Nacon has scheduled its next Nacon Connect digital showcase for March 4th, at 11 am PT/2 pm ET/7 pm BT. The event is set to offer an in-depth look at the company's 2026 roadmap and debut the latest innovations from its gaming accessories and peripherals department. Highlighting the lineup are several high-profile titles, including Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, The Mound, Edge of Memories, and Endurance Motorsport Series.

Although it wasn't mentioned in the press release, GreedFall 2: The Dying World is another game that might appear during the showcase, as it is scheduled to leave Early Access and hit 1.0 on March 10th.

While Cosmic Abyss already has a confirmed release date and a playable demo available via Steam Next Fest (now running), the presentation is expected to finally provide specific launch windows for the other 2026 titles currently lacking firm dates. Additionally, we might learn new details about Terminator: Survivors, which has recently been postponed.

The teaser trailer also suggests appearances for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, Styx: Blades of Greed, and the next entry in the long-running WRC series. Beyond software, the “accessories department” update suggests we may see new iterations of Nacon's controllers and racing-oriented peripherals.

KitGuru says: Interested in any of Nacon's upcoming games? Which one are you the most hyped about?

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While Insomniac recently stated that it wouldn't be sharing more news about its Wolverine game until the Spring, it turns out that wasn't entirely true. Today, Marvel and Sony both announced that Insomniac's Wolverine will be launching in September. 

Marvel's Wolverine from Insomniac Games is now officially launching on the 15th of September, giving it a solid two months on the market before Rockstar dominates the charts with Grand Theft Auto 6.

Insomniac's Wolverine is a standalone game set in an expanded in-game universe that also encompasses Insomniac's Spider-Man games. Unlike Spider-Man, Wolverine will not be an open-world game, but will instead be a linear action-adventure with a number of unique levels.

While not yet confirmed, Wolverine is believed to be a precursor to Insomniac's own X-Men game.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to Wolverine? How long do you think it will take for the game to come to PC? 

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Razer has expanded its creator webcam lineup with new Quartz and White colour options for the Kiyo V2 and Kiyo V2 X, giving streamers and professionals more ways to match their setups. The Kiyo V2 also adds AI Face Retouching through Camo Studio, offering real‑time smoothing that adapts to lighting and environmental changes once users update to the latest software.

The Kiyo V2 continues to target higher‑end creators with 4K 30FPS capture using a Sony Starvis sensor, intelligent auto‑framing, one‑click enhancement, HDR support and a 93‑degree field of view. It integrates with Razer Synapse for DSLR‑style manual controls and includes a full suite of visual tools in Camo Studio, such as spotlight mode, background blur, background replacement and branding overlays, alongside a built‑in microphone.

The Kiyo V2 X launches in the same three colours and offers a simpler, more accessible upgrade path with 1440p capture at up to 60FPS. Its higher frame rate is aimed at smoother motion for streams, demos and everyday calls, supported by fast autofocus and a wide‑angle lens. A built‑in microphone provides ready‑to‑use audio, and the plug‑and‑play setup is designed for creators who want clean visuals without added complexity.

The Razer Kiyo V2 is available now in Black, Quartz and White for £149.99 / $149.99 / €169.99, and includes a lifetime Camo Studio licence. The Kiyo V2 X will be available in the same colours for £99.99 / $99.99 / €109.99.

KitGuru Says: Would you go to Razer for your webcam or do you have another company you prefer?

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Death Stranding 2 is heading to PC in just a matter of weeks. To coincide with the launch, Nixxes and Kojima Productions have revealed the detailed PC system requirements for the game, with specs targeting 1080p, 1440p and 4K resolutions.

The bare minimum spec is easy to reach, calling for an older Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor, 16GB of RAM and a GTX 1660 or RX 5500 XT to run the game at 1080p.

You can see the full PC system requirements for Death Stranding 2 in the table below:

Category	Minimum	Medium	High (Recommended)	Very High
Graphics Preset	Low	Medium	High	Very High
Avg Performance	1080p @ 30 FPS	1080p @ 60 FPS	1440p @ 60 FPS	4K @ 60 FPS
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB AMD Radeon RX 6600	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 AMD Radeon RX 6800	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
CPU	Intel Core i3-10100 AMD Ryzen 3 3100	Intel Core i5-11400 AMD Ryzen 5 5600	Intel Core i7-11700 AMD Ryzen 7 5700X	Intel Core i7-11700 AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
RAM	16GB	16GB	16GB	16GB
OS	Windows 10/11 (Version 1909 or newer)	Windows 10/11 (Version 1909 or newer)	Windows 10/11 (Version 1909 or newer)	Windows 10/11 (Version 1909 or newer)
Storage	150GB SSD	150GB SSD	150GB SSD	150GB SSD

Death Stranding 2’s PC release launches with support for NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 4, Intel XESS 2, and Guerrilla’s own Pico upscaler, offering both upscaling and frame‑generation options across all technologies. Pico, used in the PS5 version, appears on PC for the first time and works with any supported GPU, with all upscalers compatible with Dynamic Resolution Scaling or fixed‑quality modes, alongside native AA for maximum fidelity. The game also supports ultrawide play, with all cutscenes authored for 21:9 and gameplay extending to 32:9, while players on standard 16:9 monitors can enable widescreen aspect ratios through the settings menu. A 21:9 ultrawide option will also arrive on PS5 via an update timed with the PC launch.

