Ebuyer has relied on AMD for the central components in this AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC. The CPU is a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is the best gaming processor that money can buy while the graphics are Radeon RX 9070 XT. Our review PC came with a Sapphire Pulse graphics card and the result was a fine gaming experience. In the main we were very happy with this PC but we came across a couple of quirks during our review and one of them could well be a deal-breaker.

Timestamps
00:00 Start
01:15 Component choice / Price
02:02 Motherboard and I/O
02:58 SSD
03:20 Build quality / cable routing
03:56 Installed (and not installed) Software
07:02 SSD testing
07:39 Noise / Coil Whine
08:00 Cinebench 2024 Multicore
08:19 Cinebench 2024 Single Core
08:30 Geekbench 6 Multicore
08:36 Aida 64 Memory Bandwidth
08:51 Far Cry 6 (1080p)
09:19 Far Cry 6 (1440p)
09:34 Assassins Creed Mirage (1080p)
09:53 Assassins Creed Mirage (1440p)
10:10 Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p)
10:30 Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p)
11:03 Total War Pharaoh (1080p)
11:21 Total War Pharaoh (1440p)
11:55 Closing Thoughts

Specification:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz (5.2 GHz Boost Clock), 8 Cores, 16 Threads
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz DDR5
• Storage: WD Black SN850X 2TB Gen 4 M.2 NVMe
• GPU: Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB
• Motherboard: Asus Prime B650M-A WiFi II
• Cooling: Corsair Nautilus 240 RS 240mm RGB AIO Liquid Cooler
• WiFi: On-board WiFi 6
• Case: Corsair Frame 4000D RS RGB Mid tower ATX
• Power Supply: Corsair RMe Series 850W Gold ATX
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Advanced

Testing and Performance

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

In Geekbench 6 Multi Core we see the AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC performs at exactly the level we saw in our review of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which is precisely what we expect.

AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth

AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth throws up an interesting result as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 memory kit performs very well.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p shows the AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC performing well, the results are good and very playable.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p

When we turn up Cyberpunk 2077 to 1440p, the GPU can't match an RTX 4090 – as we'd expect – but nonetheless the frame rate is very good and the gaming experience is great.

Closing Thoughts

The component parts used in the AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC are solid choices from reputable brands, however the motherboard lets the side down. We don't mind the choice of B650 chipset over X670, B850 or X870 however the features of this Asus Prime are very basic. The absence of USB-C ports on the rear I/O panel crosses a line that we cannot forgive and we hope to goodness that Ebuyer ups the spec of this system, even if that costs an extra £100 on the retail price.

We were very happy with the build quality of the AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC and could find no flaws. On the configuration side of things we raised a question over the absent software from Asus and Corsair as we expect to be able to control RGB software. The solution, as you can see in our video, was to do the job ourselves and the end results were very pleasing.

You can buy the Ebuyer AMD AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC for £2,200 HERE.

Pros

• Good gaming performance.
• Build quality is very good.
• Plenty of SSD storage is included.
• Pricing is fair.

Cons

• There are no rear USB-C ports and only one at the front.
• Armoury Crate and Corsair iCUE not installed so RGB lighting is fixed.

KitGuru says: AlphaSync Prebuilt Gaming PC is decent enough but is let down by the USB support.

The post Alphasync Prebuilt Review: Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RX 9070 XT first appeared on KitGuru.

In the wake of new tariffs put in place by Donald Trump, Nintendo quickly announced that pre-orders for the much-anticipated Switch 2 would be delayed in the USA, followed shortly by Canada. It seems more regions are set to have their pre-orders rejected, with China now also being impacted.

In a report published by Nikkei (and translated by ResetEra user Uzupedro), Nintendo has now postponed pre-orders for its Switch 2 in China – marking the 3rd region to be affected following the USA and Canada.

Interestingly, it seems as though this indefinite delay is not due to the aforementioned tariffs, with the report claiming that the move is in fact as a result of “sluggish” sales for the OG Switch in the region.

Of course, video game consumption is regulated quite heavily in China, with both the systems and games themselves being rigorously analysed by the government before business can proceed.

That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising if the tariffs added an extra spanner into the works. We will have to wait and see how Nintendo ultimately chooses to navigate this situation.

