Last year, Amazon made the decision to stop development on its MMO, New World, and wind back its game development practices through major cuts at its studios. Now, Amazon Games VP, Christoph Hartmann, is leaving the company behind. 

Following a wave of layoffs at Amazon Game Studios last year, Jason Schreier reports that the long-running Vice President has stepped down. Christoph Hartmann had previously been the head of 2K Games under Take-Two, before leaving to help Amazon ramp up its own game development and publishing business more than eight years ago.

While Amazon Games has operated for more than a decade, it has only managed to successfully ship one in-house developed game. New World had a strong start but failed to retain its momentum post-launch. Amazon has had a bit more success in publishing, having served as the publisher for Lost Ark in the west. Currently, Amazon is also expected to publish the next Tomb Raider game from Crystal Dynamics.

Amazon underwent restructuring and cost-cutting efforts in October 2025, leading to more than 14,000 layoffs.

KitGuru Says: Amazon Games has gone through a lot of change in recent months. At this point, it is unclear if they will make another game internally, or if they'll stick to publishing going forward. 

The post Amazon Games loses VP following mass layoffs first appeared on KitGuru.

PlayStation fans have been hoping for Sony's return to the handheld console market for many years now, but so far, there has been no sign of a new, official PSP. One hardware modder took it upon themselves to make one though, showcasing a full PS4 console, fitted into a custom handheld casing. 

Sharing their work on Reddit, Wewillmakeitnow showcased a video along with several images of their handheld PS4. It utilises the motherboard of a PS4 Slim, cleverly cut down and fitted into a handheld style case, complete with a 7-inch OLED display and integrated controller buttons and thumbsticks at either side.

There are some drawbacks, for instance, the handheld is much thicker than most comparable devices, and the cooling required is much larger than we are used to seeing in consumer-grade devices, but that should be expected. After all, this modder only had last-generation tech to work with.

The device manages to last for around 90 minutes running some of the PS4's most demanding titles, but can run for up to three hours while playing less graphically intensive games.

If Sony were to make its own PS4-level handheld, it would be able to make some very clear improvements. For starters, Sony would be able to replace the chip with a more modern AMD SoC with better efficiency and performance at lower wattages. They would also be able to custom-design the motherboard and engineer a slimmer cooler to reduce the overall profile.

Right now, there are no official plans for a new PlayStation Portable. This generation, Sony instead opted to release the Portal, a handheld streaming device for PS5 Remote Play, as well as cloud streaming. Rumour has it that there may be bigger portable plans in place for the PS6, but right now, there are conflicting reports on when that next-gen console will arrive.

KitGuru Says: Would you like to see Sony return to the handheld market with a true successor to the PSP? 

The post Modder shows off homemade handheld PS4 first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, Microsoft held its quarterly earnings call, revealing that while revenues are up overall thanks to things like Azure Cloud and AI investments, things at Xbox have taken a fall. In particular, Xbox hardware sales are down by 32% compared to the same Q2 period last year. 

Typically, we expect to see console sales making a jump between October and December due to things like Black Friday and Christmas. However, Microsoft opted to not offer any Black Friday discounts in 2025 and to make matters worse, the company had raised the prices of its consoles to the highest point since launch. As a result, Xbox console and accessories revenue dropped by 32% year-over-year.

The content and services portion of Xbox didn't fall quite as drastically but it did still see a dip, falling by 5% year-on-year, despite major launches like The Outer Worlds 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 during this time period. This would suggest that COD sales this year were weaker than the previous year, which would explain why Activision announced shortly after launch that it would no longer be doing back-to-back years for Modern Warfare or Black Ops moving forward.

Overall, Xbox revenue was down by 9%, but Microsoft as a whole had actually seen revenues increase by 17%, with the heavy lifting coming from Azure and AI initiatives.

Xbox content may see stronger performance later this year. Titles like Gears E-Day, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and a potential PS5 release for Starfield are all expected to land in 2026.

KitGuru Says: It has been clear for a while that Microsoft has lost the current console generation. The company is likely to consider more of a push towards multi-platform game releases to improve the situation, even if it comes at the expense of future hardware sales. 

The post Microsoft reports drop in Xbox content revenue and hardware sales first appeared on KitGuru.

Right at the start of 2026, known horror aficionados Bloober Team began to tease a mysterious project via a brand new website which at the time featured the seemingly nonsense string of letters ‘RemosdNeulSerorehsoOvamCeyerd’ alongside a countdown to the 14th of February. With the date in question encroaching upon us, the website has since been updated with even more cryptic clues.

In going to the website RemosdNeulSerorehsoOvamCeyerd.com, users are met with the ominous quote “Some things never leave the walls. They only learn to wait,” alongside an enlarged version of the countdown timer – which is set to end on the 14th of February.

