The Mchose V9 Turbo enters the highly competitive £100 wireless gaming headset market with some bold hardware features. Boasting a clever magnetic charging dock, seamless 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, and a battery that refuses to die, it looks like a fantastic all-in-one package on paper. But can it deliver a balanced experience, or will it compromise where it matters most?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:59 Build Quality, Materials and Controls
02:07 Weight and Shape
02:42 Charging on the Dock
03:07 Battery Life
04:13 Dock and RGB
04:38 The App and files
05:40 Firmware update for English
06:06 Virtual Surround
06:59 AI Noise reduction
08:19 Equaliser settings and audio
10:05 Gamer 1 Profile and tweaks
11:41 Gaming Audio Experience
13:38 Carlos' closing thoughts

Specifications:

• Driver Type & Size: 60mm Composite Diaphragm Driver.
• Connection Modes: Wireless 2.4GHz / BT Wireless / Wireless Type-C / Wired.
• Battery: 2000mAh.
• Weight: Approx. 320g (excluding microphone) 330g (with microphone)
• Charging Base: RGB Magnetic Charging Base Station.
• Ear Cushions: Ice-Cooling Protein Leather (Replacement fabric ear cups included).
• Microphone: Detachable AI Noise-Canceling Microphone with 360° Voice Pickup.
• Software & Features: MCHOSE M HUB (7.1 Virtual Surround Sound, Custom EQ Modes, Battery Display).
• Compatible Platforms: PC / Laptop / PS5 / PS4 / Switch / Mobile / Tablet.

Closing Thoughts

The Mchose V9 Turbo is a headset that gets the physical hardware incredibly right, but stumbles on the execution of what makes a headphone great. On the positive side, the magnetic charging dock is brilliant – simply dropping the headphones into place via the volume knob cutout is effortless. Comfort is great, especially when using the included fabric pads, and the battery life is pretty solid.

There is definitely a software bug that makes the battery report a solid 100% life remaining even after 75 hours of active use, but with the convenient charging station I see no use-case where battery will be a concern. The 2.4GHz wireless latency is also spot-on for gaming which is always a must for any wireless headsets.

Unfortunately, the audio experience lets it down. The sound profile feels small, thin, and shouty, severely lacking in low-end energy and sporting recessed mid-frequencies. It is a fatiguing listen for both music and gaming. Even with tools like Equalizer APO, you are fighting against the built-in DSP, making it hard to find an enjoyable tuning, let alone if you just stick with the built-in equalizer on the Mchose app.

The microphone is equally only OK, delivering a muffled, highly compressed sound that easily picks up keyboard noise, requiring noise reduction that further makes it muffled and compressed.

I also spotted some software quirks that could be easily addressed, such as stealthy background processes even when closed, a max 45-minute auto-power-off timer that given the convenient dock setup could have offered a off setting, and a blinding green LED on the dongle.

For £100, I would personally prefer moving to a £20-30 set of IEMs and an external USB microphone on a boom arm, but if you need flawless wireless and are ok with compromising on sound quality, these are worth considering.

You can buy the Mchose V9 Turbo for around £100 HERE.

Pros:

• Brilliant magnetic charging dock makes top-ups effortless.
• Strong battery life that lasts for weeks.
• Excellent 2.4GHz wireless performance with consistently low latency.
• Comfortable fit, especially with the included fabric earpads.

Cons:

• Audio is thin and a little fatiguing thanks to poor mid/low-end energy.
• Muffled, highly compressed microphone with unimpressive clarity.
• Some annoying software quirks (always on bright green dongle LED, background running processes, battery percentage reporting is broken).

KitGuru says: The Mchose V9 Turbo nails the wireless experience, but it is ultimately let down by fatiguing audio and an only OK microphone.

The post Mchose V9 Turbo Wireless Headphones Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in 2022, former Forza Horizon developers started up a new independent studio with the goal of creating a new open-world driving game. This new game was set to be published by Amazon Games but a recent shake-up of Amazon's game development and publishing business has now led to the deal being scrapped.

Amazon Games has withdrawn from its publishing agreement with Maverick Games. The decision leaves Maverick’s debut project, a narrative‑led open‑world driving game for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, without a publisher.

In its statement on the move, an Amazon spokesperson told The Game Business:

“As part of our strategic evolution to focus on projects that leverage Amazon’s unique strengths and scale, including the recent re-launch of Luna and our Tomb Raider franchise partnership with Crystal Dynamics, we have decided to release Maverick Games from their publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios. We have tremendous respect for the Maverick Games team and the compelling narrative-led driving experience they’re creating. This decision allows Maverick Games the flexibility to find a publishing partner whose strategic priorities are better aligned with bringing their game to market.”

