.

Available to add to your library from now until the end of April, this month’s Humble Choice line-up features the following:

• Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered
• Dredge
• Aliens Dark Descent
• 1000xRESIST
• Nova Lands
• Diplomacy is Not an Option
• Distant Worlds 2
• Nomad Survival

Beyond this, subscribers can also get their hands on a couple coupons, namely:

• 30% off Dredge – The Pale Reach
• 30% off Dredge – The Iron Rig
• 30% off Dredge – Blackstone Key

As mentioned, 1000xRESIST is viewed by many as one of the best indie games of last year, offering a “thrilling sci-fi adventure” set 1000 years after humanity was almost entirely wiped out. A story-focused adventure title, 1000xRESIST received overwhelmingly positive reviews upon its release last year, with comparisons being made to the works of auteurs such as Kojima and Yoko Taro,

Beyond this, Dredge is a well-loved indie cosmic-horror fishing game and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is of course a remaster of Lara Croft’s classic trilogy.

As always, a portion of the proceeds will be going towards charity, with this month’s subscription supporting One Tree Planted, an organisation which “empowers global reforestation with a simple yet powerful model: $1 equals one tree planted.”

KitGuru says: What do you think of this month’s offerings? Have you heard of 1000xRESIST? Which of the original 3 Tomb Raider games is your favourite? Let us know down below.

The post April Humble Choice line-up includes Tomb Raider, Dredge and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Blizzard has done little with the StarCraft IP since rounding out the StarCraft 2 trilogy. However, South Korean studios are desperate to get their hands on it to produce a new game themselves. 

According to Asia Today (via IGN), a number of Korean studios have pitched ideas for StarCraft games to Blizzard. Specifically, pitches are reported to have come from NCSoft, Nexon, Netmarble and Krafton.

NCSoft specialises in MMOs, so it is unclear what kind of StarCraft game they pitched. However, it is known that Netmarble pitched a mobile spin-off game, which is very on-brand, while Krafton's pitch was claimed to have been “based on its own development capabilities”.

While Blizzard might not be working on a StarCraft RTS right now, previous leaks have indicated that a new shooter is in development. That could potentially rule out action-focused spin-offs from companies like Krafton. Getting someone to take on the task of continuing the RTS would be huge though, particularly for the still-popular scene in many Asian countries.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see a new StarCraft RTS, or a new-genre spin-off? 

The post South Korean devs reportedly pitching new StarCraft games to Blizzard first appeared on KitGuru.

It would seem that despite the Switch 2 launch being a few months away, ‘many developers' still don't have development kits for the new console, which will limit third-party output for the console over its first year or so on the market. 

According to former Game Informer editor and current Kinda Funny host, Imran Khan, Embracer Group is one of the larger publishers being left out of the loop on Switch 2 dev kits. It is claimed that Nintendo deemed their situation “too chaotic”, as any studios in possession of dev kits that closed could lead to hardware going missing and eventually, ending up in public hands.

John Linneman of Digital Foundry has also supported the idea that Switch 2 dev kits are few and far between, saying that ‘many developers' still don't have the hardware on-hand. Much of this is based on discussions at GDC, where the Switch 2 was an open secret, but few had any experience with the hardware.

Nintendo will be unveiling new Switch 2 details during a Nintendo Direct stream tomorrow. The console is expected to release this Summer.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While there will be a lot of cross-generation releases this year, I still expect Nintendo to have a strong year-one line-up for the Switch 2, even outside of older games being upgraded to run better on Switch 2. 

The post Many third-party studios still waiting for Switch 2 dev kits first appeared on KitGuru.

Alternate, which had previously listed a Zotac RTX 5090 Solid OC graphics card with missing ROPs as B-stock on its website, has clarified this situation. The company has stated that the card was a customer return and should not have been offered for resale in that condition.

According to Alternate (via ComputerBase), the Zotac GeForce RTX 5090 Solid OC in question was indeed a returned item. Upon internal inspection, it was discovered that the card had only 168 active ROPs instead of the intended 176. This “partial defect” led to its classification as B-stock, and a corresponding note was added to the product page.

However, Alternate emphasises that the card should not have been relisted for sale. The error in processing the customer return resulted in the card being incorrectly categorised as B-stock. Furthermore, the B-stock depreciation table did not accurately reflect the defect, leading to an inflated B-stock price. At the time of the listing, Alternate offered the allegedly B-stock card for €2,899, the same price as a new card with the full 176 ROPs. Other online retailers were listing similar cards for €2,999 or more.

The issue of ROP deficiencies in RTX 50 series graphics cards first surfaced in late February this year. The first cards to be spotted with missing ROPS were RTX 5090, but we learnt later that RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 cards were also affected. These cards lacked the full number of ROPs Nvidia advertised, resulting in a small but noticeable performance reduction compared to the standard specifications.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Selling this ROP-defective RTX 5090 isn't an issue per se, as long as the customer knows what they are buying. However, asking for the same as a fully functional RTX 5090 didn't seem fair.