Death Stranding 2 On the Beach will come to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on the 19th of March.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Death Stranding 2?

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Sandisk has a new generation of portable SSDs hitting the market, including the Sandisk Portable SSD, Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD, and Sandisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD. The new Extreme model is available starting today while the remaining two will be rolling out later in the year.

Sandisk says the new drives are built to support a wide range of users, from students and everyday consumers to creative enthusiasts and production professionals. Each tier offers a step up in performance, with the Extreme Portable SSD now delivering read speeds up to 2000MB/s and capable of moving around 1000 high‑resolution photos in under a minute. It’s aimed at photographers, videographers, and creators working with larger files across multiple devices.

The Extreme PRO Portable SSD targets professional workloads such as real‑time editing and handling high‑resolution media. It reaches transfer speeds up to 4000MB/s and can move roughly 10 minutes of 12K video in under a minute, with capacities ranging from 2TB to a projected 8TB. At the entry level, the Sandisk Portable SSD offers read speeds up to 1000MB/s in a compact design suited for everyday backups, personal data, and general use.

All three drives feature ruggedised designs. The Sandisk Portable SSD is projected to withstand drops up to two metres, while the Extreme and Extreme PRO models are rated for three‑metre drops and carry IP65 protection against dust and water. The two higher‑end models also include password protection with 256‑bit AES hardware encryption.

The Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD is available now starting at $259.99 for 1TB, with 2TB and 4TB options also shipping and a 500GB model arriving in the second half of 2026. The Extreme PRO Portable SSD will follow later in 2026 in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, while the Sandisk Portable SSD will launch in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations.

KitGuru Says: Are you in need of a speedy portable SSD? Will you be considering Sandisk for your next upgrade?

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A few months ago, AMD signed an agreement with OpenAI to supply GPUs for upcoming datacentre projects. Now, the company has also signed an agreement with Meta to deploy up to 6 Gigawatts of AMD Instinct graphics cards to power AI datacentres.

The initial deployment will use a custom Instinct GPU based on AMD’s MI450 architecture, paired with 6th Gen EPYC “Venice” CPUs and running ROCm software. The systems will be built on AMD’s Helios rack‑scale architecture, which AMD and Meta co‑developed through the Open Compute Project. Meta plans to use the platform to accelerate training and inference workloads across its global infrastructure.

In return for this, AMD will issue Meta with up to 160 million shares, depending on performance targets being met. If 6 Gigawatts worth of GPUs are used up, then it appears Meta will get a roughly 10% stake in AMD in return.

Beyond GPUs, the companies are also expanding their EPYC CPU collaboration. Meta has already deployed millions of EPYC processors and significant volumes of Instinct MI300 and MI350 GPUs, and will now become a lead customer for both the 6th Gen EPYC “Venice” and the next‑generation “Verano” CPUs.

AMD and Meta say the partnership will support AI infrastructure at global scale, enabling faster development and deployment of AI models and services used by billions of people.

KitGuru Says: AMD now has two very important AI-related customers on its roster in OpenAI and Meta.

The post AMD announces partnership with Meta to provide 6 Gigawatts of GPUs first appeared on KitGuru.

A new round of DLSS-supported games are dropping this week. There is one clear headliner though – Resident Evil Requiem, which lands this Friday for PC and consoles.

Resident Evil Requiem is the finale to the modern trilogy of games, known as the Winters saga. The game will launch on PC with ray-tracing, DLSS Ray Reconstruction and DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation.

The other major game launching this week is Pearl Abyss's latest action game, Crimson Desert. While it shares a similar title to Black Desert, this is its own distinct game, with its own story. The game launches on March 19th and will have day-one support for DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation.

Other notable titles include John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, which launches with DLSS 4 on March 12th, and will have DLSS 4.5 Override support in the Nvidia app. Arc Raiders, which has supported DLSS since launch, is also launching its latest update today, titled Shrouded Sky.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Resident Evil Requiem this weekend? 

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In a market often dominated by tempered glass and mesh, Tryx has launched the Flova F50, a mid-tower ATX chassis that prioritises a contemporary aesthetic through fabric. Covering the entire front panel and the lower-left section of the case, the thick fabric gives the F50 a premium “lifestyle” feel, available in black, white, and pink. However, because the fabric is too dense for traditional front-to-back airflow, Tryx has engineered a radical cooling solution that promises to keep high-end hardware running cool.

The centrepiece of the Flova F50's internal design is the cross-flow radial fan. Standing 250 mm tall and 50 mm in diameter, this specialised turbine draws air from the side of the case and directs it horizontally across the motherboard and graphics card. This approach replaces the standard front intake fans, allowing the chassis to maintain its uninterrupted fabric exterior while still achieving thermal efficiency.

Despite its focus on design, the FLOVA F50 remains highly capable in terms of modern hardware compatibility. It supports ATX, Micro-ATX, and ITX motherboards, with full compatibility for BTF (Back-to-the-Front) and PZ (Project Zero) hidden-connector motherboards. It also has enough space for most graphics cards, accommodating GPUs up to 360 mm with the cross-flow fan installed, or up to 420 mm without it. Lastly, for cooling and PSU clearance, it supports CPU air coolers up to 170 mm in height and power supplies up to 200 mm.