KitGuru says: What do you think of all these delays? Will the Switch 2 launch in June as expected? Will prices go up in the USA/Canada? Let us know down below.

The post Switch 2 pre-orders have now been postponed in China first appeared on KitGuru.

Partway through the PS5’s life-cycle, the console maker announced and released the Welcome Hub – a convenient page which holds a ton of different customisable widgets. While the PS5 has yet to get any proper themes, said welcome hub offered its own suite of – rather basic – visual customisation. In a ‘welcome’ move, the Welcome Hub has gotten around a dozen new themes.

As discovered by Genki_JPN, the PS5’s Welcome Hub has been updated for some users, offering them a ton of new and cool themes.

Previously, alongside the basic backgrounds, users could apply an Astro Bot-styled animated theme. Now however, it seems Sony is looking to expand the options greatly.

Though no official announcement has been made (and is currently only available to select accounts), the PS5’s Welcome Hub has added 11 new animated themes for the following titles:

• Days Gone
• Demon's Souls
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Ghost of Yotei
• God of War Ragnarok
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Horizon: Forbidden West
• Lego Horizon Adventures
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
• Rise of the Ronin
• Stellar Blade

Interestingly, a number of popular PlayStation exclusive franchises are not yet represented, with contemporary games such as The Last of Us; Returnal; Helldivers II and more missing from the list.

Regardless, having more customisation in any form is welcome to see. Hopefully Sony officially announces and releases this update to all sooner rather than later.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Welcome Hub? Is this a solid way to reintroduce themes to PlayStation? What game would you like to see get its own theme? Let us know down below.

The post Sony finally adds (limited) support for themes on PS5 first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, Sony updates its PS Plus Extra and Premium libraries with a line-up of current and classic games. For the month of April, subscribers can get their hands on a strong selection of PlayStation titles – including Hogwarts Legacy; Blue Prince and more.

Available to add to your library in a staggered form (due to a couple day-one releases), the first PS Plus Extra title will drop on the 10th of April – that being the highest rated game of the year so far ‘Blue Prince’.

The other day-one addition is Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 2, set to arrive on the 15th of April. The remainder of the library will also be added on the 15th – these titles being:

• Hogwarts Legacy | PS4, PS5
• EA Sports PGA Tour | PS5
• Battlefield 1 | PS4
• PlateUp! | PS4, PS5
• Alone in the Dark 2 | PS4, PS5 [Premium]
• War of the Monsters | PS4, PS5 [Premium]

Of course, easily the biggest game in the list is Hogwarts Legacy, with the 2023 title going on to push over 34 million copies – putting it right behind Breath of the Wild as one of the best-selling games of all time.

Beyond this, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 2 is the second half of DONTNODs most recent choice-based adventure title; with Blue Price currently sitting as the highest rated game of 2025 so far.

All in all, April seems to mark a strong month for PS Plus subscribers. Hopefully PlayStation manages to keep this up for the rest of the year.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this month’s line-up? Will you check out Blue Prince? Let us know down below.

The post April’s PS Plus Extra/Premium line-up includes a ton of heavy-hitters first appeared on KitGuru.

The Last of Us Season 2 is almost upon us, with reviews for the second series matching the heights of the first. With a little under a week to go until the show’s premiere, HBO has already renewed The Last of Us for a 3rd Season.

Making the announcement on Instagram, the official Naughty Dog page confirmed that a Season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us has been greenlit, writing: “It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs.”

As mentioned, ahead of its premiere, reviews for the full Season have gone live, with a Rotten Tomato score almost matching that of Season 1 (92% vs 94%).

Regardless, a 3rd Season was likely to happen as the upcoming Season 2 was already confirmed to be just one part of the second game’s story. Still, this announcement seems to indicate a level of confidence in Naughty Dog and The Last of Us from HBO.

It will be interesting to see what fans think when Season 2 premieres on the 13th of April.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Season 2? How do you think they’ve split up the story? Should it follow the same pacing as the game? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post The Last of Us Season 3 announced ahead of Season 2 premiere first appeared on KitGuru.

Apple's iOS 18 update includes a Maps Library feature for all of your saved and pinned locations to live, making them easier to find later. Here's how to use it on your iPhone.