The post European retailer selling RTX 5090 with missing ROPs removes listings first appeared on KitGuru.

Asus and Xbox recently teased their upcoming Xbox-branded handheld device. Coinciding with that, dataminers have discovered new code in the recent Insider build of Windows 11, hinting at the long-awaited implementation of a gaming UI. 

Xeno Panther first shared the discovery, but Windows Central verified the claims. The new strings hint at a new “full screen experience” as part of Xbox's continued influence on Windows. The specific code string is as follows: “Gaming_GamingPosture_ChooseHomeApp”.

Microsoft has been experimenting with a ‘gaming UI' for Windows for a couple of years now. As part of an internal Hackathon event, one Microsoft developer showcased their prototype Windows Gaming UI for handhelds. It is anticipated that the final product will offer something very similar to this, with a controller-friendly, full-screen view of a gaming library, rather than booting into the Windows desktop.

It has also recently been rumoured that next-generation Xbox consoles will essentially be PCs, potentially with full access to Windows.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you be more inclined to replace your console with a living-room friendly PC if Windows had a gaming-friendly, console-like UI mode? 

The post Latest Windows Insider build includes hidden ‘Gaming UI’ settings first appeared on KitGuru.

Nintendo had already announced plans for a Switch 2-focused Direct stream this week but now we have more details. It would appear we are in for a much larger event compared to the initial console reveal. 

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 goes live tomorrow, the 2nd of April, at 2PM UK time. The stream will run for around 60 minutes, giving us a good hour of new announcements about Nintendo's next-gen plans.

Just last week, leaks indicated that the Switch 2 will go up for pre-order in April, following this Nintendo Direct stream. It has also been claimed that the console will release in June.

So far, Nintendo has announced very little about the Switch 2, outside of the new Virtual Game Card system for sharing digital titles, and a few key spec details. Tomorrow's Direct showcase promises a much wider look at the new system and its features, as well as key launch titles for the console, a list that is bound to include patched versions of major titles already available on Switch 1.

We'll get a closer look at some Switch 2 games in action later in the week as well, as Nintendo has also announced plans to host Treehouse streams on April 3rd and April 4th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the Switch 2? 

The post Tomorrow’s Switch 2 Nintendo Direct will be an hour long first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we are back with more RTX 5070 Ti coverage, as we check out MSI's Vanguard SOC model. Packing in a triple-slot, triple-fan cooler, this card also boasts plentiful RGB lighting alongside dual-BIOS support, making it a prime contender for anyone interested in a high-end solution. We put it through its paces today and see what it can bring to the table.

A lot has changed since we first got hands on with the RTX 5070 Ti back in February – primarily, AMD has since unleashed RDNA 4, with the RX 9070 XT proving to be a capable competitor in this market segment. However, the RTX 5070 Ti still has plenty of merit, primarily due to its superior ray tracing performance alongside its support for DLSS. Let's see what MSI's RTX 5070 Ti Vanguard SOC partner card adds to the mix.

	RTX 5090	RTX 5080	RTX 5070 Ti	RTX 4070 Ti Super	RTX 4070 Ti
Process	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4	TSMC N4
SMs	170	84	70	66	60
CUDA Cores	21760	10752	8960	8448	7680
Tensor Cores	680	336	280	264	240
RT Cores	170	84	70	66	60
Texture Units	680	336	280	264	240
ROPs	176	112	96	96	80
GPU Boost Clock	2407 MHz	2617 MHz	2452 MHz	2610 MHz	2610 MHz
Memory Data Rate	28 Gbps	30 Gbps	28 Gbps	21 Gbps	21 Gbps
L2 Cache	98304 KB	65536 KB	49152 KB	49152 KB	49152 KB
Total Video Memory	32GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR7	16GB GDDR6X	12GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface	512-bit	256-bit	256-bit	256-bit	192-bit
Memory Bandwidth	1792 GB/Sec	960 GB/Sec	896 GB/Sec	672 GB/Sec	504 GB/Sec
TGP	575W	360W	300W	285W	285W

First, a quick spec recap. Whereas the RTX 5080 is a full implementation of the GB203 die (378mm²), RTX 5070 Ti is cut down across the board. Comprised of six Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each holds up to eight Texture Processing Clusters (TPCs), with a total of 35. Each TPC is home to two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), giving us 84, and each SM still holds 128 CUDA Cores, meaning the RTX 5070 Ti has a total of 8960 shaders. We also find 70 RT cores, 280 Tensor cores, 280 Texture Units, and 96 ROPs.

This time around, however, there's no node-shrink, and GB203 remains fabricated on TSMC's N4 node, as per the RTX 40 series. As such, rated clock speed has not stepped forwards this generation, with the RTX 5070 Ti rated at 2452MHz, though MSI has increased this to 2588MHz using the Vanguard's Gaming BIOS.

The memory configuration is almost identical to the RTX 5080. That means we find 16GB of GDDR7 memory, but it's clocked slightly slower, at 28Gbps, and that puts total memory bandwidth at 896 GB/s, a 33% increase over the RTX 4070 Ti Super. L2 cache still comes in at 49MB.