Starting at £129.95, the Tryx Flova F50 is positioned as a premium alternative for builders who want a PC that looks more like high-end furniture than a traditional gaming rig.

KitGuru says: Tryx is clearly targeting the “minimalist desk setup” crowd that has been flocking to cases like the Fractal North or Terra. While using fabric as a primary material raises questions about long-term dust maintenance, the inclusion of the 250 mm cross-flow fan shows that Tryx isn't just focused on looks. It's actually trying to offer a solution that looks great without major sacrifices.

The post Tryx launches Flova F50 mid-tower starting at £130 first appeared on KitGuru.

ASML has reportedly achieved a critical breakthrough in its EUV lithography technology, boosting the power of its light source to 1000W. This leap from the current 600W standard is projected to increase per-machine chip output by 50% by the end of the decade, enabling foundries to process approximately 330 wafers per hour, up from the 220-wafer limit of today's systems.

Generating EUV light remains one of the most complex engineering feats in modern manufacturing. In ASML's laser-produced plasma (LPP) system, microscopic droplets of molten tin are fired through a vacuum and struck by a CO₂ laser. According to Reuters, to achieve the 1,000W threshold, ASML implemented two significant architectural changes: droplet acceleration, which enables the system to fire roughly 100,000 droplets per second (twice the current rate), and two-pulse laser shaping, which uses two smaller laser bursts instead of the single pulse currently in use.

ASML's roadmap suggests this is just the beginning, with internal targets already set for 1500W and, eventually, 2000W. Assuming the same ratio, that would triple the current production rate.

By scaling the power of the 13.5 nm light beam, ASML aims to directly lower the cost-per-chip for advanced AI and logic processors while extending the economic viability of the sub-2 nm era.

KitGuru says: The “photon bottleneck” has long been the primary limiter for EUV economics. By hitting the 1000W mark, ASML is effectively telling the world that it can keep Moore's Law alive through raw power scaling. For companies like TSMC, a 50% increase in wafer production without expanding their footprint is certainly welcome news.

The post ASML machines could yield 50% more chips by 2030 first appeared on KitGuru.

Today Sapphire is launching its latest all-white AM5 motherboard, the Pure X870A WiFi 7. Sporting a minimalist design and the full X870 chipset, the motherboard is poised as a high-end option for custom gaming PCs with the latest Ryzen CPUs.

The Pure X870A WiFi 7 supports DDR5 memory up to 8400MHz (OC) and uses a 16+2+1 phase VRM to maintain stable power delivery under heavy workloads or overclocking. Dedicated heatsinks for the VRM, M.2 slots, and chipset help sustain performance during extended gaming sessions.

Connectivity is built around PCIe 5.0 for both graphics cards and NVMe storage, alongside WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and Realtek 5Gb Ethernet for high‑speed networking. USB4 Type‑C provides 40Gbps bandwidth, DisplayPort Alt Mode, and 15W Power Delivery, giving the board flexibility for modern peripherals and multi‑display setups.

Sapphire’s BIOS offers an updated interface for monitoring and fine‑tuning system behaviour, while the TriXX‑M software extends those controls into Windows for cooling adjustments, lighting customisation, performance monitoring, and diagnostics.

The SAPPHIRE PURE X870A WIFI 7 will be available soon for around $249. We have one in-house to feature in an upcoming build, so stay tuned for that.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of Sapphire's latest motherboard?

The post Sapphire launches Pure X870A motherboard with WiFi 7 first appeared on KitGuru.

When it comes to showing off its upcoming releases, Nintendo has settled on two primary outlets: its Direct Showcases as well as Nintendo Treehouse streams. Announcing the latter, the Switch 2 maker has now confirmed that a Nintendo Treehouse will be going live later today – taking a look at the Switch 2 Edition of Mario Bros. Wonder as well as the much-anticipated Pokemon Pokopia.

Taking to Twitter to make the announcement, the official Nintendo of America page wrote: “Join us on Feb 24 at 2pm PT [10PM UK Time] for a new Nintendo Treehouse: Live presentation featuring hands-on gameplay of #SuperMarioBrosWonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park and #PokemonPokopia.”

For the uninitiated, Nintendo’s Treehouse streams are typically reserved for deep-dives into its games, and so while we have already heard plenty regarding Meetup in Bellabel Park and Pokopia, this upcoming event should present a more in-depth and uncut look at these two upcoming releases.

Between the two titles, Pokopia is of course the more interesting game, being a brand new title from the team behind Dragon Quest Builders 2. Mario Bros. Wonder on the other hand originally released back in 2023 for the OG Switch, and so fans already know what to expect for the most part.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see what Nintendo has to say regarding these two titles when the Treehouse stream goes live later tonight at 10PM.

KitGuru says: Are you planning to watch the livestream? What are your hopes for Meetup in Bellabel Park? Could Pokemon Pokopia be as popular as Animal Crossing? Let us know down below.

The post Nintendo Treehouse featuring Mario Wonder and Pokopia goes live later today first appeared on KitGuru.