Adding new locations to the new iOS 18 Apple Maps library is easy and iPhone owners will be able to do so in a couple of different ways. We're going to run you through both so that you can make the most out of an Apple Maps feature that will make it easier and quicker than ever to get to where you want to go.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Alti Play Desk Mat is a utility-oriented desk mat and charging system for your desk, although at a steep price.


Desk-wide mats create a productive workspace, whether gaming or doing office work. The Alti combines a high-quality mat with an RGB charging strip to brighten and refresh your workspace.

Journey is an Australia-based consumer tech company that specializes in chargers and lifestyle tech.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

watchOS 12 could see some visionOS-inspired design changes according to a new rumor, but the unreliable source also shares the unlikely possibility that Apple Intelligence will also come to the platform.


For well over a year, we've heard all sorts of rumors saying the iPhone operating system would take stylistic cues from visionOS. Though multiple less-than-credible sources believed this would happen with iOS 18, it never did. Recently, however, other leakers have said a visionOS-style redesign would instead debut with iOS 19 and macOS 16.

Now, a report publication The Verifier, spotted by MacRumors, claims that watchOS 12 will receive the same visual treatment. The Apple Watch will reportedly contain user interface elements heavily inspired by the Apple Vision Pro operating system, with semi-transparent and revamped menus, icons, and more.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Apple Watch has saved countless lives over the years, and a new Apple video explains how it helped rescue a man swept out to sea in Australia.


On Wednesday, Apple released a promotional video titled "Rick's Rescue," which highlights the impact the Emergency SOS feature of the Apple Watch can have on people's lives. It does so by telling the story of Rick Shearman, who was caught in an ocean current that dragged him out to sea.

He was only rescued thanks to the Apple Watch, as he initiated a call to emergency services in July 2024, while still in the water.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

In a press gaggle, President Donald Trump said that some companies that have been hit the hardest by the blockbuster tariffs applied by the administration may get some relief — and nobody has been or will be hit harder than Apple.


It has been a rollercoaster week as President Trump finally enacted global "reciprocal" tariffs in an attempt to either bring manufacturing to the United States or be used as a negotiating tactic to lower other country's tariffs. The administration retaliated against China on Wednesday morning with a 104% tariff, then increased that tariff to 125%, and lowered every other tariff to the base 10% for 90 days.

Apple's stock bounced back slightly on the news of the pause, but after the market close, President Trump suggested that some companies may be considered for an exemption. He previously stated there would be no exemptions outside of the ones outlined already on "Liberation Day," but like with the global tariffs, he's changed his mind, citing "flexibility."


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Boomer Shooters are quite popular among a lot of people, though not many are actually Boomers.  I suppose GenX Shooters just doesn't have the same cadence nor the double entendre.  If you…

It has been just over a month since AMD's Radeon RX 9070 Series GPUs launched, and while availability has been about what we expected (which is to say, limited) AMD says…

If you have fallen under the Zuck's influence and use WhatsApp for Windows you might want to stop, or at least stop opening attachments until you are positive you've updated to…

After multiple painful days, Apple stock has finally enjoyed some recovery, finishing the day up after President Trump delivered a mixed message for the iPhone maker on the tariff situation.


Tuesday's stock market activity saw Apple close the day at $172.87, down more than 5%. This gave it a bad starting point for Wednesday, with the prospect of more pain to come.

Following some negative pre-market trading down to around $169, which came back up to $172.18, Apple enjoyed a brief $3 boost at the start of the day.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's stock has regained some of its losses after the announcement of a 90-day pause on some new tariffs, while the tariff on imports from China to the U.S. has been jacked up to 125%.


Following the introduction of a 104% tariff rate against China and further retaliation from China, Apple's stock was bracing for another day of turbulence on the market. However, after an announcement of a tariff pause, Apple's been given a bit of a reprieve.

In an announcement on Wednesday, President Donald Trump confirmed that he had authorized a 90-day pause on new tariffs against most countries the U.S. deals with. At the same time, there is also a lowering of the reciprocal tariff to 10% for the period.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple is shutting down its Northbrook Court store on April 26, and this time, it's not relocating — it's leaving for good.