Lastly, the RTX 5070 Ti features a 300W TGP, which MSI has not increased out of the box with the Vanguard SOC.

The post MSI RTX 5070 Ti Vanguard SOC Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Starbreeze has had its troubles over the years and the poor performance of Payday 3 at launch didn't quite help matters. Now, the publisher has a new CEO who will attempt to turn the company into a multi-project studio.

The new CEO of Starbreeze, the company behind the Payday series, is Adolf Kristjansson, the former director of global commercial strategy at EA, as reported by Insider Gaming. In his opening statement as CEO, he gave a shoutout to the studio's upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game, but also expressed a desire to build Starbreeze into a “true multi-title studio”.

Here is the full statement: “I join Starbreeze with great enthusiasm for the company’s current and future projects, not the least the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title. I look forward to continuing the work of expanding the Payday franchise further and building Starbreeze into a true multi-title studio. Most of all, I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and engaging with our passionate player community as we build the next chapter of Starbreeze together”.

The previous CEO of Starbreeze, Tobias Sjögren, stepped down from the position following the mixed reception to Payday 3 at launch. Starbreeze continues to support Payday 3 with updates, in addition to developing its upcoming D&D game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Payday series is a very fun one so I do hope to see Starbreeze turn things around.

The post Payday studio ‘Starbreeze’ appoints new CEO first appeared on KitGuru.

Since acquiring the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex IPs, along with the Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montreal studios, Embracer Group has done very little with any of it. Amazon has stepped in to publish the next Tomb Raider game and reports indicate that a new Deus Ex game was put on ice. Now this week, both Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montreal have been hit by layoffs. 

Just a few days ago, Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind Tomb Raider, confirmed it is letting go of roughly 17 employees. Now, Deus Ex studio, Eidos-Montreal, is also undergoing layoffs as well, amounting to a much higher 75 employees being let go this week.

“Today, we informed our studio staff that we are going to let go up to 75 valuable members, as one of our mandates is coming to an end”, Eidos-Montreal confirms in a statement on LinkedIn. “It is not a reflection of their dedication or skills, but unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to entirely reallocate them to our other ongoing projects and services.”

The studio says that it will offer help to impacted employees with finding new work. Right now, it is unclear what Eidos-Montreal is working on, as in 2024, Embracer confirmed that a Deus Ex game had been cancelled. Based on these layoffs, it would appear that whatever project they pivoted to has been scrapped as well.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Embracer has sold off some of the big studios it acquired between 2018 and 2021, along with IP rights. At this point, we have to wonder if Eidos-Montreal and the beloved Deus Ex IP might be better off somewhere else. 

The post Deus Ex studio hit by layoffs first appeared on KitGuru.

In recent weeks, we've heard rumblings about an upcoming Xbox handheld, in partnership with another big gaming brand. As rumours predicted, that brand appears to be Asus, with an Xbox branded version of the popular ROG Ally handheld. 

This week, Asus shared a teaser video showcasing an ROG Ally, complete with an Xbox style gamepad. Naturally, the official Xbox account was the first reply to the tweet, indicating that this is indeed a marketing teaser for the upcoming Xbox-branded handheld.

pic.twitter.com/ONZpeEmNka

— Xbox (@Xbox) March 31, 2025

This all follows leaks from March, in which it was claimed that Microsoft would be launching its first Xbox handheld device this year. While the company is still thought to be making its own first-party handheld gaming system, Microsoft has opted to test the market first by partnering up with Asus, who already make well-received Windows 11 handhelds. The new ROG Ally will be an officially licensed Xbox-branded product.

Part of this launch will include more gaming-friendly UI elements for Windows 11, alongside other features intended to help boost game performance.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The ROG Ally is already quite expensive compared to the Steam Deck, although it does pack more power. This new Xbox-branded version should come with new Windows features to improve the handheld gaming experience, something Microsoft has been working on for a couple of years already. 

The post Asus and Microsoft tease upcoming Xbox handheld first appeared on KitGuru.

HP is making a strategic move to broaden its Omen gaming brand. This expansion will extend beyond pre-built desktops and laptops, including individual PC components for custom PCs and upgrades.

As noted by PCWorld, the newly listed components on HP's website include a 120mm RGB fan (25 mm thick), a 3-pack of 120mm modular RGB fans (28 mm thick), and a 1000W modular power supply unit. Additionally, HP will be offering modular liquid cooling solutions in 240mm and 360mm radiator sizes.

Omen's new fans feature an angular ring-shaped design for optimal airflow and intense static pressure to minimise vibrations. Each fan is equipped with ten customisable LEDs, offering a 16.2 million colour palette and a range of lighting effects controllable through the Omen Gaming Hub software. Moreover, the 28-mm-thick fans feature the Omen modular system, allowing users to connect up to 10 fans per daisy chain and up to 16 fans per Omen modular hub.