Vampire Survivors blew up when the reverse-bullet-hell rogue-lite released back in 2022, spawning an entirely new sub-genre of ‘bullet-heavens’. Developed by the studio Poncle, the team are now set to tackle the dungeon-crawling card-battler scene, with Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard now receiving an official demo ahead of its launch later this year.

Vampire Crawlers is a spin-off of the highly-popular Vampire Survivors. Set to release some time in early-mid 2026, this new take on the formula sees many familiar elements from Survivors being adapted to fit the upcoming first-person dungeon-crawling deckbuilder.

Seemingly featuring a similar level of buildcrafting, Vampire Crawlers looks to be a highly fun and addictive title which may very well spawn its own set of inspirations – bringing the dungeon crawling genre back into the limelight.

Regardless of whether this is the direction you were hoping to see Poncle head in, both fans and sceptics alike can try out ‘Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors’ right now thanks to a free demo.

Vampire Survivors is genuinely one of the most impactful indie games released in quite some time, and so it will be interesting to see how the industry responds to the team at Poncle’s next big project.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Vampire Crawlers? Will it scratch the same itch as Survivors? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Vampire Survivors spin-off ‘Vampire Crawlers’ demo available now first appeared on KitGuru.

The most exciting part of reviewing PC hardware is looking at brand new products from a fresh new company. Levelplay debuted its cooling line at Computex 2024, so its products are very new to the market. Today we get our first look at one of the company's AIO coolers, the Combat Liquid 360 HUD, equipped with a 360mm radiator, RGB fans, and an LCD screen, or you could say… a Heads-Up Display! 

Features:

• Integrated 2.6″ circular display: Combat Liquid 360 HUD is equipped with a built-in HUD, providing real-time system info like CPU temperature, power draw, usage rate, and clock speeds directly on the pump cap mounted LCD.
• Jet impingement pump technology: Levelplay AIOs use a high-velocity coolant flow pumped directly onto the cold plate to improve thermal transfer from the CPU.
• Rigid All-in-one fan design: Three 120mm ARGB fans are encased in a unified frame design, pre-installed to the cooler for less cable clutter and maximum airflow.
• Engineering designed to last: Durable metal brackets support installation on AMD and Intel desktop platforms while reinforced rubber tubing with braided sleeving allows for maximum flexibility, leak protection and a clean look.

Specifications:

• CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA1851 / LGA1700, AMD AM5 / AM4
• Radiator Material: Aluminium
• Radiator Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 27mm
• CPU Block/Pump Dimensions: 89 × 80 × 64 mm
• Pump Speed: 800 ~ 3000 RPM ± 10%
• Cold Plate Material: Micro-Skived Copper
• Pump Connector: 4-Pin PWM / 9-Pin USB (LCD)
• Fan Dimensions: 360 × 120 × 25.5 mm
• Fan Speed (PWM): 800 ~ 2000 RPM ± 10%
• Fan Static Pressure: 2.1mm H20 (max)
• Fan Airflow: 71 CFM (Max)
• Fan Noise: 6 ~ 36 dBA
• Fan Connector: 4-Pin PWM / 3 Pin 5V ARGB
• LCD Screen: 2.6-Inch Segmen LED screen
• Warranty: 3 Years

Levelplay ships the Combat Liquid 360 HUD in a cardboard box with an image of the cooler and Combat logos on the front. On the back, some key features are listed with images. Inside the box, the contents are packed into a cardboard crate for protection during shipping. The cooler is wrapped in plastic, and the accessories are included separately in a smaller box.

The included fans are mounted in a single-frame design to reduce cable clutter and feature a PWM speed range of 800-2000 RPM. The opaque fan blades illuminate with ARGB lighting once the cooler is powered on, and a single cable connects from the centre, featuring standard 4-pin PWM and 3-pin ARGB connections.

The Combat 360 HUD uses a standard 27mm thick aluminium radiator with 12 waterways and a dense fin pitch with fixed position tubing at the radiator tank. The radiator is coated with a slightly textured, satin black finish that appears high-quality. The tubing is fitted with premium-looking braided sleeving.

For an LCD-equipped pump, the Levelplay Combat Liquid 360 HUD is a compact unit, with dimensions of 89 x 80 x 64 mm with the screen housing installed. The screen housing is attached to the pump body magnetically and can be easily removed and rotated so that the display can always be mounted in the correct orientation.

Tubing is flexible EPDM rubber connected to the CPU block on 90-degree rotary fittings. At the base of the CPU block, the cold plate is manufactured from micro-skived copper. Wiring to the pump is standard 4-pin PWM, and the LCD connects to the PC motherboard via a 9-pin USB header connection.

In terms of included accessories, all installation hardware for current AMD and Intel platforms is shipped with the cooler. There is also a small tube of thermal compound, as there isn't any pre-applied to the cold plate and a thermal paste spreading tool. A physical copy of the installation guide is included too, which I prefer to digital versions that seem to be more common these days.

The post Levelplay Combat Liquid 360 HUD AIO CPU Cooler Review first appeared on KitGuru.

For pretty much its entire existence, Call of Duty has operated using a familiar model, with the FPS franchise seeing a brand new title released on an annual basis from one of the 3 core COD studios. While this has worked in the past, Black Ops 7 seems to have been a breaking point for some. According to known insiders, Microsoft is now considering a major shake-up, including a standalone Zombies game.

