Since the first game’s arrival in 2017, the Horizon franchise has grown massively, with recent figures putting the series at 40 million copies sold. Despite being a single player focused franchise, Guerrilla Games have revealed in the wake of NCSoft’s Horizon Steel Frontiers MMO announcement that “from the first moment we imagined Horizon, we always thought about it as a multiplayer game.”

Following the official announcement of Sony/NCSoft’s Horizon Steel Frontiers MMO, the current Studio and Art Director at Guerrilla Games ‘Jan-Bart van Beek’ claimed that:

“From the first moment we imagined Horizon, we always thought about it as a multiplayer game. LEGO Horizon Adventures was our first small step, with Steel Frontiers we’re taking a bigger one. There is much more to come, and we’re excited to show you what is coming.”

While the Horizon series works well as a single-player focused experience, the world in which the franchise takes place is also ripe for a co-op spin-off.

With leaks and rumours suggesting that Guerrilla Games themselves are also currently working on a multiplayer-focused Horizon game (separate from NCSoft’s MMO), it will be interesting to see whether fans of the franchise are receptive to the series shifting genres.

KitGuru says: Would the Horizon series work well as a multiplayer experience? Do you have any interest in the two upcoming multiplayer entries? Let us know down below.

The post “We always thought about [Horizon] as a multiplayer game” claims Guerrilla Games first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we’re taking a look at the Lian Li Lancool 217 INF, an airflow-focused mid-tower that builds on the original Lancool 217. Leo spent some time with the standard model earlier this year, and this new version keeps the same core layout and cooling philosophy but adds a striking infinity mirror front panel that instantly changes the look of the system. We’ll be going over the design, the build experience, and the thermal performance to see how well this updated configuration holds up, and whether the visual upgrade brings anything practical along with it.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:55 Pricing
01:11 Overview
02:06 Physical Dimensions
02:25 Features and specifications
03:32 Top buttons
04:00 Front I/O
05:21 Cooling/Radiator support
07:22 Motherboard and GPU Support
07:47 Cable Management / Anti Sag
08:14 Case Rear / PSU setup
09:58 Right hand compartment
11:18 Hub / Lighting / Software
12:00 Storage Support
13:27 Accessories
14:10 Testing Methodology
14:45 Thermal Performance
15:40 Smoke tests
16:10 Noise Performance
16:46 Build Experience
18:20 James' Closing Thoughts

Lian Li Lancool 217 INF Features:

• Dual 170mm front fans with an infinity mirror and mesh front panel – Equipped with two large pre-installed intake fans behind a removable mesh system designed to allow strong airflow while reducing dust build-up.
• Tool-less side panel design with cable management channels – Features quick-release side panels and integrated routing paths to simplify system assembly and keep internal layouts clean.
• Support for multiple cooling configurations – Accommodates up to 360mm radiators in the front as well as air coolers and vertical GPU mounting options for varied cooling setups.
• Modular storage drive bay system – Includes adjustable and removable drive cages supporting both 2.5″ and 3.5″ storage, allowing flexible interior layouts depending on hardware configuration.
• ARGB lighting compatibility – Integrated ARGB functionality is sync-ready with major motherboard lighting control standards for coordinated illumination across components, as well as wireless control via the L-Wireless adaptor that can be purchased separately.

Specifications:

• Case Type: Mid-Tower
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 482 mm (L) × 238 mm (W) × 503 mm (H)
• Materials: Steel frame with 4.0 mm tempered glass side panel
• Motherboard Support: SSI-EEB (max width 330 mm), E-ATX (max width 280 mm), ATX /Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX
• Back-connect motherboard support: ATX / M-ATX
• Expansion Slots: 7
• Storage bays: Behind motherboard tray: up to 2 × 2.5″ SSD (or 1 × 2.5″ SSD when using back-connect mATX board) Drive cages (2 total): each supports 1 × 3.5″ HDD + 1 × 2.5″ SSD, or 1 × 3.5″ HDD or 2 × 2.5″ SSD, PSU shroud cover: 1 × 2.5″ SSD
• Max GPU Length: up to 380mm
• Max CPU Cooler Height: up to 180mm
• PSU Type: ATX up to 220 mm (standard orientation) , up to 180 mm (rotated orientation)
• Pre-installed Fans: 2 x 170mm (Front) 1 x 140mm (Rear)
• Fan Support: 2 x 170 mm (Front) 3 x 120 mm / 2 x 140 mm(Top) 1 x 120mm / 1 x 140mm (Rear) 3 x 120 mm (Bottom)
• Radiator Support: 360 / 280 / 240 mm (Top)
• Dust Filters: Bottom x 1 / Front × 1 (x 2 RU version only)
• Front I/O: 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Type-C, 1 x Audio / Microphone Combo Jack, 1 x Power button, 1 x M1 Front Panel Lighting Control Button, 1 x M2 Fan Lighting Control Button
• LCD Screen: N/A

Thermal Performance Testing

To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.

Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.