Seemingly connected to Valentine's Day in some form, the website also features a rose which is either dripping red paint or blood; with lines from the poem ‘The Sick Rose’ by William Blake playing in audio form.

Published back in 1794, the full short poem reads as follows:

“O Rose thou art sick. / The invisible worm, / That flies in the night / In the howling storm: / Has found out thy bed / Of crimson joy: / And his dark secret love / Does thy life destroy.”

Bloober Team are currently working on a number of projects, with the studio having confirmed to be developing a Silent Hill 1 remake as well as a Nintendo Switch exclusive known as Project M. Whether this teaser is related to either of these titles is currently unknown, but with Valentines Day a little over two weeks away we won’t have to wait long to find out.

KitGuru says: What do you think this is teasing? How relevant do you think the poem will be to the game itself? What’s your favourite Bloober Team title (other than the Silent Hill 2 Remake)? Let us know down below.

The post Bloober Team’s mysterious website updated with additional teasers first appeared on KitGuru.

While Nintendo’s strategy when it comes to upgrading their titles for the Switch 2 has been somewhat inconsistent, one corner of the industry which has been quite consumer-friendly in this regard is the indie space. Joining the growing list of titles which offer free Switch 2 Edition upgrades is the popular Terraria x Stardew Valley styled sandbox ‘Core Keeper’ – available now.

In alignment with the game’s latest Void and Voltage update, Core Keeper has received a free Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for all those who own the game. Available now, the update isn’t necessarily too transformative given the relative simplicity of the game’s visuals, but is still welcome nonetheless, introducing:

• Expanded 8 player multiplayer (double the OG Switch’s)
• “Improved graphic fidelity”
• Enhancements to lighting, shadows, water and particle effects
• Up to 60 frames per second gameplay

The improvements to lighting in particular is interesting to see as while Core Keeper utilises a pixel art aesthetic, it features a rather pleasing dynamic lighting model which adds to the game’s vibes.

One Switch 2 feature which would have been welcome to see is the support for mouse mode. Unfortunately it appears as though so far many developers have shied away from making use of it.

Regardless, Core Keeper is a fun and addictive sandbox experience which is perfect for the pick-up-and-play nature of the Switch, and so it is exciting to see the game getting a free upgrade. If you have yet to purchase Core Keeper, the game is currently on sale for 40% off.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Core Keeper? How does it compare to other sandbox titles? Would you have liked to see mouse mode support included? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Core Keeper gets free Switch 2 Edition Upgrade alongside new content first appeared on KitGuru.

7 years after the release of the first game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II finally launched last year to heaps of praise, with many deeming it to be not only a worthy sequel, but one of the best RPGs in years. In case you missed out on the original game back when it released, it appears as though the first KC:D will be getting a native current-gen upgrade imminently.

As reported by Gematsu, the PlayStation Store seems to have accidentally leaked the existence of a PS5 version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, with the listing (which has since been removed) offering some details regarding what players can expect in terms of enhancements.

According to the page, the PS5 version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance “now features graphical updates including 4K resolution, improved framerate, high-resolution textures and many more.”

For comparison, the PS4 version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance operated at just 900p with an inconsistent 30fps framerate. This was boosted somewhat on the PS4 Pro, reaching 1080p while featuring improved ambient occlusion and draw distances.

Even with what little information which we know now regarding the native PS5 version, the enhancements should be very much noticeable. Hopefully the improved framerate mentioned refers to full 60fps support and not just a more stable 30.

We shouldn’t have to wait long to find out with the game’s 8th anniversary set to arrive in just over 2 weeks’ time.

KitGuru says: What did you think of KC:DII? Where did it rank in your games of 2025? Would you pay for the upgrades mentioned above or should it be free? Let us know down below.

The post PlayStation Store prematurely announces PS5 upgrade for Kingdom Come: Deliverance first appeared on KitGuru.

Today we analyse a new power supply from a Chinese brand better known for producing air and liquid coolers for the PC sector. This new range of power supplies from CPS PCCooler consists of three SKUs, with 850W, 1000W and 1200W models. They sent us the flagship 1200W unit to check out. This supply has been Platinum certified by Cybenetics and, according to PCCooler, is set to be priced at around £157 when it is released into European and UK markets. 

This power supply is fully modular and PCIe 5.1 and ATX 3.1 compliant. It adopts a high-grade 135mm fluid dynamic bearing fan, and is equipped with full Japanese capacitors. On paper the specification of this unit seems good – but as is often the case with PCCooler products, availability right now seems limited to the Asian market. (Buy HERE for 26480 JPY.)