As reported by known Call of Duty leaker TheGhostofHope, an internal delay of the next-gen Xbox console from Microsoft has “hurt a lot of CODs marketing plans as they wanted Modern Warfare 4 to be a launch title and draw a lot of hype to compete with people's attention alongside GTA VI.”

According to Hope, this has led to “the idea of two Call Of Duty games launching with the next Xbox” being considered – namely “a traditional Call of Duty multiplayer and a standalone Zombies title presumably developed by Treyarch.”

Alongside this, Microsoft is reportedly wanting “Activision to be more agile and less attached to annualized releases in the future,” with one example of its failings being the lack of evolution in MW2’s DMZ extraction mode due to it being attached to an annual COD entry.

Of course, Microsoft and Xbox are in a weird spot at the moment, so these plans could be altered or changed at any point.

Still, considering just how rigidly the franchise has stuck to its annual releases up until now, it would be interesting to see what Treyarch, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games could achieve if given enough time and freedom. Hopefully we find out.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this leak? Would you welcome a shift in strategy? Between a standalone DMZ and Zombies game, which would you prefer? Let us know down below.

The post Insider claims Call of Duty could see a massive shake-up including no more annual releases first appeared on KitGuru.

The past year has been a big one for Ubisoft, with the publisher going through a ton of changes on an executive and strategic level. So far this has primarily led to a bunch of negative news, with countless project cancellations, lay-offs and more. Following the departure of the long-time Assassin’s Creed franchise boss Marc-Alexis Côté late last year, Ubisoft have now shared an official “Update on the Future of Assassin’s Creed.”

Taking to Reddit to make the announcement, the official AC team at Ubisoft detailed the future of the Assassin’s Creed franchise in the wake of these most recent shake-ups, stating:

“We know that what comes next has been a big topic within the community lately, and today, we can finally share some updates, starting with the introduction of newcomers to the leadership team that will shape the future of the franchise.”

As mentioned, Marc-Alexis Côté – who had been working on the AC franchise for the past two decades – was announced to be departing Ubisoft back in October of last year. Since then, the franchise’s future has been somewhat unknown.

Now however, the publisher officially unveiled Assassin Creed’s new leadership team – comprising of a “trio of experts of the series”:

• Martin Schelling (Head of Brand)
  • Leading the “franchise team, as well as the overall strategy, long‑term vision, and development of Assassin's Creed”
• Jean Guesdon (Head of Content)
  • Will lead “the creative direction of the franchise, support ongoing projects, and help shape the franchise’s future while ensuring it remains true to its DNA”
• François De Billy (Head of Production Excellence)
  • Tasked with “strengthening production practices and execution across the franchise”

Being one of Ubisoft’s biggest franchises, the publisher already had a solid half-a-dozen entries in development in one form or another. With some of these having reportedly since been cancelled, it will be interesting to see how this new trio navigate the future of the AC franchise. Additional details on each of these new heads can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this new team? Are you more or less confident in Assassin’s Creed following this announcement? Is the franchise’s best days behind it? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Ubisoft offers update on “the Future of Assassin’s Creed” first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel has reportedly finalised the specifications for its long-rumoured “Bartlett Lake-S” Core 200E family of processors, a platform that's expected to use only P-cores for the ageing LGA-1700 socket.

Despite the gaming community calling for a P-core-only desktop chip, Intel might be skipping this market with Bartlett Lake-S.

The technical specifications leaked by Jaykhin (via VideoCardz) showcase a 12-core, 24-thread flagship dubbed the Core 9 273 PQE. This high-performance SKU features a base frequency of 3.4GHz and can reach a single-core boost of 5.9GHz, with an all-core boost of 5.3GHz. The processor is equipped with 36MB of L3 cache and a 32-EU integrated Xe-LP graphics engine, all while operating within a 125W TDP. The lineup is segmented into three distinct power tiers: the higher-end PQE (125W), the balanced PE (65W), and the efficiency-focused PTE (45W).

Across the stack, Intel reportedly offers configurations with 8, 10, and 12 P-cores, all of which feature Hyper-Threading. All high-power PQE models support Intel vPro and ECC memory, though these features are selectively omitted from certain lower-power PE and PTE variants to better align with specific price points. The detailed table shared by Jaykhin can be found below:

BTL-S P	Base Power (W)	Core Count	ST Boost (GHz)	MT Boost (GHz)	Base Clock (GHz)	EU Count	L3 Cache (MB)	vPro	ECC
273PQE	125	12	5.9	5.3	3.4	32	36	Yes	Yes
253PQE	125	10	5.7	5.3	3.5	32	33	Yes	Yes
223PQE	125	8	5.5	5.3	4.0	32	24	Yes	Yes
273PE	65	12	5.7	5.2	2.3	32	36	Yes	Yes
253PE	65	10	5.5	5.2	2.5	32	33	Yes	Yes
223PE	65	8	5.4	4.8	2.9	32	24	Yes	Yes
213PE	65	8	5.2	4.6	2.7	24	24	No	Yes
273PTE	45	12	5.5	4.6	1.4	32	36	Yes	Yes
253PTE	45	10	5.4	4.6	1.8	32	33	Yes	Yes
223PTE	45	8	5.4	4.8	2.3	32	24	Yes	Yes
213PTE	45	8	5.2	4.6	2.1	24	24	No	Yes

KitGuru says: Gamers have asked for a modern Intel CPU without E-cores, and the Bartlett Lake-S series offers just that. Unfortunately, we do not know if Intel will be serving the gaming market with this release.