Test System Specification:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Motherboard – MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk Wifi
• Graphics Card – Gigabyte RTX 5080 Gaming OC
• Memory – 64GB (2 x 32GB modules) G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000
• Storage – 1TB Corsair MP600 Elite PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD
• CPU Cooler – Lian Li Hydroshift II LCD-C 360TL
• Power Supply – Seasonic Focus GX-1000 ATX 3 80+ Gold
• Case fans – Stock
• Chassis – Lian Li Lancool 217 INF
• Operating System – Windows 11 24h2

Thermal Performance Overview

We tested the case thermals with a 360mm AIO as the exhaust at the top and in several different configurations. The default configuration shown in the charts is with the 360mm AIO at the top, 2 x 170mm front intake fans, 1 x 140mm exhaust fan and with all panels installed.

In terms of thermals, the Lancool 217 INF delivers solid results straight out of the box. In the default configuration, the CPU recorded a steady-state temperature of 53°C over ambient, while the GPU sat at 49°C over ambient under load. Removing the glass side panel or swapping the front and top mesh out didn’t significantly alter these results, showing that the case’s airflow design is already very efficient as standard.

The only notable improvement came from adding bottom-mounted fans, which reduced GPU temperatures to 46°C over ambient and lowered CPU temperatures slightly to 52°C. This indicates that the extra intake helps the graphics card breathe more easily, improving airflow across the lower section of the case. Overall, the Lancool 217 INF maintains strong thermal performance, and with just a small tweak by bottom fans, it can cool high-end components even more effectively.

You can get a better sense of how the airflow changes when adding floor fans by looking at the smoke tests in the video.

With no bottom fans installed, the GPU still draws air in through the lower side vent, so there’s already a natural intake path. However, once the two bottom intake fans are added, you can clearly see that airflow towards the GPU becomes much more direct and faster. This extra push of air helps feed the graphics card more efficiently, which ties in neatly with the small drop in GPU temperature we saw during the thermal testing.

Noise Output

Noise performance from the Lancool 217 INF stayed very consistent across all configurations, with system idle noise sitting at around 37 dBA regardless of setup. Under load, most configurations peaked at 50 dBA, showing that removing panels or swapping materials didn’t noticeably alter the acoustic profile.

The only setup that made a difference was with additional bottom fans installed. This configuration not only lowered GPU temperatures slightly but also reduced load noise to 49 dBA, suggesting that the improved airflow helped the GPU maintain lower fan speeds. It’s a small but welcome gain in both thermal and acoustic efficiency.

Closing Thoughts

The Lian Li Lancool 217 INF builds on the strengths of the original model while adding a much more eye-catching front design. The infinity mirror panel paired with the two large 170mm fans gives the case a distinctive look, but the visual upgrade doesn’t come at the cost of performance. Airflow through the front mesh remains strong, and the case maintains the high level of cooling capability that the Lancool series is renowned for.

Thermal performance throughout testing was consistently good, with the default configuration handling both CPU and GPU loads without breaking a sweat. The only notable improvement came when adding bottom intake fans, which helped direct airflow more efficiently towards the graphics card. This lined up neatly with the slight reduction in GPU temperatures we recorded. It’s not essential, but adding bottom fans is a small, worthwhile tweak for high-end GPU setups.

Hardware support is another area where the 217 INF performs well. There’s plenty of room for larger components, including all motherboard types, big GPUs and top radiators, plus the interior layout makes it straightforward to build in. Cable management is tidy, the tool-free panels are easy to work with, and overall build quality feels as solid as you’d expect from Lian Li at this price point. Nothing about the redesign interferes with the usability of the chassis.

Taken as a whole, the Lancool 217 INF is a well-executed refresh of an already great chassis that retains all the positive features of the original while adding a more striking front aesthetic. If you’re after a mid-tower that delivers strong airflow, great thermals, and a clean and simple building experience, all wrapped in a unique-looking package, the Lian Li Lancool 217 INF is a very well-rounded option that’s easy to recommend, especially at this price point.

The Lian Li Lancool 217 INF is available to purchase now from Scan priced from £107.99 for the black version HERE and £112.99 HERE for the white version.

Pros: 

• Great airflow and cooling.
• Excellent build quality and hardware support.
• Brilliant cable management.

Cons:

• The front infinity mirror panel shows up every fingerprint.
• Lack of front radiator installation is not good for custom cooling.

KitGuru Says: The Lancool 217 INF is a strong evolution of the original, with excellent airflow, great thermals, high-end hardware support, clean build experience and impressive build quality with a striking new look at a decent price.

The post Lian Li Lancool 217 INF Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.

While Steam has been lauded for years thanks to its user-friendly approach to game refunds, GOG’s return policy is arguably even more friendly. Despite this, the team at CD Projekt have confirmed that just 0.03% of GOG users have exploited this generosity – claiming “when you trust players, they give you every reason to keep trusting them.”

Responding to a Reddit thread discussing the potential exploitation of GOG’s generous refund policy – in which one user revealed that they “literally played Cyberpunk, finished it + a ton of side content, then refunded it because I needed the money” – the official GOG Twitter page offered a surprisingly candid comment, stating:

“As this Reddit thread gains traction, we want to stress that when you trust players, they give you every reason to keep trusting them: only 0.03% of our active users in October abused our Refund Policy.”