Moving on to the 1000W Omen ATX 3.1 PSU, it features a fully modular design and includes a PCIe 5.1 cable capable of delivering up to 600W of power, ensuring compatibility with the latest high-power graphics cards using 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 connectors. A zero RPM mode allows the fan to operate silently under low thermal loads, contributing to a quieter computing experience. The unit has a 135-mm fan to cool it and 105°C Japanese capacitors to ensure stability. Lastly, the PSU is Cybernetics Platinum- and 80 Plus Gold-certified.

As for Omen's new liquid cooling solutions, they both use Asetek's 7th generation pumps equipped with 2.1-inch IPS LCDs and customisable RGB lighting elements. All modular components are designed to integrate with the Omen daisy chain system, enabling users to connect up to 16 fans per Omen Modular Hub, simplifying cable management and expanding customisation options.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Interested in any of HP Omen's new PC components?

The post HP is expanding its Omen brand to the DIY PC market first appeared on KitGuru.

Jagex, the studio behind the iconic RuneScape franchise, has announced its upcoming project named RuneScape: Dragonwilds. This new open-world survival game, built on the Unreal Engine 5, will be playable in single-player mode and online co-op with up to three other players.

In RuneScape: Dragonwilds, players will embark on a cooperative adventure, gathering resources, constructing bases, and crafting tools and equipment to survive. Magic is a key gameplay element, allowing players to adapt to the environment and overcome challenges. The game promises a richly detailed, hand-crafted world, blending high fantasy elements, light RPG mechanics, and the lore of classic RuneScape.

Jagex has also released the preliminary PC system requirements for RuneScape: Dragonwilds. To run the game, players will need at least an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a graphics card equivalent to an Nvidia GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 5600XT, or Intel Arc A750. The game will require a minimum of 25 GB of free storage space. For an optimal experience, Jagex recommends a system equipped with an Intel Core i5-10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a graphics card comparable to an Nvidia RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is coming out in Early Access on Steam this spring. To learn more about the game, tune into Jagex's Twitch channel on April 15th at 17:00 BST for a deep-dive into RuneScape: Dragonwilds.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of RuneScape? Do you think Jagez will be successful expanding to another game genre?

The post Jagex unveils RuneScape: Dragonwilds, a new open-world survival game first appeared on KitGuru.

It's been a hectic few months to start the year at KitGuru, but in today's video we take a chill with this all white ASMR Gamdias featured build – enjoy!

Case – Gamdias NESO P1 Pro WH – Coming soon.

• A full tower case in matte black and snow white. It features a dual chamber trapezoidal design, allowing the hardware to be showcased in either vertical or horizontal orientation.
• One-touch mechanisms provide easy removal of panels for quick access and maintenance, while the magnetic feet allow instant and seamless switching from vertical to horizontal orientation.
• Comes equipped with three Gamdias Aeolus P2 fans and a built-in 8-way ARGB and PWM fan hub for optimal airflow and easy configuration, as well as rotatble PCIe slots for vertical or horizontal GPU mounting and 90mm deep space provides ample room for cable management.

Specifications

• Case Type: Full Tower
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 490 x 310 x 495 mm
• Net Weight: 97kg
• Material: SPCC & ABS & Tempered glass
• Motherboard Support: E-ATX (310mm Width)/ATX/Micro-ATX/Mini-ITX
• Expansion Slots: 8 to 8
• Storage Bays: 2 x 3.5″ or 1 x 2.5″+1 x 3.5″(HDD Cage) 2 x 2.5″(HDD Cage)
• Max GPU Length: 426mm
• MAX GPU Width: 192mm
• Max CPU Cooler Height: 193mm
• Max PSU Size: ATX 180mm
• Pre-installed Fans: Side: 3 x 120mm ARGB PWM AEOLUS P2 WH Fans
• Fan Support: Top: 3 x 120mm/2 x 140mm, Side: 3 x 120mm/3 x 140mm, Rear: 1 x 120mm/1 x 140mm, Bottom: 3 x 120mm
• Radiator Support: Top: 360mm/280mm, Side: 360mm/420mm, Rear: 120mm
• Dust Filters: Top, Side, Bottom
• Font I/O: USB 3.0 x2, Type C x 1, HD Audio x1, LED control x1
• LCD Screen: N/A

CPU Cooler – Gamdias CHIONE P5-360WH – Coming soon.

• Equipped with a 3.4-inch IPS LCD with 480×480 resolution to display real-time system info, pictures and animated GIFs.
• The display is mounted on magnets so it can be easily and quickly rotated, allowing the user to change orientation to suit their build for optimal viewing.
• CHIONE P5 pump features a powerful 12-slot 10-pole motor with a speed range of up to 2700RPM, an upgraded and optimised micro-channel copper cold plate and a 360mm radiator with high-density fins for optimal cooling performance.