YT1200 Product overview:

• Type: ATX 3.1
• Physical Dimensions: 150x150x86mm (LxWxH).
• Certification: Cybenetics Platinum
• Efficiency: >93.5% under Typical Load (50% loading)
• Topology: Active PFC + Full Bridge SRC LLC+DC to DC
• Protection: OVP/UVP/SCP/OPP/OCP/OTP/SPD
• Capacitors: Full Japanese Electrolytic Capacitors
• Fan Dimension: 135x135x25mm
• Fan Bearing Type: FDB Bearing
• Fan Operating Mode: Hybrid Mode
• PCI-E 5.1 Output Power: 600W
• Cybenetics Noise Rating: YT1200 (STANDARD ++)
• 10 year warranty.

The post CPS PCCooler YT1200 ATX 3.1 PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, Sony updates its PlayStation Plus Essential line-up with 3-4 titles which subscribers can claim and keep forever as long as they have an active membership. Despite stating that they would be de-prioritising last-gen titles in 2026, 3 of the 4 additions for February offer PlayStation 4 versions, including Subnautica: Below Zero and Ace Combat 7.

Making the announcement via the PlayStation Blog, February’s PlayStation Plus Essential line-up is (ironically) lacking in any heavy hitters, with the following set to be available to claim from the 3rd of February:

• Undisputed [PS5]
• Subnautica: Below Zero [PS5 | PS4]
• Ultros [PS5 | PS4]
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown [PS4]

As mentioned, Sony previously stated that they would begin to de-prioritise PS4 titles in their PlayStation Plus monthly titles starting in 2026. Despite this, the only current-gen exclusive for the month is Disputed – described as “the most authentic boxing game to date”. While a heavy hitting title in the literal sense, the game is very much targeted towards a particular audience and so it may or may not resonate with you.

Subnautica: Below Zero is a spin-off of the beloved underwater first-person survival series; which failed to capture the magic of the first entry in many people’s eyes, but is still a worthwhile game in its own right.

Ultros meanwhile is a visually explosive metroidvania which features art by El Huervo of Hotline Miami fame. With “brutal, intimate, close-quarter combat” and a “unique loop-based mechanic” Ultros is worth checking out if you have any interest in the genre.

All four of these titles will be available to add to your library from the 3rd of February, and will remain claimable until the 2nd of March. This means you have just a few more days to add January’s line-up to your library if you have yet to do so – the full details of which can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of February’s line-up? Are you surprised to see so many last / cross-gen titles included still? Are you a boxing fan? Let us know down below.

The post February’s PlayStation Plus additions include Subnautica, Ace Combat and more first appeared on KitGuru.

At CES earlier this month, MSI revealed its newly overhauled Prestige laptop line. Now just a few weeks later, the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ and its larger Prestige 16 variants are all available in the US.

The updated lineup adopts a slimmer profile, down to 0.47 inches at its thinnest. Despite the reduced thickness, the Prestige laptops remain just as durable. All models include modern security features such as a discrete TPM 2.0 module, fingerprint reader, IR webcam with shutter, and MSI’s Smart Guard protection.

Depending on the model, the new Prestige laptops can be configured all the way up to a brand-new Intel Core Ultra 9 388H processor. This gives plenty of performance for AI applications, alongside improved integrated Arc graphics. Efficiency gains also have an impact on battery life, with these laptops rated for over 30 hours of continuous HD video playback on a charge. Underneath the hood, cooling is handled by a vapor chamber and a dual-fan system, keeping noise levels low and thermals in check.

To match the Prestige name, these laptops ship with very high-spec displays. The Prestige 14 Flip AI+ features a 14‑inch FHD+ OLED touchscreen with 100% DCI‑P3 coverage and SGS low‑blue‑light certification. The 16‑inch models step up to 2.8K OLED panels with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification, and optional touch support. Ambient light and adaptive color sensors are included to maintain consistent image quality in different lighting conditions.

For users who prefer flexible workflows, the Prestige Flip variants offer 2‑in‑1 convertibility with stylus support. All models include a Copilot key, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, DTS‑enhanced audio with dual speakers and dual woofers, and a full suite of ports, including dual Thunderbolt 4, USB‑A, HDMI 2.1 and an audio combo jack.

The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, the Prestige 16 AI+ and the Prestige 16 Flip AI+ are all available in the US now, with prices starting at $1,299. EU availability is expected in the coming months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on getting a new laptop for 2026?

The post MSI’s Core Ultra Series 3 powered Prestige laptops launch starting at $1,299 first appeared on KitGuru.

Razer has launched the beta version of Razer Synapse Web, a lightweight web application that lets users customise their Razer peripherals in Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Opera. This new platform eliminates the need for full software installation, making it a handy tool for esports tournaments, LAN environments, or shared systems where administrative locks prevent traditional software setup.

The web app focuses on speed and essential features. Users can adjust Chroma RGB Quick Effects, refine key settings, and manage onboard profiles directly within the browser interface. At launch, only the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line will be supported, but we can expect more peripherals in the future.