For context, GOG’s refund policy is currently stated as follows: “You may request a refund for a product up to 30 days after purchase, even if it was downloaded, launched, and played” – with no wording on whether there is a maximum amount of play time allowed before requesting a refund.

Of course, it is worth noting that the team at ‘Good Old Games' does have every right to deny a request, but it appears as though for now they are primarily placing their trust in the players.

GOG has made a ton of strides in ensuring they are objectively the best place to purchase and play PC games. Hopefully their refund policy is maintained and doesn’t wind up being exploited further in the wake of this revelation.

KitGuru says: What do you think of GOG in general? Would you switch over to the platform permanently in the future? Let us know down below.

The post Just 0.03% of users have ‘abused’ GOG’s generous refund policy first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this year, as part of the ongoing lawsuit between Sony and Tencent, the PS5 console maker revealed that their Horizon Zero Dawn / Forbidden West franchise had sold a total of 38 million copies since the first game’s launch back in 2017. In the months since, it appears as though the series has only continued to grow, with the franchise having reportedly now exceeded 40 million copies sold.

As reported by the Korean publication ‘news.nate.com’ (and translated by ResetEra user Red Kong XIX) in the wake of the official announcement of NCSoft’s Horizon Steel Frontiers MMO, it was revealed that since the first game’s arrival in early 2017, the Horizon franchise has sold a total of 40 million copies.

As mentioned, the last ‘official’ figure put the series at 38 million copies as of July 2025, meaning either the previous data was somewhat outdated, or the series has pushed a further 2 million copies since the previous report.

As of right now, the Horizon series consists of 4 games: 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn; 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West; the PSVR2-exclusive Horizon Call of the Mountain in 2023 and most recently Lego Horizon Adventures last year.

Given that at least two more Horizon projects have been confirmed, it will be interesting to see how quickly the series will take to reach its next major milestone of 50 million copies.

KitGuru says: Are you one of the 40 million players? Which of the 4 Horizon games is your favourite? Are you more excited for NCSoft’s Horizon MMO or Guerrilla Games’s multiplayer project? Let us know down below.

The post Sony’s Horizon franchise has reportedly sold over 40 million copies first appeared on KitGuru.

After well over a decade being limited to the 7th generation of video game consoles, the much-loved Red Dead Redemption was finally ported to ‘modern’ systems in 2023. Technically only released for the PS4/Pro and the OG switch (as well as PC later on), Rockstar has now unveiled a free current-gen update, coming to the PS5; Series X|S and Switch 2 – alongside an Android/iOS port.

Making the announcement the team at Rockstar Games officially confirmed that “Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare are coming to Netflix, iOS, Android, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2.”

While we did not get any specifics regarding what this upgrade will entail, the studio confirmed that it will be a free update including “the ability to carry over game progress, and a number of enhancements.”

As mentioned, Red Dead Redemption was first remastered back in 2023, arriving primarily for the PS4/Pro at the time (though it did get a PS5-specific FPS unlock option after-the-fact).

As such, it will be interesting to see what this 9th-gen release winds up introducing on top of the previously-offered boost to resolution and FPS.

At the very least, it is encouraging to see the update being offered for free. Hopefully Red Dead Redemption 2 is next in line for a remaster.

KitGuru says: Were you hoping to see RDR get a native current-gen update? Would you have preferred to have Red Dead Redemption 2 be remastered first? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Red Dead Redemption 1 to get native PS5, Series X|S and Switch 2 update next month first appeared on KitGuru.

Lian Li has launched its new SP Platinum Series, a line of high-performance SFX power supplies designed for premium small-form-factor builds. The new units are available in 850W and 1000W capacities, both achieving an 80 Plus Platinum certified efficiency.

The SP Platinum series is built to the latest Intel ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 specifications, making it fully ready for next-generation components. It includes Lian Li's own in-house manufactured 12V-2×6 GPU cable, which features alloy copper terminals for lower contact resistance and a dual-colour connector to help ensure it's fully seated. Internally, the PSUs are built with 100% Japanese 105°C capacitors and are equipped with a comprehensive suite of protections, including OCP, OVP, OTP, OPP, SCP, UVP, NLP, and SIP.

Cooling is handled by a 92 mm FDB fan governed by a smart curve, which enables a zero-RPM mode by switching the fan off entirely at loads of 40% or less. For builders working in cramped SFF chassis, the SP Platinum Series comes with “super-flexible” braided modular cables to improve routing and airflow.

Lian Li has also included two notable quality-of-life features. An SFX-to-ATX adapter bracket is in the box for compatibility with larger cases. More uniquely, the PSU ships with an extension power cord that features an integrated on/off switch, allowing users to cut power to the installed PSU more easily. The Lian Li SP Platinum Series is now available in both black and white versions, starting at £142.99/€164.90 for the 850W models and £159.95/€184.90 for the 1000W models.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Planning on building an SFF system? Have you already locked in on a PSU, or does the new Lian Li SP series PSUs still have a chance?