Specifications

• Socket Compatibility: LGA2066 / 2011-v3 / 2011 / 1851 / 1700 / 1200 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / AM5 / AM4 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1
• Radiator Dimensions: 396 x 120 x 27 mm
• Tube Material: EPDM
• Base plate Material: Copper
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Pump Voltage: 12V
• Pump Connector: 4-pin
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm
• Fan Speed: 400 – 2200 RPM±10%
• Noise Level: 11 – 34.91 dBA
• Air Flow: 81.81 CFM
• Air Pressure: 3.15 mmH2O
• Connector: PWM & 5V sync
• Bearing: Hydraulic

Fans – Gamdias AEOLUS P2-1203U WH – 3 packs available from Amazon UK HERE.

• Cableless daisy chain wiring design for easy cable management, and swappable fan blades for quick push/pull configuration.
• 30mm thick with PWM speed control and hydraulic bearing for extreme cooling performance and low-noise operation.
• Includes a new USB AELOUS BOX II controller with four ports to chain four clusters of fans with a maximum of 16 fans running simultaneously. The controller can also syncronise with motherboard 3-pin 5V ARGB headers.

Specifications

• Connector Type: 8-pin
• Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 30mm
• Fan Speed: 1000 – 2400 RPM±10%
• Max Air Pressure: 3.1 mmH2O
• Max Airflow: 74.97 CFM
• Bearing Type: Hydraulic
• Operating Voltage: 12 V (Fan) / 5V(LED)

Power Supply – Gamdias Kratos P2-1200G

• Fully modular cable design to reduce cable clutter with native 12VHPWR cable included and 80+plus Gold certification.
• Supports ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 with 100% superior quality Japanese capacitors and a premium 120mm hydraulic bearing fan.
• Features full ARGB lighting effects with 30 built-in addressable lighting effects via simple button on the unit and can be syncronised to motherboard software.

Specifications

• Type: ATX12V v3.0
• Efficiency: Meet 80 PLUS Gold efficiency
• Power Factor Correction: APFC with PF value of 0.99
• Supports MB Sync: 5V 3-pin Addressable (Digital) RGB Header Only
• Dimension (L x W x H): 140 x 150 x 86 mm
• Support C6/C7 power state: Yes
• AC Input: 100-240V~ / 15-7A / 47-63Hz
• DC Output: +3.3V / +5V / +12V / -12V / +5Vsb
• Output Current: 20A / 20A / 100A / 0.3A / 3A
• Output Power: 130W / 1200W / 3.6W / 15W
• Total Power: 1200W
• Peak Power: 1560W
• Protection: OVP / UVP / OPP / SCP / OCP / OTP
• Lighting Effect: 30 Neon-Flex RGB
• Cooling System: 120mm hydraulic bearing fan
• Silent Mode: Yes

Build Specification:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Motherboard – ASROCK X870 Steel Legend WiFi
• Graphics Card – MSI RTX 5080 Gaming Trio White
• Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 Royal Neo DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• CPU Cooler – Gamdias CHIONE P5-360 WH
• Power Supply – Gamdias Kratos P2-1200G
• Case fans – Gamdias AEOLUS P2-1203U WH
• Chassis – Gamdias NESO P1 Pro WH
• Operating System – Windows 11

KitGuru says: Keep your eye out for these new Gamdias parts hitting UK shelves soon, they offer another option for enthusiasts who want to build with white gaming PC parts.

The post Gamdias Featured Build – ASMR Edition! first appeared on KitGuru.

Hideo Kojima took a risk with his first game after leaving Konami. At its core, Death Stranding is a game largely about walking, but that didn't stop Kojima from captivating over 20 million players with his first independent game. 

Death Stranding launched in 2019, the first full game out of the newly independent Kojima Productions, following the famed director's split with Konami. Initially released as a PlayStation exclusive, Death Stranding has since gone on to launch on all platforms, from PS4 and PS5 to PC, Xbox Series X/S and even iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The game surpassed the 20 million players milestone this month, just ahead of the launch of the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Of course, that 20 million number has been boosted by numerous initiatives. Just last year, the game finally released on Xbox consoles. On top of that, the game has been given away for free on the Epic Games Store, and has been given away to PlayStation Plus subscribers in the past too.

KitGuru Says: Have you played Death Stranding since its release? Are you looking forward to the sequel? 

The post Death Stranding surpasses 20 million players first appeared on KitGuru.

The second trailer for MindsEye has now dropped. The new game from former Rockstar producer, Leslie Benzies, is now set to launch in June for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The new story trailer, titled “Welcome to Redrock” gives a new look at the near-future metropolis:

The game, developed by new studio, Build A Rocket Boy, will put players in the shoes of Jacob Diaz, as he searches for answers about his troubled past. In Redrock, technology is king, with robots performing most manual tasks. The game promises a gripping narrative driven action-adventure.

The game will release on the 10th of June for PC and current-gen consoles, priced at £54.99. Pre-orders for both digital and physical copies of MindsEye are available now. In addition to the full game, players pre-ordering will receive the Deluxe Edition Upgrade that includes the “Premium Pass”, the “Deluxe” Thorn & Kepler Yellowjacket Weapon, “Future” Jacob Vest Skin, “Future” Silva Sedan Vehicle Skin, and the “Future” DC2 Companion Drone Skin.