While Synapse 4 remains the primary hub for deep integration and multi-device synchronisation, Synapse Web serves as a high-performance alternative for rapid adjustments in competitive scenarios. This “web-native” approach ensures that a gamer's specific performance tuning is always just a URL away, regardless of the PC they are using.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: For any user who jumps from system to system, being able to tweak their peripherals on the go is quite handy. However, most users will probably be glad that with Synapse Web, they won't need to install any software to customise their peripherals.

The post Razer introduces Synapse Web beta to customise peripherals via browser first appeared on KitGuru.

While Sony has yet to make any official announcements regarding the PlayStation 6 console, there have been some hints along the way. For instance, PlayStation hardware lead, Mark Cerny, has discussed continuing to work with AMD on new technology for a future console. For the past couple of years, many have been anticipating a 2028 launch date for next-generation consoles, but one analyst is now predicting a longer timetable.

As spotted by VGC, an MST Financial analyst recently claimed in a forecast for Sony that the PlayStation 5 lifecycle is going to be extended, and that the successor won't be released by 2028 as previously anticipated.

There are a number of good reasons for a PlayStation 6 delay right now. For starters, Sony has yet to convert a good number of PS4 users over to the new system. On top of that, the recent AI boom has led to massive price increases for things like memory and SSDs, which could make building a new console a much more expensive endeavour than initially planned over the next couple of years. Many consumers are expected to hold on to current-generation or older hardware while prices are in flux.

There are still a number of big generation-defining games also still to be released. Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to lead to the sale of many PS5 consoles towards the end of this year. Premier first party studios like Naughty Dog have also yet to release a brand-new title during the PS5 generation and many other studios also have new games in the oven, specifically targeting the PS5.

If the forecast is accurate, then the PS6 may not arrive until 2029 or later. However, it is worth noting that this is just one analyst's opinion, and the tech space tends to move at a rapid pace. Sony itself has not yet made any statements around its next-gen hardware plans.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Rumour has it that the PlayStation 6 will see Sony tapping back into the portable market. As for when we'll see it, that is still up for debate.

The post Analyst predicts PlayStation 6 delay and ‘extended lifecycle’ for PS5 first appeared on KitGuru.

This week, Kingston announced that its IronKey Keypad 200 USB drives, including the KP200 and KP200C, have achieved NIST FIPS 140‑3 Level 3 validation. The certification places the KP200 line alongside the already‑approved IronKey D500S, strengthening Kingston’s position in supplying independently verified, tamper‑resistant data storage.

FIPS 140‑3 Level 3 is the latest U.S. government cryptographic hardware standard and is widely recognised across Europe as a benchmark for security. Level 3 requires physical tamper resistance, identity‑based authentication, protected key handling, separation of critical interfaces, and safeguards against abnormal voltage or temperature conditions. Certification is granted following testing by NIST‑accredited labs and a final review by NIST.

The KP200 series are keypad‑based drives compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and mobile devices via USB‑A or USB‑C. They are designed for environments where encrypted removable media is required to load or transfer software on medical, industrial, scientific, and other OT systems. NIST’s new SP 1334 guidance also highlights the need for stronger USB security in OT infrastructure.

The KP200 series includes dual Admin/User PINs, optional Global and Session Read‑Only modes to prevent unauthorised changes or malware exposure, and IP68 dust‑ and water‑resistance. The USB drives are available with up to 512GB of storage and come with a three-year warranty.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The number of cyber attacks carried out has grown each year, so data security is always important, especially when working in sensitive fields.

The post Kingston IronKey KP200 achieves FIPS 140‑3 Level 3 certificatio first appeared on KitGuru.

Obsidian has been slowly working away on Grounded 2 in early access since its reveal last year. This month, the game is getting its first major update, titled ‘The Toxic Tangle', adding a new biome to explore, alongside new enemies and even a new gun-toting mount.

First up is the new Garden biome, which transforms the greenhouse into a dense, vertical maze of vines, crawlspaces, and hidden stashes. Players will encounter everything from pumpkin patches to carrot thickets, alongside aggressive wildlife and plenty of resources to overcome new hazards.

Players will also be able to use a giant ladybug as a tank-style mount, complete with its own water cannon for clearing out pests. Speaking of pests, players will encounter new enemy types, including earwigs, potato beetles, wooly aphid and even a giant snake for a late-game challenge. The Masked Stranger also makes a return, hinting at new mysteries still to come.

Mutations have been reworked into active and passive types, with passives now tied to weapon loadouts for smoother combat flow. Builders gain expanded options with new sets such as the Pumpkin Kit, updated Mushroom Kit, Scale Roof Set, improved Acorn Stairs, and long‑requested floor hatches.