The company has confirmed that its Northbrook location in suburban Chicago will permanently close at 7 p.m. on April 26, 2025. While Apple often shutters stores to move to larger or more modern locations, this is one of the rare cases where it's not being replaced.

The company thanked customers on its store page and encouraged them to visit nearby locations or shop online. The closure reflects broader changes at Northbrook Court.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The iPhone Fold should arrive in 2026, an analyst insists, but they're probably wrong about the iPad Fold arriving in the same year.


Apple is rumored to be working on foldable versions of its mobile products, including the iPhone Fold and a similar concept for an iPad. The fruits of Apple's labors may finally arrive, with the earliest anticipated in 2026.

In a research note from Jeff Pu, Apple has two foldable devices on the roster, including a 7.8-inch iPhone Fold and an 18.8-inch iPad Fold.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Owners of the iPhone 16e now have access to tools and instructions on how to repair their phone's display and other components — though you still need nerves of steel.


When Apple announced its Self Repair Programme in 2021, and when it then opened in 2022, it was specifically for iPhones. The option has since expanded to include Macs, but now it's also been extended to cover the latest iPhone 16e.

While the instructions now listed by Apple on its support site, are specific to the iPhone 16e, the general process remains the same. Through a series of written and video instructions, Apple's Program takes users through the supremely delicate process of opening up their iPhone.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's $500 billion investment in the United States may sound like a big deal. In reality, it's just a continuation of what it's done for quite a few years already with no notable expansion.


Editor's note: This $500 billion has come up a lot by talking heads justifying how Apple may move manufacturing to the US. The facts behind the $500 billion are worth repeating today, as the claims that these are new investments and proof of Apple's intentions are ignorant at best, and politically motivated lies at worst.

On Monday, Apple announced it is making a $500 billion program of investment into the United States. The official press release said that it will be spread across the next four years, in a pledge that "builds on Apple's long history of investing in American innovation."


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

With a 104% tariff now in effect on Chinese-made iPhone models, Apple is bracing for higher costs — but instead of raising prices outright, it may make changes it hopes you may not see.


The tariff, enacted on Wednesday, combines a 20 percent baseline import duty, a newly added 34 percent tariff, and a punitive 50 percent hike in response to China's own retaliatory measures.

With the vast majority of iPhones still assembled in China, Apple now faces a dramatic increase in import costs that will either need to be absorbed or passed along to consumers.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Zotac GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Amp Extreme is a factory overclocked custom-design model. It comes with excellent build quality, thanks to the quad-slot, triple-fan, all-metal cooling solution. Also included is a mesmerizing RGB effect and a dual BIOS with "quiet" mode.

CD Projekt Red acquired indie studio, The Molasses Flood, a few years ago and ever since, the team has been working on a secret multiplayer project set in The Witcher universe. Now, The Molasses Flood has been completely absorbed by CDPR, meaning the entity ‘The Molasses Flood' no longer exists. 

The Molasses Flood is no more. Yes, the office and the team that works there are all still around, but now, it is just another CD Projekt Red studio, with no brand identity of its own. This also means that the studio no longer operates independently as part of the ‘CD Projekt Red Group' and is instead wholly controlled by the CDPR headquarters.

The situation was clarified in a statement on the studio's website, saying: “We want to let you know that on April 1, 2025, The Molasses Flood (TMF) merged with CD Projekt Red Inc. (CDPR Inc.), a company being a part of the CD Projekt Group. As a result of the merger TMF, in its former legal state (of a separate legal entity) ceased its operations, while CDPR Inc. assumed the rights and obligations of TMF.”

While The Molasses Flood is now just another CD Projekt studio, the company's old games, The Flame in the Flood and Drake Hollow, will continue to be available on PC and consoles, published by CD Projekt Red.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I've been keen to see what this studio has been up to with Project Sirius for a few years now. Hopefully we get a peak at that game in the not-too-distant future. 

The post CD Projekt Red absorbs The Molasses Flood first appeared on KitGuru.

The PlayStation Portal was a confusing device to many. The handheld was primarily designed to be a companion to the PS5's in-home streaming feature, allowing you to play your console in any room of the house and freeing up the TV for others to use. Now, the Portal is about to get a crucial upgrade enabling proper cloud gaming.