The post Lian Li targets high-end SFF builds with new SP Platinum ATX 3.1 PSUs first appeared on KitGuru.

Adata has introduced a 128GB DDR5 CUDIMM module, effectively doubling the maximum capacity per stick for the mainstream desktop platform. This breakthrough brings 4-rank memory, previously available only in server space, into consumer-grade hardware.

Until now, the consumer DDR5 market has been limited to single- and dual-rank modules, with a maximum capacity of 64GB per DIMM. With a 4-rank module architecture (dividing the module into four groups via chip stacking), Adata has pushed the new capacity limit to 128GB. This means that even dual-DIMM motherboards can now support 256GB of RAM.

Despite the clear advantage of using such a design, there is a technical trade-off to it. A 4-rank configuration increases the load on the memory bus, which can negatively impact maximum stable frequencies. For gaming, less dense memory modules might still be better, but for memory-intensive applications, such as AI workloads and high-end content creation, the sheer increase in capacity may outweigh the benefit of higher clock speeds.

To ensure stability, Adata has already been validating its 4-rank DDR5 5600 MT/s CUDIMM modules on MSI's upcoming Z890 motherboards. This development is particularly significant for the small form-factor (SFF) market, where dual-DIMM motherboards are the standard, removing a major capacity limitation for high-performance compact builds. Adata has not yet shared detailed specifications or a retail launch date for the new 128GB modules, but a 2026 release looks plausible.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Would you make use of these 128GB memory modules, or is this overkill for your needs?

The post ADATA brings 128GB DDR5 modules to mainstream desktops with new 4-Rank CUDIMMs first appeared on KitGuru.

Mojang has officially announced Minecraft Blast, a new free-to-play mobile puzzle game developed in collaboration with King, the studio behind Candy Crush Saga. The announcement confirms that this is a separate project and will not interfere with or delay future updates for the core Minecraft game, such as the upcoming Mounts of Mayhem update.

The new title (via MobileGamer) is described as a “modern match puzzle” game. Based on early screenshots, players will match blocks by colour or type within a set number of moves to complete level objectives. The gameplay is supplemented with familiar Minecraft mechanics, including boosters themed as tools like pickaxes and shovels. Beyond the puzzle levels, players will also be able to unlock themed locations and construct their own Minecraft-inspired structures.

Minecraft Blast is still in its “extremely early days” according to Mojang. The first limited playtest is currently being rolled out in Malaysia only. This initial test is only available via the Apple App Store on iOS. Mojang has stated that it plans to expand testing to other regions and platforms in the future to gather feedback.

As is standard for this kind of early-phase testing, the current build contains only a small portion of the final content. Mojang has also confirmed that any progress made by players during this test period will be reset and will not carry over to the final, full release of the game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of Minecraft? What do you think of this mix between Minecraft and Candy Crush Saga?

The post Mojang and Candy Crush developer reveal ‘Minecraft Blast’ first appeared on KitGuru.

Back around 2018, an E3 leak claimed that Ubisoft was planning on announcing a new Splinter Cell game. That turned out to be entirely false, but the publisher was indeed working on a revival of the stealth-action franchise at one point, although it was quickly cancelled in a pivot towards ‘live service' games.

This week, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier published a new interview with AdHoc Studios co-founder, Nick Herman, covering his journey from Ubisoft to founding his new studio and releasing the new hit-game Dispatch. In this interview, Herman reveals that around 2017, when he took on a role at Ubisoft's San Francisco studio, he and a small team had worked on a new Splinter Cell game for several months:

Herman had the following to say about his time working on Splinter Cell:

“I was so excited to be a part of this and help revitalize it, because it’s been dormant for a while, and we thought we could tell a great story and do something the fans would love”.

However, it is claimed that the game was cancelled very early on, as Ubisoft had begun asking its studios to focus on ‘Games as a service', otherwise known as live-service games. The group struggled to come up with an idea that would stick and ultimately, Herman left Ubisoft to start up AdHoc Studios, which just released its first hit game, Dispatch, which prominently features Breaking Bad co-star, Aaron Paul in a lead acting role.

Eventually, Ubisoft San Francisco hired a new leader, Mark Rubin, and began working on XDefiant. While the game garnered some hype during its beta testing phase, players had issues with the title at launch and ultimately, Ubisoft shut the game down and closed the San Francisco studio.

While some have taken this interview to mean that Splinter Cell was cancelled specifically for XDefiant, that was not the case. The Splinter Cell project had a short-lived life in 2017 and was cancelled to focus on live-service multiplayer games. However, XDefiant didn't come to be until after 2019, at least two years after the short-lived Splinter Cell project.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There is a serious lack of stealth-action games on the current market. Ubisoft has the perfect IP to fill that gap. Hopefully at some point in the next couple of years, it capitalises on that opportunity.