Looking ahead, Playgrounds Mode returns in February via the Public Test Beta, bringing back creation tools from the first Grounded.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Did many of you play the original Grounded? Have you jumped into Grounded 2 yet or are you waiting for it to get closer to V1.0?

The post Grounded 2 gets first major content update first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel has officially entered the next era of AI upscaling with the release of XeSS 3, featuring Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) technology. Integrated into the latest graphics driver (versions 32.0.101.8425 and 32.0.101.8362), XeSS 3 supports 2x, 3x, and 4x frame multiplication, similar to Nvidia's DLSS 4. One of the most significant advantages of this rollout is backward compatibility. Users can enable Frame Generation in any XeSS 2 supported game through the Intel Graphics control panel. 

The driver update also marks the launch of Intel's new integrated graphics solutions, the Arc B390 and B370, which power the Core Ultra 3 (Panther Lake) mobile CPU family. XeSS 3 is designed to run on any Arc hardware equipped with XMX units, covering the original A-series, the new B-series discrete cards, and integrated solutions across the Meteor Lake, Lunar Lake, and Arrow Lake families. Early hands-on testing suggests that while image quality is high with minimal artefacts, users may experience higher input lag in fast-paced titles, a common hurdle for frame generation technologies that Intel is working to mitigate.

Beyond the new features, the driver also introduces critical stability fixes, including a resolution for crashes in the Pragmata demo and a fix for incorrect Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) reporting in the display settings. Moreover, Intel has acknowledged several known issues under investigation, including application crashes in games such as Star Citizen, The Finals, and Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Users experiencing these issues are encouraged to report them through the Intel Arc Control feedback tool. The full patch notes can be found below:

Highlights:

• Launch driver for Intel Core Ultra Series 3 with built-in Intel Arc B390, B370 GPUs (Codename Panther Lake).
  • Intel XeSS 3 Support: Introducing Multi-Frame Generation
    • XeSS Multi-Frame Generation builds upon XeSS Frame Generation by inserting up to 3 generated frames between two rendered frames, going from a 1:1 ratio to 3:1 for an ultra-smooth gameplay experience.

Fixed Issues:

• Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products
  • PRAGMATA SKETCHBOOK Demo (DX12) may experience an application crash while launching the game.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs
  • PRAGMATA SKETCHBOOK Demo (DX12) may experience an application crash while launching the game.
• Intel Graphics Software Fixed Issues
  • Variable Refresh Rate range in Display page may show incorrect values.

Known Issues:

• Intel Core Ultra Series 3 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs
  • Ghost of Tsushima (DX12) may exhibit color corruption on terrains during gameplay.
  • The Finals (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash.
  • No Man's Sky (Vulkan) may exhibit corruptions on certain terrains during gameplay.
  • Star Citizen (Vulkan) may experience an application crash on game launch.
  • Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (DX11) may experience an application crash during game launch.
• Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain water surfaces during gameplay.
  • Star Citizen (Vulkan) may experience an application crash on game launch.
  • PugetBench for DaVinci Resolve Studio may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark.
  • Recommendation: change the timeout slider to 1500 seconds or higher in PugetBench benchmark settings to wait for each test to complete.
• Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products
  • PugetBench for DaVinci Resolve Studio may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark.
  • Recommendation: change the timeout slider to 1500 seconds or higher in PugetBench benchmark settings to wait for each test to complete.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs
  • Battlefield 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain maps during gameplay.
  • Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain water surfaces during gameplay.
  • Battlefield 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain maps during gameplay on some notebooks with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs.
  • No Man's Sky (Vulkan) may exhibit corruptions on certain terrains during gameplay.
  • Topaz Video AI may experience visual artifacts when using certain AI models.
• Intel Graphics Software Known Issues
  • When using the Settings > Preferences > Reset all settings option in Windows 10, the application may experience an intermittent crash. Settings can be reset from individual pages without issue.
  • Intel Graphics Software may sometimes experience a single application crash on the first re-arrange of metrics within the Select metrics window. Subsequent usage will not be affected by this crash again.
  • Combined Display may intermittently not function as expected while combining displays or resetting settings.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Intel may have taken a while to launch its own MFG tech, but now that it's finally here, gamers playing games on Arc graphics can easily get an FPS boost in a bunch of games.

The post Intel rolls out XeSS 3 with Multi-Frame Generation in new drivers first appeared on KitGuru.