Maverick Games has already confirmed plans to continue working on the game and it will be searching for a new publishing partner. At this point, the game should be quite far along, so it could feasibly be ready for a 2027 release window.

The move comes during a period of significant contraction for Amazon’s gaming ambitions. Over the past year, the company has cut most of its MMO development staff, including teams behind New World: Aeternum and an untitled Lord of the Rings MMO. Amazon has also shut down the recently released co‑op title King of Meat and sold the unreleased MOBA March of Giants to Ubisoft.

While Amazon has scaled back its gaming operations quite significantly, Amazon does still have some key publishing projects coming up, including two new Tomb Raider games from Crystal Dynamics.

KitGuru Says: With so many gaming companies making cuts in recent years, this does not feel like a good time to be in search of funding.

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It has been quite a while since Slay the Spire 2 was first announced but the wait is finally coming to an end. The game will begin its Early Access development phase soon, with an early version of the game becoming available on Steam next week.

Mega Crit has confirmed that Slay the Spire 2 will launch into Early Access on Steam on March 5th, accompanied by a new animated trailer highlighting the sequel's expanded scope and newly added four‑player online co‑op.

The original Slay the Spire became a widely loved indie hit thanks to its fusion of roguelike progression and deck-building mechanics, with each run through the game offering something fresh. Slay the Spire 2 builds on that foundation with a substantial list of additions, including new cards, characters, relics, potions, events, enemies, and alternate acts designed to keep you coming back for another run.

We do not yet know how long Slay the Spire 2 will remain in Early Access for, but we expect to see a number of feedback-driven content updates in the year ahead.

KitGuru Says: Slay the Spire 2 has been one of my most anticipated indie games for a while now. Are you planning on picking it up during Early Access?

The post Slay the Spire 2 finally hits early access next week first appeared on KitGuru.

While sentiment surrounding PlayStation right now is far from its peak, thanks in part to the recent closure of BluePoint Games Studio, the console maker is continuing on with its live-service efforts. Alongside the upcoming Marathon playtest, Sony has now confirmed that the recently-announced Horizon Hunters Gathering is getting its first closed playtest this weekend.

Making the announcement via the game’s Steam page, the team at Guerrilla Games confirmed that the first closed playtest for their upcoming live-service project ‘Horizon Hunters Gathering’ is set to go live this weekend.

Available to those who are signed up to PlayStation’s beta program, the playtest will kick off on the 27th of February and will conclude on the 1st of March. Unfortunately, this first session is limited to those in North America and Europe – though both PS5 and Steam users can get in on the action at the very least.

Of course, the playtest will feature just a slice of the full experience, with Guerrilla confirming the following will be present and playable:

• Three characters to choose from
  • Axle
  • Rem
  • Sun
• Two game modes
  • Machine Incursion (Normal / Hard)
  • Cauldron Descent (Normal)
• 1 region to explore (Colorado Springs)
• Access to the ‘Gathering’ (social hub)

As mentioned, those interested in checking out the game ahead of time will need to sign up to PlayStation’s beta program. While this won’t guarantee you access, make sure to check out your emails over the coming days in case you are selected to join.

Considering the fact that Sony’s track record when it comes to live-service titles has been a bit spotty, it is encouraging to see that the console maker is hosting multiple playtests in order to ensure the final product is one which players actually want to engage with and return to on a regular basis. It will be interesting to see what fans think of Hunters Gathering when it goes live this weekend.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Horizon Hunters Gathering? Are you planning to sign up? Let us know down below.

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With Blizzard seemingly successfully reviving the Overwatch franchise in the wake of its recent overhaul, the team looks set to expand the IP out into new mediums. While the mainline Overwatch remains a console/PC only experience, a brand new mobile-exclusive spin-off has now been announced in the form of the top-down 4v4 shooter Overwatch Rush.

Taking to their blog to make the announcement, the team at Blizzard officially unveiled their latest project, writing: “Today, we’re introducing Overwatch Rush, a new top-down Hero shooter designed specifically for mobile set in the Overwatch universe.”

Being developed internally at Blizzard (though by a new team separate from the mainline Overwatch devs), Rush is described as “an entirely new game – not a port – built specifically for mobile players”. This is quite evident from the early development footage shared, showing a game which is clearly Overwatch but operates in an entirely new top-down / isometric perspective.