The post Intel “Bartlett Lake-S” lineup reportedly leaks first appeared on KitGuru.

MSI has started teasing a limited-edition graphics card collaboration with the popular fantasy anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, signalling another high-profile crossover.

The announcement first appeared on MSI's official Chinese Bilibili accounts (via Ruby_Rapids), featuring imagery that confirms a partnership with the series' copyright holders. While the specific product has not been officially confirmed, MSI's history suggests the collaboration will likely centre on a graphics card.

If it's indeed a graphics card, it will likely be based on one of MSI's existing high-end cooling platforms, such as the Gaming series, though customised with unique artwork.

This follows a growing trend of anime-inspired hardware, such as the Asus x Hatsune Miku series, or before that, the Evangelion collaboration. US custom PC company, Starforge Systems, also built a Frieren-themed PC. While this specific MSI teaser was primarily aimed at the Chinese market, there is a chance that we'll see it in the West as well.

KitGuru says: If this collaboration does exist it will also be interesting to see if it ends up being region specific. 

The post MSI is teasing a collaboration with anime Frieren first appeared on KitGuru.

During a Dragon Ball anniversary event last night, a new, untitled game was teased. Now just weeks later, it appears a YouTube playlist update has revealed this game to be Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. 

The Dragon Ball ‘Age 1000' game announcement teaser was accidentally put into a public playlist on YouTube by the Bandai Namco YouTube channel. The playlist revealed the teaser as an initial announcement for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3. Considering the game's codename and the Xenoverse' series' reliance on time travel, more than a few fans likely anticipated this anyway.

The Dragon Ball Xenoverse games have largely taken the spotlight on from previous 3D fighting games like the Budokai Tenkaichi series. In the Dragon Ball Xenoverse games, fans get to relive a mix of classic story fights, brand-new content and what-if scenarios. It has a massive character roster that has only grown through years of DLC support. However, with Xenoverse 2 having been around for almost 10 years now, this year would be a good time for a fresh new game in the series.

We will no doubt be getting more news on Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 in the coming months considering Bandai Namco is already preparing its back end for new trailers.

KitGuru Says: Did you play much of Xenoverse 2 since its launch? What would you like to see in a third game? 

The post Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is officially on the way first appeared on KitGuru.

For around a year now, there have been rumours of a major Starfield 2.0 update, one that would fix much of the criticism levied at the game at launch, while also bringing the game over to PS5 consoles. Unfortunately, one of those rumours has been shut down over the past week.

While it still seems likely that Starfield will make its way over to PS5, Todd Howard did want to address one of the recent rumours surrounding the game. In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, the long-time Bethesda game director said that ‘Starfield 2.0' is not a thing, although there are some big updates coming to the game this year.

“It is not Starfield 2.0 – I’ve seen some of that, and for expectation setting, I think it’s the kind've thing where if you like Starfield, we think you’re going to love this”, Howard added that the team is focused on “using outer space in ways that we haven't”. That last part is interesting, as one of the biggest fan requests for this game has been open travel between planets and space.

While not announced yet, it is also expected that Starfield will be getting a second story expansion at some point.

KitGuru Says: I really enjoyed my time with Starfield but I have yet to go back and play the DLC, in part because rumours of ‘major updates' have been floating around for so long.

The post Todd Howard pours cold water on ‘Starfield 2.0’ rumours first appeared on KitGuru.

Our review of this HP Zbook Ultra G1a features the AMD Strix Halo APU which was announced at CES 2025. Despite its age this is the most powerful APU that money can buy, and both the CPU and graphics are truly impressive. To make things interesting we put the HP laptop head-to-head with Intel’s brand new Panther Lake Core Ultra X9 388H so we could see the best integrated graphics in action.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:52 AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Series
03:36 Intel Core Ultra Series 3 thoughts
04:19 A quick test or 2
06:32 Physical Size / Battery
07:37 Connectors / Keyboard / Looks
08:33 Hardware
09:17 Comparisons and Performance Hardware
11:13 GeekBench 6 Multi Core
13:20 Geekbench 6 Single Core
13:53 Cinebench 2026 Multi Core / Points Per watt
14:44 Cinebench 2026 Single Core
15:24 Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
15:54 Cinebench 2024 Single Core
16:15 Cinebench R23 Multi Core
16:34 Cinebench R23 Single Core
16:44 7-Zip V25 Benchmark
16:56 Aida64 Memory Bandwidth
17:09 3DMark Fire Strike
17:52 Assassins Creed Mirage
19:57 FarCry 6
21:48 Cyberpunk 2077
24:21 PCMark 10 Battery Test
25:05 Closing Thoughts