AMD has launched an update to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (aka The Best Gaming CPU) and named it the Ryzen 7 9850X3D because it is ever so slightly faster. Frankly it's a rubbish name but there are some points we need to discuss so buckle up and prepare yourself for many charts and loads of data.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:49 Specifications
01:35 Hardware
03:12 A quick look at behaviour
04:39 Multi Core Performance
05:23 Ryzen Master Software / Curve Optimiser
06:31 Efficiency / Per watt points
07:22 Geekbench 6 Multi Core
08:04 Geekbench 6 Single Core
08:33 Aida 64 Memory Bandwidth
08:59 Far Cry 6
10:07 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
10:44 Assassins Creed Mirage
11:19 Cyberpunk 2077
11:58 Total War Pharaoh
12:36 Leo’s verdict

Testing and Performance

Test systems

CPUs: AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, 9800X3D and 7800X3D
Motherboard: ASRock X870E Taichi
Memory: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo RGB DDR5-8000

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z890 Carbon WiFi
Memory: 48GB G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5-8200

Graphics Card: MSI RTX 4090 Ventus 3X 24GB
CPU cooler: Phanteks Glacier One 360D30
SSD: 1TB Crucial T700
Power Supply: Seasonic Focus ATX3.1 GX-1000 Gold

Geekbench 6 Single Core

In Geekbench 6 Single Core we see the benefit of the improved boost speed with Ryzen 7 9850X3D leaping to the top of the chart.

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

You will have seen in our video that we showed a great many charts and this chart is a focussed view of the larger Geekbench 6 chart. We can see the 9850X3D has a significant lead over 9800X3D and that is enhanced when we bring Ryzen Master Curve Optimiser into the equation.

Far Cry 6 at 1080p

Far Cry 6 at 1080p demonstrates the impressive nature of AMD's 3D V-Cache technology in gaming, and the way it improves with each new generation of processors.

Closing Thoughts

When AMD announced the Ryzen 7 9850X3D we felt the increase to Maximum Boost Speed was a minor tweak for the amazing Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Now we have dug into the CPU in some depth we feel there is slightly more to the story than we first expected. Clearly AMD has improved the silicon in 9850X3D compared to 9800X3D, but where we assumed this was merely a better CPU chiplet we now feel the IO die has also been improved.

Our takeaway with Ryzen 7 9850X3D is that this is an interesting update to the 9800X3D that lays the groundwork for the rumoured Ryzen 9 9950X3D2. That should be the ultimate Zen 5 CPU for the desktop and will be AMD's best chance to fight off Intel Nova Lake at the end of 2026. You might think that 2026 is looking to be a grim year but it will certainly have its points of interest.

AMD told us the official MSRP is £439.99, though we expect retail pricing to be closer to £469.99 inc VAT based on conversations with UK retailers.

Pros:

• Superb gaming performance.
• Compatible with AM5 motherboards and coolers.
• Low power draw, easy to cool.

Cons:

• Ryzen 7 9850X3D only offers an incremental improvement over 9800X3D.
• Our guess is that AMD will use 9850X3D to jack up prices.
• £70 premium over 9800X3D.

KitGuru says: The Ryzen 7 9850X3D boosts frame rates in your favourite games.

 

The post AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft has begun testing a refreshed web experience for Xbox Cloud Gaming, designed to streamline navigation and look closer to the Xbox console dashboard. Xbox Cloud Gaming users can already opt in to the new interface, although there could be lingering issues in the early build. 

Players can access the preview by visiting xbox.com/play in a compatible browser, signing in, and enabling the “Preview Features” toggle in the settings menu. Once enabled, users can either follow the on-screen prompts or navigate directly to the new site (it may take up to 10 minutes for the prompts and links to appear).

Microsoft notes that, as this is a foundation-building phase, some features may behave differently or be temporarily unavailable as they iterate based on feedback. Users are encouraged to report bugs via the profile menu or the Xbox Web Guide to help refine the platform during the testing period.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you use Xbox Cloud Gaming? Have you already tried the new interface? Do you prefer the new UI over the old one?

The post Xbox overhauls cloud gaming interface with refreshed design first appeared on KitGuru.

Just as has been the case with many previous Nintendo consoles, the Switch 2 is slowly but surely receiving a backcatalogue of titles from 3rd party publishers. While better late than never, one insider has claimed that 2025’s Game of the Year winner Expedition 33 will land on the Switch 2 at some point this year – with Final Fantasy XVI reportedly coming in 2027.

As reported by known industry insider Nate the Hate via their podcast of the same name, the Nintendo Switch 2 is seemingly set to slowly-but-surely continue getting a number of major 3rd-party releases from the past few years.

According to Nate, 2025’s GOTY winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 “will be coming to Switch 2 in 2026”. Given that the game utilises Epic’s rather demanding Unreal Engine 5, it will be interesting to see how the game looks/performs on the handheld-hybrid.

Going back to 2024 meanwhile, ATLUS’ JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio is said to also be coming to the Switch 2 some time this year. This comes as little surprise however, with ATLUS / SEGA having supported both the Switch (and now Switch 2) quite strongly over the years.