The post Former Ubisoft studio lead confirms Splinter Cell project was cancelled in 2017 first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past year, Bungie has been attempting to fight a plagiarism lawsuit from a writer who claimed that the original Red War campaign for Destiny 2 copied from his own published work. Now, Bungie has been forced to settle, after content vaulting ruined its chances of effectively fighting the case.

As reported by The Game Post, Bungie has settled the lawsuit, although the specific details of the settlement agreement have not been made public. The settlement comes after Bungie failed to get the case dismissed, in large part due to its decision to delete the Red War campaign from the game.

While initially the Content Vault was pitched as something Bungie could pull content in and out from, that turned out to not be the case. All of the ‘vaulted' content can no longer be implemented back into Destiny 2. As a result, Bungie attempted to submit YouTuber playthroughs, lore videos and Wiki articles as evidence to fight the lawsuit. The judge assigned to the case would not accept this evidence, as they were third-party retellings of the events and could not be considered truly representative of the product.

If Bungie had been able to create a legacy build of Destiny 2 with the Red War campaign still in-tact, then it would have been able to properly demonstrate the differences between its own work and that of the writer on the other side of the lawsuit. Content Vaulting continues to look like a worse and worse idea by the day. Fortunately for Destiny players, Bungie has since realised what a colossal mistake this was and will no longer be vaulting content.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It isn't much of a ‘vault' if Bungie itself can't unlock it and reimplement the content. I imagine a lot of Destiny players right now would be keen for a limited-time event that allowed them to replay the original campaign missions, but it simply isn't possible according to Bungie itself. If it had been possible, they wouldn't have had to settle this lawsuit.

The post Bungie settles lawsuit over original ‘Red War’ campaign for Destiny 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

Escape from Tarkov has officially launched on Steam but the transition to the biggest PC gaming platform hasn't gone smoothly. Following the launch, many players had issues getting into the game and so far, the store page has been flooded with negative user reviews. 

Escape from Tarkov has launched to ‘mixed' reviews on Steam, with the majority of the top-rated reviews being negative. Players had issues creating accounts at launch, while others had issues with an error stating the game files were ‘corrupted' after a fresh install. Due to the game using a third-party launcher, even when purchased on Steam, players also expressed concern about missing their 2-hour refund window before even getting to try the game for themselves.

Currently, the review split stands at 10K negative reviews to just over 4K positive reviews. The positive reviews that do exist all express admiration for Escape from Tarkov's tension, immersion, realistic shooting and difficulty. It is perhaps the most ‘hardcore' extraction shooter on the market, while games like Arc Raiders and Marathon look to serve a broader audience of players.

Battlestate Games had increased server capacity for Escape from Tarkov in the lead-up to the Steam launch. However, many players encountered issues with the game launcher and the website for creating accounts. We expect those issues to subside pretty quickly, at which point, players should have an easier time getting into the game. Still, it is clear that Tarkov is not a game for everyone.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you tried Escape from Tarkov since the Steam launch earlier this week? Have you had any issues? 

The post Escape from Tarkov launches to mixed reviews on Steam first appeared on KitGuru.

Patriot Memory's flagship Viper Xtreme 5 DDR5 has officially broken the world record for memory frequency, becoming the first to surpass the 13,200 MT/s barrier.

The new record was set by professional overclocker Ai Max and tuning specialist Brian “Chew”. Using liquid nitrogen cooling (LN2), the team achieved a validated speed of 6605.7MHz (CL68-127-127-127-2), which translates to an effective data rate of 13,211.4MT/s. This score now sits at the top of the international rankings on HWBOT.

Funny enough, the platform used to achieve this result was built on previous-generation hardware. The record-breaking Viper Xtreme 5 memory module was installed on a Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Tachyon Ice motherboard and paired with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor underclocked to 2.1GHz on the P-cores and 1.7GHz on the E-cores. Both components were operating under LN2.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Seeing how often the DDR5 frequency record is being beaten, how long do you think this one will last?

The post Patriot Viper Xtreme 5 DDR5 memory hits 13,211MT/s in new overclocking world record first appeared on KitGuru.

Crystal Dynamics has had a rough few months. Following the cancellation of Perfect Dark, which Crystal Dynamics was the primary developer for, the studio was forced to cut a sizable number of developers from the team. Now just a short while later, the company has had to let go of more employees. 

Crystal Dynamics is undergoing its fourth round of lay-offs in just two years. This time around, the company has announced plans to let go of 30 employees as part of a ‘restructuring' effort.

The company claims the cuts were made to “optimise the continued development” of Tomb Raider, the studio's flagship franchise. If we take out the marketing spin, then we can gather that the next Tomb Raider game is not close to release, and Crystal Dynamics simply had more employees than it needed at this point in the project's lifespan.

The next Tomb Raider game was greenlit a couple of years ago, shortly after Embracer Group acquired Crystal Dynamics and the Tomb Raider IP from Square Enix. While Embracer continues to own Crystal Dynamics and by extension, Tomb Raider, it is actually Amazon Games that will be publishing the next game in the series. This is notable, as Amazon Games also underwent a massive round of lay-offs last month, leading to the cancellation of multiple projects, and the shelving of New World, the company's only successfully released game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you've been looking forward to the return of Tomb Raider, it sounds like you'll be waiting a few more years at least. 