In addition to the narrative story, players who purchase MindsEye will access bonus missions built in ARCADIA, Build A Rocket Boy’s custom building and distribution tool that enables rapid creation of AAA content, enabling the delivery of new gameplay frequently.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This game is quickly moving up on my most anticipated list. Will any of you be picking up MindsEye in June?

The post MindsEye launches for PC, PS5 and Xbox in June first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD is reportedly gearing up to launch its next generation of APUs in Q4 2025. Given AMD's naming conventions, this update will likely be a successor to the current Strix Point APUs, bringing the Ryzen G-Series (desktop APUs) from the Zen 4 architecture to the more advanced Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 architectures.

This release schedule is based on HXL claims, who also mentioned that MSI may release a Unify-X motherboard in that same period. Given the timing, this high-end motherboard will likely be part of the upcoming 800-series chipset, as no Unify board has been announced thus far.

As of now, we don't know much about the upcoming Ryzen 9000G series. Based on what AMD did with the previous G-series, we assume this one would be based on the Strix Point (Zen5 CPU, RDNA3.5 iGPU). However, given AMD recently confirmed a refresh of Strix Point for mobile, codenamed Gorgon Point, we wouldn't be surprised if AMD decided to use the upcoming platform for the Ryzen 9000G. Moreover, the upcoming APUs are expected to pack up to 16 CPU cores.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever owned a Ryzen G-series desktop APU? If so, how did you use it?

The post AMD reportedly planning Ryzen 9000G launch for Q4 2025 first appeared on KitGuru.

While Nintendo has not yet announced a release date for the Switch 2 console, a new leak indicates that we'll be getting that news very soon, as pre-orders are due to go live in April. 

Insider Gaming received documentation from a ‘large US retailer', revealing the launch strategy for the Nintendo Switch 2. If this leak is accurate, Nintendo will open up pre-orders for the Switch 2 on April 9th, one week after the next Switch 2 Nintendo Direct stream, which takes place on April 2nd.

The pre-orders would be two months ahead of a June launch date for the new console. Unfortunately, it is also reported that this retailer is expecting to run out of pre-order stock on day-one. That could mean that Nintendo is still reserving a lot of stock for its direct-to-consumer store.

Nintendo will officially announce new details about the Switch 2 on the 2nd of April. So far, no leaks have discussed the Switch 2 launch line-up of games, so hopefully Nintendo will have some news on that front during the next Direct too.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up the Switch 2 when it launches later this year? 

The post The Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly release in June first appeared on KitGuru.

Respawn Entertainment has been quietly working on a Star Wars strategy game for a few years now in collaboration with Bit Reactor, a studio founded by former XCOM developers. Now, a number of screenshots have leaked online, giving us an early look at the game. 

The untitled Star Wars strategy game will be properly revealed at Star Wars Celebration, taking place in just a few weeks' time. In the meantime though, MP1st has published several new screenshots of the game:

The screenshots give a few details about the game thanks to the inclusion of AI. Like in XCOM, players will control small squads and carefully move from cover to cover across the map to gain an advantage on enemies. Interestingly, the art style is similar to The Clone Wars animated series and other modern animated Star Wars series like Rebels.

The game will be properly announced on April 19th, as a panel covering the game is due to take place at Star Wars Celebration.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As a fan of XCOM, I have high hopes for this. We'll get to know more about the game in just a few weeks' time but there will no doubt be other leaks between now and then. 

The post Screenshots give early look at Respawn’s Star Wars tactics game first appeared on KitGuru.

Acer is ending off the month with one more big launch. Today, Acer announced two new QD-OLED gaming monitors, offering 4K at 240Hz, and the other offering 1440p at 240Hz.

With QD-OLED panels, the new Acer Predator X32 X2 and Predator X27U X1 monitors will offer perfect black levels, vibrant colours and ultra-fast pixel response times. The X32 is a 32-inch 4K monitor, while the X27U is a 27-inch QHD monitor – but both offer a full 240Hz refresh rate and low 0.03ms response time (GTG).

Both monitors also offer HDR, so supported games will offer even brighter highlights and greater contrast. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology will allow your GPU to synchronise the monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card to eliminate things like screen tearing as well. By offering both DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1 connections, the monitors are perfect for both PC gamers and Xbox Series X/S or PS5 owners.

The Predator X32 X2 will be available in the UK and Europe starting in August, priced from £999. The Predator X27U X1 will be available in the UK and Europe in June, from £699.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: OLED monitor prices have started to come down to more reasonable levels over the past year. Are you considering making the jump to OLED in 2025?

The post Acer launches new Predator QD-OLED gaming monitors starting at £699 first appeared on KitGuru.