Last but not least, going another year back, 2023’s Final Fantasy XVI is said to be also coming to Switch 2. Unlike Metaphor and Clair Obscur however, the ex-PS5 exclusive is apparently not set to arrive until 2027 (though an official announcement is expected some time this year).

Given that all three of these titles are from years prior, it will be interesting to see how the games look; perform and most importantly cost when they are finally officially announced and released.

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KitGuru says: Will Nintendo ever reach parity with other systems? Are you bothered by the fact that 3rd party titles usually come out later? Let us know down below.

The post Insider claims Expedition 33 and Metaphor: ReFantazio will come to Switch 2 this year first appeared on KitGuru.

Following years of hype and anticipation, Monster Hunter Wilds finally arrived last year to an explosive launch, selling over 10 million copies within its first month on the market. Since then however, the game’s adoption has slowed to an absolute crawl, with Wilds taking an additional 9 months to go from the 10 million mark to 11 million.

As part of the company’s latest fiscal earnings report, Capcom released updated sales data for many of its titles and franchises. Alongside confirmation that 2019’s Devil May Cry 5 has surpassed 11 million copies sold, the publisher revealed that Monster Hunter Wilds sales have fallen off a cliff.

As mentioned, Wilds managed to shift a massive 10 million units within its first month on the market. Unfortunately, the game suffered from plenty of performance issues – particularly on PC – leading to an influx of negative reviews.

While the game has gotten some performance patches in recent months, it seems Monster Hunter Wilds will not manage to have the same legs as its past two entries. Thanks to the latest reports, we now know that Wilds has officially sold a total of 11.09 million copies as of the 31st of December; meaning it sold just 1 million more units over the past 9 months (fewer copies than MH: Rise managed in the same period).

All that being said, it is possible that Wilds could have a resurgence come the inevitable release of its post-launch expansion(s). We will have to wait and see.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Monster Hunter Wilds in 2026? Is it worth playing? Will the game ever be able to fully recover from its launch woes? Let us know down below.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds finally surpasses 11 million sales, 9 months after hitting 10 million first appeared on KitGuru.

Initially released back in 2015 as a paid product, Rocket League is a highly popular Soc-Car title which went on to be played by over 75 million people prior to it going free-to-play in 2020. Since then, the game has continued to truck along, maintaining a consistent playerbase. That said, in a surprise resurgence, Rocket League has now reached a new major milestone – surpassing 1 million concurrent players for the first time in half a decade.

Last week, the official Rocket League Twitter page revealed that the game had reached a major player milestone, writing: “Today has been a wild ride: more than 900,000 of you hit the pitch in Rocket League at the same time!”

Since then, interest appears to have grown further, with the ‘Rocket League Garage’ fansite (which tracks concurrent player numbers) revealing that the game has now hit 1 million concurrent players – a record not seen since the initial free-to-play launch back in 2020.

In terms of why the game has seen a sudden influx in players, it appears as though Rocket League has the popular YouTuber ‘Jynxzi’ to thank – who started streaming the title a couple weeks ago.

Additionally. Rocket League also recently got its Switch 2 update, which did contribute some amount to the 1 million concurrents – albeit only by an additional 39k players.

Given the sudden rise in interest pertaining to Rocket League, it will be interesting to see whether the team at Psyonix choose to capitalise on this moment, or whether things will remain business as usual.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Rocket League in 2026? Is the game still a fun time so many years later? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Rocket League surpasses 1 million concurrent players for the first time since 2020 first appeared on KitGuru.

The Reigns series of games offers players the chance to take on the role of a leader who has to address and solve the issues of its people, all the while trying not to end up with your head on a chopping block. Since the first game’s release back in 2016, Reigns has received a number of crossover titles. In a surprise announcement, Reigns: The Witcher has been officially confirmed – launching on PC and mobile next month.

Published by Devolver Digital in partnership with CD Projekt Red, Reigns: The Witcher has you play as Geralt, fighting for “survival within the drunken ballads of his dear friend, Dandelion the bard. Will you hunt monsters, upset the locals, or run a hot bath? Navigate the moral meanderings of the world through the eyes of the bard, and compose an inspiring epic to perhaps, one day, claim immortality.”

Launching on the 25th of February for PC and mobile (Android + iOS), players can head over to the official website for a small taste of what you can expect from the game when it launches in a month’s time.

The previous Reigns entries have been pretty hardcore, with every choice having potentially major consequences – something which the Witcher series does quite well. As such, it will be interesting to see exactly how the game is formatted and whether it resonates with fans when Reigns: The Witcher officially arrives on the 25th of February for $5.99.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of the Reigns series? Is a Witcher collab of interest to you? What other franchise would you like to see receive a ‘Reigns’ treatment? Let us know down below.