The post Crystal Dynamics undergoes more layoffs, but Tomb Raider development continues first appeared on KitGuru.

Lian Li has expanded its power supply portfolio with the launch of the SX series. Available in 850W, 1000W, and 1200W capacities, these new units are designed to meet the Intel ATX 3.1 specification and carry 80 Plus and PPLP Platinum certifications, promising up to 92% efficiency under typical loads.

Ready for the latest graphics cards, each SX series unit includes a native PCIe Gen 5.1 12V-2×6 connector capable of delivering up to 600W without the need for bulky adapters. For the higher wattage 1000W and 1200W models, Lian Li also includes a 12V-2×6 to dual 6+2 PCIe cable to ensure compatibility with a wider range of peripherals and older cards. The units ship with flexible, braided-texture modular cables designed to facilitate easy routing in tight chassis.

Internals are cooled by a 120 mm fluid dynamic bearing fan. This cooling solution features a Zero RPM mode, which stops the fan completely under light loads for silent operation. A physical switch on the rear of the PSU allows users to toggle this hybrid mode on or off depending on their noise preference. Under the hood, the SX series is constructed using 100% Japanese 105°C capacitors and uses a single +12V rail layout.

Aesthetically, the casing features an embossed mesh pattern to assist with ventilation. As expected for a high-end unit, it comes with a comprehensive suite of industrial-grade protections, including OPP, OVP, SCP, OCP, OTP, UVP, SIP, and NLP, to safeguard the hardware. The Lian Li SX series is now available for pre-order in black and white, and it comes with a 10-year warranty. The SX850P costs £109.99/$119.99/€124.90, the SX1000P costs £130.99/$149.99/€149.90, and the SX1200P costs £139.99/$159.99/€159.90 for the flagship.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: If you were in the market for a new PSU, would any of the new Lian Li SX PSUs have been on your radar?

The post Lian Li launches new SX PSUs with ATX 3.1 and Platinum efficiency first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, NCSoft and Sony officially revealed their Horizon MMO project – Horizon Steel Frontiers. One thing about the announcement immediately stood out as strange, the game is only coming to PC and mobile, with no PS5 version planned. As it turns out, that may have been Sony's decision. 

NCSoft has addressed the lack of PS5 version for Horizon Steel Frontiers, its new MMO based on PlayStation's popular Horizon series of action-adventure games. Speaking with 4Gamer, NCSoft said that it would “like to” release a PS5 version of the game, but added that it is “not something we can decide on our own”.

The big question raised from this statement is why? Why would Sony put money into creating an MMO based on its Horizon franchise and not bring it to PlayStation consoles?

We may already have the answer to that, as it was also revealed yesterday that Guerrilla Games' next big project won't be a continuation of the single-player games, but rather a multiplayer spin-off instead. Given that Horizon Steel Frontiers is not coming to PS5, it would seem that Sony was concerned about the MMO stealing the thunder from Guerrilla's own multiplayer game, which will launch on PS5.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Horizon began life as a PlayStation exclusive franchise and the majority of fans are PlayStation gamers, so not bringing Steel Frontiers to the console is certainly a strange choice. I don't see any reason why both Steel Frontiers and Guerrilla's own Horizon multiplayer game couldn't co-exist on the platform. 

The post Sony apparently doesn’t want Horizon Steel Frontiers on PlayStation first appeared on KitGuru.

Thermaltake has added the View 390 TG Mid-Tower to its case lineup. Available in both Black and Snow editions, this new ATX case prioritises visibility through a distinctive glass panel design. The chassis also features a curved tempered glass panel on the left side that meets a full tempered glass top panel, creating a seamless view of the interior.

Beyond the vertical fishbowl aesthetic, the View 390 TG is built to support the industry's shift towards hidden-connector components. The motherboard tray includes specific cutouts to accommodate back-plug motherboards, including those from the Asus BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Gigabyte Project Stealth ecosystems. This design allows for significantly cleaner cable management by routing power and data cables entirely behind the motherboard tray.

Cooling is handled by two pre-installed CT120 PWM fans located at the rear of the case. For liquid cooling setups, the chassis supports a radiator up to 360 mm mounted on the right side of the motherboard tray. In total, the case can accommodate up to eight 120 mm fans. For graphics cards, the View 390 TG features rotatable PCI-E slots, allowing users to choose between horizontal and vertical mounting. Moreover, Thermaltake includes a GPU holder and a riser cable bracket to help prevent sag and maintain alignment.

As is becoming standard with Thermaltake's enthusiast cases, the View 390 TG is compatible with the company's optional LCD Screen Kits. Users can purchase a separate 3.9-inch or 6-inch display unit to install in the case, which interfaces with the TT RGB PLUS software to display real-time system diagnostics or custom GIF and JPG images. The build is rounded out with top-mounted I/O featuring a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, and HD audio jacks. Storage options allow for the installation of up to three 2.5-inch SSDs or two 3.5-inch HDDs. The case is priced at $159.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Would you like to build a system inside one of these? 