The latest update for the PlayStation Portal has been detailed. The headlining feature is the introduction of the Cloud Streaming feature, allowing PlayStation Plus premium members to stream games to the Portal from the cloud, with no need for an in-home console. The Portal will be able to access the full PS+ cloud library, which includes select PS5 titles, along with a slew of back-catalogue games from previous generations.

The PlayStation Portal now has quality of life updates for other features. Users can now record gameplay clips from the Portal, queue and pause features have been added to help manage demand on the cloud game servers, and a new user-feedback screen has been added so users can give feedback on their experience with the Portal directly to Sony, which will aid them in planning future updates.

The PlayStation Portal is available for £199.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Now that the PlayStation Portal is cloud-gaming capable, and not just tethered to your in-home PS5 console, would you consider picking one up?

The post PlayStation Portal update enables console-free cloud gaming first appeared on KitGuru.

The Xbox Games Showcase is indeed returning in June. The big showcase will focus on a number of major first and third-party games coming to Xbox and PC in 2025 and 2026. Each year, Microsoft has a key game that gets a little bit more marketing than the rest. In 2023, it was Starfield, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in 2024. In 2025, Microsoft's big game is none other than The Outer Worlds 2. 

The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 will air on the 8th of June at 6PM UK time. Immediately after the main event, Microsoft will go live again with a deep-dive stream showing off The Outer Worlds 2, the sequel to Obsidian's hit 2019 Sci-Fi RPG.

Typically, the Xbox Games Showcase runs from anywhere between 90 minutes and two hours, so it will be a chunky show with many, many game announcements. It will be immediately followed up by more gameplay from The Outer Worlds 2, which is miraculously coming out this year, despite Obsidian only just shipping Avowed, its new fantasy RPG, in February.

We are unlikely to get a huge showing for the long-awaited Fable reboot at this year's showcase, as the game was just recently delayed to 2026. Gears of War E-Day is also anticipated to release in 2026.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft will no doubt have some surprises in store for this year, as the company's massive army of studios appears to be firing on all cylinders, delivering new first-party games every few months. 

 

The post The Xbox Games Showcase returns in June with deep dive into The Outer Worlds 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

The US Administration has opted to place tariffs on many countries across the world. As a result, we've seen many products being pulled from sale. The Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were recently pulled in the US so Nintendo can assess the impact the new tariffs will have. Now, Razer has paused sales of its Razer Blade laptops in the US too. 

Currently on the Razer store, you cannot order a Blade laptop within the US. All of the buy buttons have been replaced by a ‘Notify Me' button, and it is unclear when the laptops will become available to purchase direct from Razer once again.

While not officially stated, the timing of this pause does raise the question – is Razer reassessing its pricing in the face of massive tariffs from the United States?

Currently, the US is the only country where Razer Blade laptop sales have been paused. You can still order them directly from Razer in Europe, and as Hot Hardware points out, they remain available in Australia too.

This move comes at an odd time, as Razer was just about to make its new flagship Blade laptops available, kitted out with the latest generation CPUs and new RTX 50 series graphics.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Businesses across the US are still assessing how much of an impact these tariffs will have. We expect to see Blade laptops made available again in the States eventually, but for now, anyone that was hoping to get their hands on one will have to go through other retail channels, or the second-hand market. 

The post Trade tariffs seemingly put a stop to Razer Blade laptop sales in the US first appeared on KitGuru.

Back when Microsoft announced the Xbox One, Don Matrick gave an infamous interview quote, telling those that couldn't afford the upgrade that they could still purchase an outdated Xbox 360. Now, Nintendo is taking a leaf out of that same playbook, telling those upset about the Switch 2 price that they are still free to purchase an original Nintendo Switch. 

Speaking with CBC, Nintendo of America president, Doug Bowser, gave the quote that we will assuredly be talking about for months, saying: “We recognize there are some people that may not be able to afford [the Switch 2's] price point. That's why we wanted to make the other Switch platforms available, so [people] still have an opportunity to come into our gaming universe, be a part of these characters in these worlds, and see value, if you will, in whatever rung of the platform they come in.”