The post Reigns: The Witcher officially announced first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel's “Battlemage” generation might expand soon, though the supposed new graphics cards are primarily for professional users. New reports suggest that Intel is about to launch the Arc Pro B70 and Arc Pro B65, targeting a Q1 2026 release. Both cards are claimed to be powered by the BMG-G31 GPU and feature a massive 32GB of GDDR6 memory.

As reported by VideoCardz, while the memory remains identical across both SKUs, the differentiation lies in the core counts. The Arc Pro B70 utilises the full die with 32 Xe2 cores (4096 FP32 cores), while the Arc Pro B65 is a cut-down variant featuring 20 Xe2 cores (2560 FP32 cores), matching the previous-gen B60 in core count but benefiting from the newer architecture.

Below you can find a table with the detailed rumoured specs for these two GPUs:

	Arc Pro B70	Arc Pro B65
GPU Architecture	Xe2-HPG (Battlemage)	Xe2-HPG (Battlemage)
GPU Die	BMG-G31	BMG-G31
Xe-Cores	32	20
FP32 Cores	4096	2560
VRAM Capacity	32 GB GDDR6	32 GB GDDR6
Memory Bus	256-bit	256-bit
Target Launch	Q1 2026	Q1 2026

The situation for gamers remains much more uncertain. While board partners have the BMG-G31 chips for testing, they are currently restricted to the Pro form factors. Rumours suggest that Intel has placed the consumer gaming variant on hold, possibly due to volatility in the memory market.

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KitGuru says: Do you think Intel should launch an Arc B7x0 GPU for the mainstream market?

The post Intel is reportedly working on Arc Pro B70 and B65 GPUs first appeared on KitGuru.

Following on from last week's Xbox Direct stream, it appears that we'll be getting new game announcements from both Sony and Nintendo over the next month. According to multiple sources, there will be a new Nintendo Direct in February, as well as a new PlayStation State of Play stream. 

NateTheHate is responsible for the Nintendo Direct rumour, pointing towards games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Metaphor ReFantazio and Final Fantasy 16 being announced for the Switch 2. These are just a handful of titles expected to appear though, as the Nintendo Direct should be ‘full length', so it should have around 40 minutes of announcements. This stream should take place in the first week of February.

On the other side of the aisle we have Jeff Grubb, who claims that a PlayStation State of Play will be happening on the week of February 12th. If this is true, Sony is likely to make an official announcement confirming the date and time just days beforehand, as they traditionally do.

Both of these sources have accurately leaked showcase timings previously, so there is at least some reason to put stock in these rumours.

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KitGuru Says: Is there anything you would like to see announced at one of the upcoming showcases? Personally, I'm still rooting for a Switch 2 upgrade for the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy. 

The post Rumour claims Nintendo Direct and PlayStation State of Play return in February first appeared on KitGuru.

Xbox just made some big announcements during a developer direct stream last week, but it looks like another company under its umbrella will soon be making some reveals of its own. Over the next couple of weeks, Blizzard has a number of showcases planned, with each one focused on a different major franchise. 

The World of Warcraft showcase will be happening on January 29th, giving fans a new look at upcoming content for the MMO, including more details on the Midnight expansion. Following that, Overwatch will get its own spotlight on February 4th.

Hearthstone will get new announcements on February 9th and then, things will wrap up with Diablo on February 11th, ahead of the game's next seasonal content update and the new expansion coming in April.

Unfortunately, despite rumours that Starcraft is going to be coming back, there was no mention of spotlight streams for the franchise, nor is there any word on new updates for Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard's short-lived MOBA game.

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KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to new announcements from Blizzard in the coming weeks? 

The post Blizzard reveals showcase plans for WoW, Diablo, Overwatch and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Nvidia has rolled out a new GeForce Game Ready graphics driver, optimising for new games like Arknights: Endfield and Highguard. This week's update also brings DLSS to more titles, alongside the rollout of the new RTX Remix Logic update. 

RTX Remix Logic was first announced during Nvidia's CES showcase. The new update allows developers to implement dynamic graphics effects based on in-game events. For instance, you could trigger a certain weather or lighting effect when opening a door or flood the room with particle effects when interacting with a button. Overall, Logic supports over 30 in-game events, and there are over 900 Remix graphics settings, so developers will be able to get very creative.

This week's Nvidia update also brings DLSS to more games. Half Sword is launching with DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, but through the Nvidia App, players can force-enable DLSS 4.5, which uses Nvidia's 2nd Gen transformer model for further visual enhancements. DLSS upgrades are also coming to Code Vein 2, Highguard, and Arknights: Endfield.

There is a new Game Ready driver rolling out alongside all of this. If you have the Nvidia app installed, you can install it through there. If you prefer a direct download and a manual install, you can find the new driver HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As always, let us know how you get on with the latest drivers. 

The post Nvidia rolls out new Game Ready drivers, DLSS updates and RTX Remix Logic first appeared on KitGuru.