The post Thermaltake launches View 390 TG with curved glass and hidden-connector support first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this week, Nintendo rolled out a major Switch 2 firmware update, adding new quality of life features. Unfortunately, this same update also appears to have cancelled out support for third-party docks. 

As spotted by Kotaku, the latest Switch 2 firmware update has stopped the video signal from being transmitted when the system is connected to a third-party dock.

While many use the standard dock included with the system by Nintendo, some users have opted to buy cheaper third-party docks to create easy Switch set-ups in other rooms, or to have one for travelling. The official Switch 2 dock costs a whopping £92.99, an insane price given that the official dock is essentially a hollow and cheap feeling lump of plastic, with a couple of ports integrated.

Nintendo has not yet commented on the issue, so it is unclear if this was an intended move to force users into only using the official dock, or if it was simply a mistake that will be patched later.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Considering the price of an official dock, it is no surprise that some users have turned to cheaper third-party solutions. Hopefully this on-going issue was just a mistake on Nintendo's part and a patch will come soon to restore support. 

The post Switch 2 firmware update breaks support for third-party docks first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD has continued to develop its FidelityFX Super Resolution technology, moving from a spatial upscaler when it first released to a machine learning-based solution with the launch of FSR 4. The company is now rolling out the next phase of its ML-enhanced roadmap, dubbed ‘Redstone', starting with a feature designed to improve ray tracing quality.

As spotted by u/HolyAllah and later announced by Jack Huynh, SVP and GM of Computing and Graphics at AMD, the first game to make use of the Redstone suite is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, adding Ray Regeneration to the mix. However, only current-gen Radeon graphics cards can make use of the feature.

This is a machine learning-based real-time denoiser designed to enhance ray-traced effects, including lighting and reflections. It functions similarly to Nvidia's Ray Reconstruction by attempting to reduce rendering costs through sparse sampling while mitigating the blurriness often associated with traditional denoisers.

In Black Ops 7, players with the supported hardware will find the new option under the ‘Ray Tracing Denoiser' section of the settings menu, where the game suggests pairing it with FSR 4 upscaling. To enable the feature, users must first install the newly released AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.11.1 driver.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Is your system ready for FSR Ray Regeneration? Will you try the new technology in Black Ops 7?

The post AMD debuts FSR Ray Regeneration with Black Ops 7 first appeared on KitGuru.

GAMDIAS has announced the ATHENA M4M, a new line of compact micro-tower PC cases aimed at delivering high performance in a minimal footprint. The series includes two models: the ATHENA M4M with a mesh front panel and RGB accents, and the ATHENA M4M WOOD, which incorporates a natural wood finish. 

The ATHENA M4M ships with three pre-installed 120mm NOTUS M1 fans and extensive ventilation through mesh, side, and top panels. The standard M4M also integrates an 8-port PWM ARGB fan hub for streamlined lighting and cooling control. GAMDIAS highlights support for dual 360mm radiators, GPUs up to 395mm, and connector-hidden BTF motherboards, enabling clean cable management and simplified builds. Modular panels and a front-mounted PSU design further enhance accessibility and ease of installation.

Connectivity is handled via a front I/O panel featuring USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, dual USB 3.0 ports, LED controls, and HD audio. Storage options include support for both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, while magnetic dust filters provide added protection. A GPU support bracket is included to prevent sag for larger, heavier graphics cards.

The ATHENA M4M Series is available now, priced at $79.90 for the mesh model and $89.90 for the wood edition.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We'll be reviewing this case soon so stay tuned for our in-depth thoughts on what it is like to build with.

The post Gamdias introduces Athena M4M chassis with BTF-ready design first appeared on KitGuru.

After a decade of little-to-nothing in the way of new Silent Hill content, Konami’s iconic franchise has returned bigger and better than ever with the back-to-back successes of Silent Hill 2 Remake and Silent Hill F. With regards to the latter, Konami has now released a brand new update adding an extra difficulty level; a bunch of system changes and much more.

Detailing this latest update on the official Silent Hill F website, Konami have now released patch 1.10, bringing with it a ton of bug fixes alongside more substantial changes, including:

• New ‘Casual Action’ difficulty level
• Optional skip feature for select sections of New Game+
• Hinako’s stamina replenishes slightly faster
• Unskippable combat encounters are reduced across multiple sections
• Fewer enemies are placed across multiple sections
• Motion Blur toggle added (consoles)

The full list of patch notes can be found HERE and goes into more depth regarding console specific fixes and changes.

Already a solid game at its launch, this latest update to Silent Hill F has ensured that the title remains not only more replayable, but is also a better experience for those playing it for the first time.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by Silent Hill’s resurgence? Why does Konami seem to care all of a sudden? Is Silent Hill F on your GOTY shortlist? Let us know down below.