The problem with this is that the Nintendo Switch hardware is already on its last legs and each passing year, the game's exclusive games continue to look and run worse. With the Switch 2 offering so much more power, there are going to be a lot of games releasing over the next couple of years that simply won't run on an original Switch, so the idea that the Switch 2 is interchangeable with the new console is a ridiculous one.

As we see with each console generation transition, there will be cross-gen games released for the first year or two, but after that two-year mark, the vast majority of developers will have transitioned over to the newer hardware and games will no longer release for Switch 1. By the time that happens, it is unlikely that the market will have changed enough to result in significantly cheaper pricing for those looking to upgrade to the Switch 2. As we've seen with the PS5, we're already five years in and the base console's price has not yet received a permanent cut. There is no reason to believe that the situation will be any different for the Switch 2.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm not a fan of how Nintendo has handled this transition from Switch 1 to Switch 2. From the £10 digital instructions manual, to the £20 ‘upgrade packs' for games like Breath of the Wild, to the insane £80 price tag of Mario Kart World. 

The post Nintendo America president says ‘buy Switch 1’ if you are unhappy with Switch 2 price first appeared on KitGuru.

Blue Prince is shaping up to be one of the standout games of 2025. The game appears to be this year's big roguelite hit, taking over the mantle from Balatro, which dominated much of 2024.

Blue Prince is a roguelite first-person puzzle game where players explore a mysterious 45-room mansion in search of the elusive 46th room. The mansion resets its layout daily, adding a layer of complexity and intrigue to the gameplay.

Blue Prince has gone on to become the best-reviewed game of 2025 so far, a pretty lofty achievement in a year where we've seen major releases like Monster Hunter Wilds, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Split Fiction and Avowed in just a few short months.

Blue Prince currently sits as the highest-rated game of the year on both Metacritic and Open Critic, although it is just one point ahead of Split Fiction, the latest co-op hit from famed director, Josef Fares.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: For the last few years, we've consistently seen a big roguelite breakout hit, starting off with Hades in 2020 and followed by the likes of Vampire Survivors, Slay the Spire and Balatro. Blue Prince seems to be the breakout indie game of the year so far. 

The post Blue Prince becomes highest-rated game of 2025 so far first appeared on KitGuru.

Rise of the Ronin had a good reception when it first launched on PS5 but unfortunately, the same can't be said for the PC version. The game launched on Steam a few weeks ago after one-year of PS5 exclusivity and so far, the reviews have been largely mixed. 

On Steam, the game currently has a mixed overall score based on over 3000 user reviews. Many of the reviews call out the game's poor performance, with players struggling with lag, frame rate spikes and dips, as well as other issues. The overall impression is that the game was not properly optimised for PC hardware.

Tomorrow on April 10th, Team Ninja will begin rolling out a new patch for the game that aims to address performance issues but it seems unlikely that everything will be fixed with one update. The game is likely to need months of additional testing and optimisation work to reach a state the majority will be happy with.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Team Ninja has had its issues with PC ports in the past. Nioh is a good example, although there was a big improvement for Nioh 2. Unfortunately, it seems Rise of the Ronin also needed a bit more time in development and came to PC a bit too soon. 

The post Team Ninja promises performance improvements with Rise of the Ronin PC patch first appeared on KitGuru.

Corsair has launched its new, browser-based tool for firmware updates, offering a streamlined alternative to iCUE. This move aims to simplify the perceived complexity of firmware updates, particularly for users less familiar with PC peripherals.

Corsair states that this web-based utility is a response to customer feedback, providing a more convenient method for updating firmware on compatible Corsair mice, keyboards, and other devices. While iCue remains the primary software for accessing the full range of customisation options, including lighting control and advanced settings, this new tool caters to users prioritising quick and easy firmware upgrades.

Corsair emphasises that the web-based updater ensures users have access to the latest firmware versions. Users can also opt to provide their email addresses to receive notifications about future firmware releases. The initial release of the web-based firmware updater supports a selection of Corsair devices, with Corsair promising to expand compatibility to include both new and existing devices and introduce new features in the near future.

The web-based tool is optimised for Chrome and Chromium-based browsers (such as Edge and Opera) and is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. Corsair is also currently testing Linux support.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you own Corsair peripherals? Will you keep using iCue to update the firmware, or will you start using the web-based firmware updater?