Main Features

• PRO Processor: Take charge of your work with the latest AMD Ryzen AI MAX processors, delivering cutting-edge CPU capabilities.
• Integrated graphics: Experience ultra-powered performance, power through AI demanding workflows with AMD Radeon graphics and dedicated AI accelerators.
• LPDDR5X-8533 MT/s Memory: Up to 128GB of memory. The unified memory architecture allows you to allocate up to 96GB of memory exclusively to the GPU.
• Impressive expandability: Blitz through multiple tasks and ditch external drives with slots for up to 4TB local storage.
• Up to 50 TOPS: Ensure smooth and responsive operation, tackle more and more demanding tasks, with the power to run AI locally.
• All day battery life: Maximise your productivity with a long-lasting battery life, with HP Fast Charge reaching up to 50% in only 30 mins.
• HP Smart Sense: Optimise your comfort and performance with an AI tool that adapts to your use. Adjust fan noise, conserve energy, and regulate CPU temperature for an optimal PC experience.
• HP AI Companion: Enhance your productivity with a range of AI tools and solutions designed to simplify your daily tasks and keep you efficient throughout the day.

Specification

• Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 (up to 5.1 GHz max boost clock, 64 MB L3 cache, 16 cores, 32 threads)
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon 8060S (40 cores, 32GB memory)
• Neural processing unit: AMD Ryzen AI (50 NPU TOPS)
• Memory: 128GB LPDDR5x-8533 MT/s (onboard)
• Display: 14-inch touchscreen, 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, 120Hz, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3
• Internal storage: 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC SSD
• Wireless: MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 MT7925 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.4
• Ports (left side):
  • 1x USB Type-C 10Gbps (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1)
  • 1x HDMI 2.1
  • 1x Headphone/microphone combo
  • 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C 40Gbps, DisplayPort 2.1)
• Ports (right side):
  • 1x USB Type-A 10Gbps
  • 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C 40Gbps, DisplayPort 2.1)
  • Kensington lock slot
• Camera: 5MP IR
• Audio: Poly Studio; 4 integrated stereo speakers (1W / 8 ohm per speaker) with discrete amplifiers; 2 integrated dual-array digital microphones
• Dimensions: 31.2 cm (W) x 21.5 cm (D) x 1.8 cm (H)
• Weight: 1.58 kg (plus 0.53 kg charger)
• Power adapter: 140W USB Type-C
• Battery: HP XL-Long Life 4-cell, 74.5Wh polymer
• Operating system: Windows 11 Pro

Testing and Performance

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

In Geekbench 6 Multi Core we see the HP Zbook in an effective tie with the Asus Zenbook Duo and Intel Panther Lake. This indicates that Core Ultra X9 388H has something extra that makes up for the lack of pure CPU grunt.

Cinebench 2026 Multi Core

This is the result we expected in Cinebench 2026 Multi Core with the AMD Strix Halo powering the HP Zbook to a clear victory by a massive margin.

AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth

The HP Zbook  is loaded with a massive 128GB of LPDDR5x-8533 and the Strix Halo has a quad channnel memory controller which combine in AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth to deliver a decisive victory.

Far Cry 6 at 1,280×800 on Ultra Preset

We show a number of gaming tests in our video. This particular test shows a low resolution with the clever image enhancements disabled, and the result is the HP Zbook runs at over 100fps on average which is impressive.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 2,880×1,800 with Frame Generation Enabled

Cyberpunk 2077 is a stiff test for any laptop and 2,880×1,800 is a huge resolution so it comes as quite a surprise to see the HP Zbook using Frame Generation to play at nearly 100fps.

Battery Life

The HP Zbook does well in our battery test and shows that you can work all day on a single battery charge. Having said that, you will want to take the charger with you to guarantee you get maximum performance.

Closing Thoughts

If KitGuru were to invent an award for Most Stealthy and Under Stated Product Ever, the HP Zbook Ultra G1a would make the list and would likely win the award. It looks like a dull, grey 14-inch laptop that is thin and light yet it packs the most amazing punch and delivers epic performance from the AMD Strix Halo APU without any need for add-in graphics.

You may have noticed in our video that we barely discuss operating temperatures and don't mention noise levels at all, and that is for good reason. The innards typically run at 60 degrees C on battery and 70 degrees C on charger, and the cooling system wasn't the least bit intrusive. It is a remarkable laptop that is mainly held back by its hefty £3k+ price tag and slightly affected by the annoying amount of HP software.

You can buy the HP Zbook Ultra G1a for £3,204 HERE.

Pros:

• Epic CPU and GPU performance from AMD AI Max+ PRO 395.
• Impressive battery life for a mobile workstation.
• Compact form factor that is highly portable.
• Huge memory bandwidth from quad channel DDR5.

Cons:

• Very expensive.
• 3rd party monitoring utilities continue to be confused by AMD APUs.
• HP includes a number of pieces of software instead of a single utility.

KitGuru says: The HP Zbook Ultra G1a is deeply impressive and shows we can live without Nvidia graphics.

The post HP Zbook Ultra G1a Review (Strix Halo) first appeared on KitGuru.

Lenovo has reportedly notified its channel partners that significant price increases are expected to hit its PC and server line-ups starting in March 2026. In a letter, North America channel chief Wade McFarland and regional president Ryan McCurdy confirmed that the company’s Intelligent Devices Group (IDG) and Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) are adjusting pricing to offset the soaring costs of memory and storage components.