Grand Theft Auto 6 was announced for 2025 but so far, we've still only had one trailer and three months into the year, we appear to be no closer to a proper release date either. Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick, shed some light on the marketing plan for GTA 6 this week, indicating a much shorter gap from Trailer 2 to release.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Zelnick explained that the goal for Grand Theft Auto 6 is to have a shorter marketing cycle and to build up as much anticipation as possible. This long period of silence since the first trailer is indeed part of that effort to build anticipation.

“The anticipation for that title may be the greatest anticipation I’ve ever seen for an entertainment property, and I’ve been around the block a few times, and I’ve been in every entertainment business there is”, Zelnick told Bloomberg.

“We do have competitors who will describe their release schedule for years in advance, and we’ve found that the better thing to do is to provide marketing materials relatively close to the release window in order to create that excitement on the one hand and balance the excitement with unmet anticipation. We don’t always get it exactly right, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Currently, Grand Theft Auto 6 is due out later this year but with the scope of the game being so large, some fans are concerned that it may be delayed to 2026. Many publishers around the games industry are also eagerly awaiting GTA 6 news so that they can plan to release games around it.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I feel like we'll be waiting until the Summer to get a big new drop of GTA 6 news. As far as release dates go, assuming it is arriving this year, it will likely be in the October-November timeframe to get that holiday season boost.

The post Take-Two CEO plans shorter marketing cycle for GTA 6 first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft is tightening its grip on the Windows 11 installation process, increasingly pushing users towards using a Microsoft account. A recent official blog post accompanying the latest Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 announces the removal of the “bypassnro.cmd” script, a previously used workaround to circumvent the online account requirement. Microsoft justifies this move to enhance Windows 11 security and user experience. However, other ways exist to re-enable the bypass for users who prefer offline accounts.

This change, announced on a blog post (via Tom's Hardware), follows Microsoft's earlier removal of a more straightforward method to bypass the online account setup, which involved entering an invalid email address during the installation. With the latest Insider Preview Build, attempting to use the “Shift + F10” followed by “OOBE/BYPASSNRO” command to bypass the online account requirement results in an error message, indicating that the command is no longer recognised. To restore this functionality, users must now delve into the Windows registry.

However, as explained by BobPony.com, this command can be re-enabled by opening a command prompt during the initial setup (by pressing Shift + F10) and entering the following command:

RegAdd "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE" /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
shutdown /r /t 0

After a system restart, the “OOBE/BYPASSNRO” method will function again, allowing installation without a Microsoft Account.

A shorter, alternative method to bypass the Microsoft Account requirement shared by Wither orNot consists of opening the command prompt (Shift + F10) during the installation process and executing the command “start ms-cxh:localonly”.

Given Microsoft's history, it's reasonable to expect further modifications to prevent bypassing the Microsoft account requirement. This cat-and-mouse game may continue, potentially making using tools like Rufus that circumvent the online account requirement a more reliable long-term solution.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever bypassed the Microsoft account requirement when installing Windows? What method do you usually use?

The post Microsoft disables Microsoft account bypass during Windows 11 installation first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD is growing today with the completion of another acquisition. Today, AMD announced that it has completed its acquisition of ZT Systems, a move intended to bolster AMD's presence and expertise in the booming AI market.

ZT Systems is a provider of AI and general-purpose compute infrastructure for ‘hyperscale' providers. With this acquisition, AMD will now be able to offer end-to-end AI solutions utilising a combination of AMD hardware, from CPUs, GPUs, networking silicon and more. As part of the acquisition, the design teams from ZT Systems will join the AMD Data Center Solutions business unit by the end of 2025.

Speaking on the acquisition, AMD Data Center Solutions Business Unit VP and general manager, Forrest Norrod, said:

“With the rapid pace of innovation in AI, reducing the end-to-end design and deployment time of cluster-level data center AI systems will be a significant competitive advantage for our customers. Acquiring ZT Systems is a significant milestone in our AI strategy to deliver leadership training and inferencing solutions that are optimized for our customers’ unique environment, ready-to-deploy at scale, and based on our open ecosystem approach that combines open-source software, industry standard networking technologies”.

Former ZT Systems Founder and CEO Frank Zhang joins AMD as senior vice president of ZT Manufacturing, reporting to Forrest Norrod.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: AMD has its eyes on capturing a bigger piece of the data center market by 2028, at which point analysts predict the market opportunity to be in the region of $500 billion. 

The post AMD completes acquisition of ZT Systems in push for data center dominance first appeared on KitGuru.

Monster Hunter Wilds may have had some mixed reviews on PC at launch due to performance problems but that hasn't stopped the masses from jumping into the game at launch. We already knew that the game amassed a few million players during its launch weekend, but now a month on from that, the game has surpassed 10 million players.

Monster Hunter Wilds has set a new record for Capcom, becoming the fastest-selling title in the company's history. With 10 million copies sold in just one month, the game is already halfway towards catching up to Monster Hunter World as Capcom's best-selling game ever. Since releasing in 2018, Monster Hunter World has gone on to sell 22 million copies worldwide.

Monster Hunter Wilds is likely to catch up to Monster Hunter World if Capcom continues to support the game. The first free DLC update is set to drop next week, bringing new hunts for players to challenge themselves with.