The post Corsair launches web-based firmware updater so you don’t have to install iCUE first appeared on KitGuru.

AOC has the perfect pair of monitors for those looking to get into high refresh-rate gaming on a budget. Priced at £369 and £199 respectively, the new AOC Gaming CU34G4Z and 25G4SXU offer impressive specs for their price points.

The CU34G4Z elevates gaming across multiple genres with its 34-inch curved VA panel, UWQHD resolution (3440×1440), and ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate. The high refresh rate ensures smooth motion in all fast-paced content, while response times of up to 1ms GtG and 0.3ms MPRT using Motion Blur Reduction mode maintain exceptional clarity during rapid on-screen movement. The monitor is also DisplayHDR 400 certified, so you can immerse yourself further with a wider colour and brightness range in supported games and other media.

The 25G4SXU is geared more towards competitive esports gamers, with its 24-inch Fast IPS panel and blistering 310Hz maximum refresh rate at 1080p resolution.

Both monitors come equipped with USB 3.2 Gen 1 hubs (2-ports for the CU34G4Z, 4-ports for the 25G4SXU) for convenient peripheral connectivity and include support for AOC's G-Menu software for easy access to gaming presets and display settings. HDR10 support provides enhanced visuals in compatible content, while Flicker-Free technology and Low Blue modes reduce eye strain during extended gaming sessions.

The AOC GAMING CU34G4Z and 25G4SXU will be available from April 2025 at MSRPs of £369.00 and £199.00 respectively.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is hard to go wrong when your spending just £200 on a 300Hz gaming monitor. At that refresh rate, your games should feel smoother and more responsive than ever before.

The post AOC Gaming’s latest monitor boasts 300Hz refresh rate for just £200 first appeared on KitGuru.

A quote from the CEO of Luxshare is firing up speculation that AirPods production will move to the US, but the scaffolding of the statement is too flimsy to hold the weight of the guesswork.


Despite Apple's costs doubling and its valuation dropping by more than the entire value of Walmart, everything is fine because AirPods maker Luxshare is looking at moving to the US. This is the sign that firms will come to their senses and move manufacturing to America, and Apple will follow.

Only, it isn't a sign at all, because this news is less about Luxshare and more revealing of how volatile, and frankly desperate, the situation has become for businesses. The market has been frantically responding to any good news, or at points even just rumors of potential good news some day.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's latest M4 iPad Pro 13-inch is $200 off at Amazon, but limited supply remains at the reduced price.


You can grab the $200 markdown on the 2TB 13-inch iPad Pro with an M4 chip in Space Black. This high-capacity Wi-Fi spec has an ample 2TB of storage, but the base model and even Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eligible for discounts as well in our 13-inch iPad Pro M4 Price Guide.

Save $200 at Amazon


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's stock will face another tumultuous day as markets fear China's and the European Union's reciprocal tariff increases could get another Trump reaction.


The tit-for-tat tariff battle has wreaked havoc on the stock market, with the valuation of many companies shrinking over a matter of days due to the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs. This has naturally included Apple, which is set to face another day of stock market turmoil.

At the close of markets on Tuesday, Apple was at $172.42 following four days of rough trading. However, pre-market trading brought the price to an even lower level, hovering at around $169 before starting the trading day marginally up at $172.18.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Alongside its emergency importing of iPhones before tariffs hugely increased costs, Apple is now said to have also had Macs airlifted into the US.


With the extra China tariff now in force, Apple is currently required to pay 104% on top of the import cost. Even before this increase, and even before Trump announced his initial tariffs, Apple took steps to minimize the hit it expected to face.

That was said to consist of stockpiling iPhones, having five flights full of them head for the States ahead of Trump's deadline. Now according to Nikkei Asia, Apple was far from the sole technology company doing this — and it wasn't only importing iPhones.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Teenagers overwhelmingly continue to want their next smartphone to be an iPhone, a survey about the youth of America's spending habits reveals.


Apple's products are a highly popular collection on the market, and that is especially so for teenagers in the United States. In a regular "Taking Stock of Teens" survey commissioned by analysts at Piper Sandler, the spring 2025 edition demonstrates that the iPhone is still very close to the heart of young U.S. consumers.