Also in the letter obtained by CRN (via TechPowerUp), to mitigate the impact on long-term projects, Lenovo has advised partners to finalise and submit orders before the end of February to lock in current rates before the March transition takes effect.

The new strategy is particularly pronounced within Lenovo’s ISG unit, which manages server and storage solutions. Price quotes for internal bidding platforms are now being restricted to a 14-day window, while external quotes are capped at 30 days. This way, the company avoids being caught in long-term contracts that no longer reflect the rapid rise in component costs. Furthermore, Lenovo has moved to simplify its enterprise offerings by consolidating product lineups and reducing configuration complexity.

This situation reflects a broader trend affecting the entire hardware sector. The surge in demand for High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI data centers has syphoned off production capacity that would normally be allocated to the DDR5 and LPDDR5X modules used in consumer systems. As manufacturing lead times for these components continue to increase, other major PC providers are expected to raise prices as well.

KitGuru says: Lenovo might be the first, but it won't be the only company raising prices this year. 

The post Lenovo announces impending PC price hikes as memory supply tightens first appeared on KitGuru.

Almost a decade ago now, Square Enix released NieR: Automata – a beautiful, evocative and highly fun game which introduced millions to the unique and bleak world of NieR. Despite the game’s critical and commercial success, we still have yet to receive a proper follow-up entry. Finally however, alongside the announcement that Automata has sold over 10 million copies, Square Enix confirmed that NieR will ”be continued…”

As part of the game’s 9th anniversary stream, publisher Square Enix officially confirmed that NieR: Automata has sold over 10 million copies – a massive achievement for what was a relatively unknown IP upon its release.

While passing such a milestone is nothing to sniff at, by far the biggest announcement at the event was the subtle confirmation that a new game is in the works, with the celebration video concluding with the words “NieR: Automata to be continued…”

While the wording itself is a little odd, it is in reference to one of the more iconic lines from the game. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that they specifically stated NieR: Automata, suggesting that the next game could be a direct sequel.

For the uninitiated, NieR: Automata is a sequel to 2010’s NieR: Replicant / Gestalt, set thousands of years after the first game. Furthermore, the original NieR was itself a spin-off of sorts to the Drakengard series of games. All this is to say that it appears as though the popularity of Automata and its characters are not going to waste, with a direct sequel likely in the works.

Though it's coming almost a decade later than expected, it is exciting to learn that we might finally get a new NieR game at some point.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you glad to see Square Enix returning to NieR? Would you prefer a direct sequel or more of a NieR: Automata type of scenario? Let us know down below.

The post NieR: Automata celebrates 10 million copies sold, teasing the next game first appeared on KitGuru.

Roblox has existed for decades now, and while the online platform has always been popular, it’s seen a notable surge in players over the past couple years – with its total player counts matching that of entire consoles. Now, not only has Roblox surpassed the likes of Steam and PlayStation, but it's beaten out both platforms (and then some) combined.

As reported by PCGamer, industry analyst Matthew Ball published a study analysing the monthly hours spent in Roblox and compared it to the likes of Steam and PlayStation.

According to Ball, throughout 2025 Roblox saw an average of 10.25 billion hours spent in-game each month across over 150 million daily active users.

Putting this into context, the amount of monthly time spent in Roblox exceeded that of Steam (roughly 5 billion hours); PlayStation (around 4.3 billion hours) and Fortnite (a little under 1 billion) combined.

It is worth noting that the PlayStation numbers only account for those actually playing games, and does not include the console’s usage with regards to Netflix, YouTube and the like.

While there is no arguing that Roblox has become far more than just a game creation engine, its continued success and ever-increasing growth is still impressive to witness. It will be interesting to see whether Roblox will ever hit its ceiling.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Roblox’s continued rise? Has it reached its peak? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Roblox saw more playtime in 2025 than Steam and PlayStation combined first appeared on KitGuru.

One of Nintendo’s primary strategies with the Switch 2 so far has been to offer upgrades for their last-gen titles – some of which have been free while others cost up to $20 for an upgrade. Sentiment surrounding these Switch 2 editions have been varied, but it appears as though backlash towards their most recent release (Xenoblade Chronicles X) has led Nintendo to begin offering refunds to displeased fans.

In a welcome surprise, Nintendo quietly launched a Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X last week. Originally released for the Wii U, the title received a relatively basic Switch 1 port quite late into its life and so fans were hoping to see the title get a proper Switch 2 upgrade.

Unfortunately, despite the promise that the title would run at up to 4K60fps on Switch 2 when docked and 1080p 60fps in handheld, many users have expressed their disappointment with the upgrade, comparing it unfavourably to visual clarity achieved when playing the game on a Wii U emulator.

While far from the Switch 2’s most basic Switch 2 Edition, it seems Nintendo might actually be listening to feedback somewhat, with some displeased users claiming that they were able to get refunds after contacting Nintendo support.

Nintendo typically does not offer refunds in this way, and so the fact that users were able to is interesting. Whether the console maker will opt to patch Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch 2 in the future with additional enhancements however, we will have to wait and see – but don’t expect anything substantial if it does happen.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Nintendo’s Switch 2 Edition upgrades? Which ones have been worth it and which ones feel a bit money-grabby? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Nintendo is issuing refunds to fans unsatisfied with Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X first appeared on KitGuru.