As of now, very few additional details have been shared, with the team confirming that “there remains a lot of work to do”. Those interested in following Overwatch Rush’s progress directly can do so via the game’s Discord server.

Bringing live-service titles to mobile is always an interesting endeavour, with some trying to port the game as is, while others go for a more dedicated mobile-first experience. Both methods have had their successes and failures, and so it will be interesting to see what becomes of Overwatch Rush once it eventually launches on mobile.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Should Rush share progress with the main game? Would you have preferred a more direct port of Overwatch instead? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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Boomer Shooters have seen a notable surge in recent years, with players finding comfort in titles which offer satisfying gameplay loops, engaging combat and interesting visuals – focusing on the dopamine hits associated with turning your enemies into giblets. Available now for the next two weeks, the Boomer Shooter Blueprint bundle features a bunch of fun and fast-paced experiences, including but not limited to Mullet Madjack, I Am Your Beast and Selaco.

Put together by ‘Kirk Collects’ and the curation site Digiphile, the ‘Boomer Shooter Blueprint’ bundle is available to purchase from now until the 11th of March. Costing $17, fans of the genre will have plenty to get stuck into no matter your preferred visual aesthetics – with 7 titles in total being offered:

• Selaco
• I Am Your Beast
• Mullet Madjack
• Beyond Citadel
• Warhammer 40,000 Boltgun
• Incision
• CULTIC Chapter One

I Am Your Beast is a level-based boomer shooter which puts emphasis on speed and accuracy, giving you limited weapons and ammo initially in a Hotline Miami-styled gameplay loop of try, die and try again. Featuring a surprisingly emotional narrative, I Am Your Beast is certainly worth giving a go.

Warhammer 40,000 Boltgun on the other hand is another entry in the ever-expanding Warhammer universe. Featuring an early-90s visual set-up blended with Warhammer iconography, Boltgun is worth checking out regardless of your opinion on the IP.

Beyond Citadel meanwhile offers a blend of OG DOOM and classic anime, while upping the gameplay to line-up closer with more modern titles.

Another anime-inspired entry is Mullet Madjack: “a HIGH-OCTANE-ACTION SHOOTER” featuring a cel-shaded aesthetic and vibrant visuals, with an emphasis on completing levels as quickly and efficiently as possible. Full details on all of the included titles can be found HERE.

As with most bundles, a portion of the money will go towards charity, with the Boomer Shooter Blueprint bundle supporting ‘Whale and Dolphin Conservation’ – “the leading charity dedicated to the protection of whales and dolphins.”

KitGuru says: What do you think of this bundle? Will you be picking it up? What’s your favourite modern boomer shooter? Let us know down below.

The post ‘Boomer Shooter Blueprint’ Bundle available now, including ‘I Am Your Beast’ and half-a-dozen more first appeared on KitGuru.

Xbox recently underwent a massive shake-up, confirming the retirement of long-time head Phil Spencer alongside the announcement that Xbox president Sarah Bond would be stepping down from her role. In the wake of this, Xbox’s new CEO (Asha Sharma) and COO Matt Booty sat down to discuss these latest events and what’s next for the brand.

Taking part in an interview conducted by Windows Central’s Jez Corden, the new heads of Xbox Asha Sharma and Matt Booty spoke on their roles within the company. The interview itself is rather lengthy and covers all manner of topics ranging from the notion of ‘return to Xbox’, AI and more.

In discussing Xbox’s new strategy following these latest shake-ups, Sharma offered a bit of a contrasting take, stating that “the plan's the plan until it's not the plan” (a strategy which does not seem too different to what they were operating under previously).

Given Sharma’s ties to AI in previous roles, the new CEO was also asked about the controversial technology and its place within Xbox. According to Sharma: “I think that with any new technology, it brings possibilities as a tool, but even more important, especially now — we need to draw lines on what we won't do. That's what I attempted to do when I shared my opening letter. I will not flood our ecosystem with slop. We won't have careless output, we won't have derivative work. I deeply believe in the words that I shared previously there.”

This statement is particularly interesting as Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella wrote back in January that “we need to get beyond the arguments of slop vs sophistication”. Of course, Nadella’s statement was met with a ton of backlash, and so it’s possible that Sharma’s comment was made with that in mind.

Of course, talk is cheap and so we will have to wait and see whether Sharma and Booty put their money where their mouths are. Regardless, 2026 is set to be an interesting time for Xbox. The full interview can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of these new appointees? Can they right the Xbox ship? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post New Xbox heads discuss the platform’s future following major shake-up first appeared on KitGuru.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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

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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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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

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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

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

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.