Approximately 88% of teenage respondents said they own an iPhone. This is up from the 85% figure reported in the same survey one year ago.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple Mac Studio (2025) with M4 Max: Starts @ $1,999 ($2,199 As Tested) If you crave the best performance an Apple Mac desktop system can offer, look no further than the latest Mac Studio and its very powerful M4 Max chip. It has all the tools you'll need. Apple's M4 Max CPU is very strong Apple's GPU technology shows promise for gaming Four...

The ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF is built for extreme overclockers and aspiring enthusiasts, with physical controls for precise tweaking. Also included are dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and five M.2 SSD slots, with excellent cooling and tool-free operation.

Ahead of Diablo 4's next season, Blizzard has now revealed the roadmap, detailing the updates coming through the rest of the year, and teasing what's next in 2026. 

Starting this month with Season 8, Belial, the Lord of Lies returns to Sanctuary. Aside from the new boss fight, players can expect revamped boss systems and a new event known as an “apparition incursion”, a boss-rush mode where you can earn unique powers from each of the bosses.

In July, Season 9: Sins of the Horadrim will drop, adding Horadric powers to the game and introducing dungeon escalation mechanics. This season will also see the introduction of keyboard & mouse support for the game on consoles.

Finally, Season 10: Infernal Chaos will run from September to December and will replace your seasonal powers with Chaos-themed abilities. This season will include an overhaul to Infernal Hordes, a new IP collaboration event and a new unlockable pet.

In 2026, Blizzard will begin ramping up towards the next major expansion for Diablo 4, which should include a new playable class. 2026 will also see the introduction of a new ranking and leaderboard system.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you been keeping up with Diablo 4 in recent seasons, or have you switched to a newer game like Path of Exile 2? 

The post Diablo 4 roadmap reveals upcoming seasons and teases new expansion first appeared on KitGuru.

In the wake of new tariffs put in place by Donald Trump, Nintendo quickly announced that pre-orders for the much-anticipated Switch 2 would be delayed in the USA. Unfortunately, as with many US actions, these tariffs are impacting the global economy as a whole. In response, Nintendo has now announced further delays across more regions.

In the immediacy following the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, the console manufacturer announced that the previously-stated pre-order date of the 9th of April would not go live in the US, claiming their need to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.”

With these assessments seemingly having concluded, Nintendo has decided to put a hold on pre-orders in other regions too, with the publication MobileSyrup receiving confirmation that Canada too is being impacted by these indefinite delays. According to Nintendo:

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada will not start on April 9, 2025 in order to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the U.S. Nintendo will provide updated information at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.”

Given the current instability, it would not be surprising if all pre-orders were to eventually be put on hold. We will have to wait and see, but whether it was fate or just bad luck, Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a rather concerning start.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you worried about the pre-order situation? Will US/Canada prices be increased? If so, by how much? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Nintendo cancels Switch 2 pre-orders in more regions first appeared on KitGuru.

Following the official acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, the Xbox maker confirmed that they would be bringing many older classic Call of Duty titles to modern systems. While we have yet to see this come to fruition, many behind the scenes movements have been occurring. Adding further fuel to the fire, the OG Modern Warfare 2 and 3 have now been rated in Australia.

As discovered by Insider-Gaming, the Australian Classification Board recently published listings for both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3.

Interestingly, these titles were labelled as being cross-gen, with MW2 in particular said to feature a “PS5 Cross-Gen Edition” – though the same is likely the case for MW3 even if not explicitly stated.

As mentioned, we’ve been hearing a ton regarding these classic CODs being revamped for modern systems, with rumours pointing towards a big Game Pass drop at some point in the near future.

Given the fact that Call of Duty remains an annual franchise, it will be interesting to see how Activision/Microsoft positions these re-releases in a way that won’t take away from the current suite of Black Ops 6 / Warzone players. We hopefully won’t have to wait long to find out.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft’s Call of Duty plans? Will it take away from the current COD? What’s your favourite Call of Duty entry from this PS3/Xbox 360 era? Let us know down below.

The post OG Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and 3 have been rated in Australia first appeared on KitGuru.