The post Silent Hill F update 1.10 brings new difficulty mode, skip feature and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Facebook’s Meta Quest platform has been home to many VR ports of popular ‘flat’ games, including the likes of Resident Evil 4 VR; Fruit Ninja; Roblox; Tetris Effect: Connected and more. In a curious announcement, the visually-overwhelming reverse-bullet-hell (aka bullet heaven) indie hit Vampire Survivors has been announced for Meta’s VR platform.

Available to purchase right now for the relatively modest price of £7.99, Vampire Survivors VR fortunately does not put you into the eyes of the survivors themselves.

Instead, the game is presented as a “dioramic 3D voxel created environment” – offering a familiar yet surprisingly new perspective on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, as with many of these exciting virtual reality ports, Vampire Survivors VR is limited to the Meta Quest platform (namely the Quest 2, 3/S and Pro).

That said, if you do own a Quest headset, Vampire Survivors VR looks to be a rather satisfying visual experience – one which hopefully shouldn’t make you feel motion sick.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Would you like to see more VR games take this diorama approach to its perspective? Let us know down below.

The post Vampire Survivors VR officially announced for Meta Quest first appeared on KitGuru.

Though it feels like just yesterday, the latest generation PlayStation 5 is now officially half a decade old. Celebrating this milestone, Sony has shared a ton of interesting stats pertaining to the past 5 years of PlayStation – including the fact that over 100 billion hours of gameplay has been enjoyed so far on the system.

Publishing a post to the PlayStation Blog, the VP of Product Management at SIE ‘Shuzo Kikuchi’ wrote:

“Five years ago, in November 2020, PlayStation 5 marked a new era of speed, immersion, and creativity. As we celebrate its fifth anniversary, we’re looking back at how PS5 has evolved – year by year – through system software updates, new accessories, and community milestones that continue to redefine play.”

One of the first stats highlighted by Sony was the fact that since 2020, the PS5’s oft-forgotten ‘Share Screen’ feature has in fact been used more than 1.6 billion times – totalling over 900 million hours.

Beyond this, the past generation has seen Sony putting a greater emphasis on accessibility. This seems to be paying off, with the console maker revealing that 1-in-4 PS5 users have turned on at least one accessibility feature in the console’s settings.

The full list of infographics and stats can be found HERE, but some of the other most notable include:

• Cross-generation share play has been used over 700 million times
• 5.6 billion game captures (screenshots/clips) have been shared
• Over 1 billion voice chat sessions have occurred
• 40 billion trophies have been earned
• More than 100 billion hours of gameplay has taken place on PS5

As mentioned, in many ways it feels as though the 9th generation of consoles arrived just yesterday. That said, even 5 years on, the PS5 still has plenty of life left within it. It will be interesting to see what these stats look like once the PS5 reaches 10 years on the market.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: How long have you had a PS5 for? Did you pick the console up day-one? How many hours do you think you’ve played since the PS5 launched? Let us know down below.

The post Sony celebrates PlayStation 5’s fifth anniversary with new player stats first appeared on KitGuru.

Well over a decade on from its initial release on PS3 and Xbox 360, the much-loved Red Dead Redemption was finally ported to ‘modern’ systems in 2023. While a decent upgrade, the remaster was technically only released for the PS4/Pro and the OG switch (as well as PC), with Xbox users having to make do with an enhanced backwards compatible Xbox 360 version. In an unexpected move, it appears as though the original Red Dead Redemption is set to receive native current-gen and Switch 2 ports in the near future.

As discovered by ResetEra user –R, the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) published a listing for Red Dead Redemption coming to the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.

While many fans would likely have preferred to get a current-gen version of its sequel RDR2, having a native PS5 and Series X|S version of the OG is still welcome.

That said, given the fact that Red Dead Redemption already runs at 4k60fps on the PS4 Pro version (as well as the backwards compatible Xbox 360 version on Series X), it will be interesting to see what specific enhancements are added with this impending release – perhaps DualSense support?

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this re-release? Would you prefer if Rockstar had announced a current-gen port of RDR2? Let us know down below.

The post Red Dead Redemption 1 has been rated for PS5, Series X|S and Switch 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

While we typically see console prices coming down over the course of a generation, the exact opposite has happened with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with both sets of consoles getting price hikes years after launch. Fortunately, that doesn't mean that holiday season deals will stop, with reports indicating that PS5 prices will be slashed by up to €150 starting on Black Friday. 

According to billbil-kun of Dealabs, a reliable source for PlayStation-related leaks, the PS5 Digital Edition will get a price cut of €150 for Black Friday, while the standard edition console should receive €100 price cut. If accurate, this would bring prices down to €349 for the Digital Edition and €449 for the standard PS5.

The PS5 Pro should also get a similar price cut to the standard PS5, bringing the sale price down to €699.

Sony has typically shaved around €100 off of the price of the PS5 each year for Black Friday, although nowadays, the deal isn't quite as good due to repeated price hikes. Still, if you want a PS5, Black Friday / early December should be the best time to buy.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up a PS5 during the sales this year? 

The post Sony to cut PS5 prices by up to €150 for Black Friday first appeared on KitGuru.