Like Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise, we are also likely to see a big expansion for Monster Hunter Wilds in the next few years, which will bring about another sales boost.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you picked up Monster Hunter Wilds since launch? Have you been enjoying the game so far?

The post Monster Hunter Wilds sets another record as it surpasses 10 million players first appeared on KitGuru.

The 25th Anniversary of Final Fantasy 9 is coming up and Square Enix is already gearing up to celebrate the occasion with a new website displaying some planned special edition items. Fans have naturally dug a bit deeper into the new webpage, discovering hints at the upcoming Final Fantasy 9 remake. 

In an announcement post, Square Enix confirmed that the Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary celebration will begin on the 7th of July 2025, an interesting time that fits right between Summer Game Fest and Gamescom Opening Night Live.

Final Fantasy IX added a 25th Anniversary website!?!!?

The website says (translated by me)

“FF9 will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary on July 7th, 2025! From goods to collaborations, we are preparing various projects, so please look forward to it!”

HELLO!?!?? pic.twitter.com/LAcLiDKTcr

— ☆オードリーAudrey☆ (@aitaikimochi) March 31, 2025

The announcement states that “various projects” are on the way to celebrate the anniversary, leading many fans to believe that the long-awaited remake announcement is on the way.

Why are fans so convinced that Final Fantasy IX is next in line for a remake? Well. a few years back, Nvidia's GeForce Now database leaked, revealing a ton of titles that had not yet been announced for PC, or announced at all. Many of the big games found through this leak have since released, so it is not so much a matter of if the remake is going to be announced, but when. From the sounds of it, we'll be getting some big news later this summer, but while an announcement may arrive this year, it is also entirely possible that the game needs a little more time and won't release this year.

Square Enix executives have previously acknowledged the idea of a Final Fantasy 9 remake. Given the timing of the anniversary celebration, it could end up being announced first for the Switch 2.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see a Final Fantasy 9 remake or are there other titles in the series you would like to see Square Enix revisit instead? Personally, I'd like to see Chrono Trigger come back after decades on ice. 

The post Final Fantasy 9 25th Anniversary reignites remake rumours first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft has unveiled a public Windows roadmap, providing greater transparency into upcoming features and updates. Windows users, particularly IT professionals, have been asking Microsoft for more information about upcoming features. This initiative responds to that request, offering insights into the development process and detailing the current status and projected release timelines for various features.

As noted by ComputerBase, the roadmap differentiates between device categories, specifically delineating features for Copilot+ PCs and standard Windows PCs, reflecting the distinct user experiences within the Windows ecosystem. It encompasses planned features/updates undergoing evaluation within the Windows Insider Program and those being rolled out for public release. The roadmap clearly outlines how to access each feature and provides estimated release windows. Notably, any features that are ultimately dropped from development will be removed from the overview.

The Windows roadmap showcases 26 features at launch. These include Copilot+-exclusive functionalities like Recall and Click to Do, which are currently in preview and undergoing testing within the Windows Insider Program. However, Microsoft has not yet specified a definitive public release date for these Copilot+ features. In contrast, features like the improved Windows search and live translation capabilities are actively being rolled out to Copilot+ users.

The roadmap also incorporates features designed for standard Windows PCs, such as enhancements to the taskbar and File Explorer extensions. These features are in various stages of development, ranging from evaluation in the Windows Insider Program to broad public availability.

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KitGuru says: A roadmap like this for Windows is long overdue, but at least it has finally arrived. 

The post Microsoft shares roadmap for upcoming Windows 11 features first appeared on KitGuru.

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown was an unfortunately underrated recent release from Ubisoft, with the side-scrolling metroidvania seeing a ton of praise from critics and fans alike following its release last year. Though the game failed to meet Ubisoft’s expectations, it seems to be getting a second chance at life with The Lost Crown announced to be coming to both iOS and Android soon.

Making the surprise announcement, Ubisoft officially revealed that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is set to come to smartphones on the 14th of April, writing:
“Adapted to mobile by Ubisoft Da Nang, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will run at 60 FPS on recent generations of mobile devices. The game can be played either with an external controller or touch screen controls, with the ability to fully remap controls available for both options.”

The port brings with it some additional quality-of-life improvements to help with controls, including “auto-potion, auto-parry, and slow time options, as well as a host of other quality-of-life features.”

In the past few years we have seen an influx of console games brought over to mobile. From the likes of Stardew Valley; to Dredge; Death Stranding; Resident Evil; Slay the Spire; Balatro; Little Nightmares; Wreckfest and so much more, it seems like developers/publishers are finally acknowledging the potential of current-day smartphones and their power.

Hopefully Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown proves to be a success on mobile. No price has been provided, but the game will be free-to-start with an additional fee to unlock the full game.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Are you surprised? Will The Lost Crown do better on mobile than consoles/PC? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Prince of Persia The Lost Crown is coming to iOS and Android next month first appeared on KitGuru.