Over the past few days, we’ve seen Microsoft back-track on many of its more controversial decisions when it comes to Xbox and the games it produces, with the publisher announcing that it would no longer be increasing its full-priced games to $80 later this holiday. Following this, the console maker has now confirmed that the Xbox releases of The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4 will include an actual disc in the box…sort of.

Over the past year or so, Microsoft has moved away from physical media. White in and of itself nothing too strange (given their focus on software), those who did opt to buy first-party Xbox games physically were met with little more than a code in a box.

This understandably bothered some users – especially as many of its PS5 counterparts did include physical Blu-Rays (albeit with little to no data on it). Still, it seems as though Microsoft is trying to get into the good graces of Xbox players, with the publisher having now confirmed that at the very least The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4 will feature a disc in the box on both PS5 and Xbox.

Previously, only the PS5 version was stated to include a disc, with the Xbox release directly acknowledging that it simply includes a digital download code.

That said, it is worth noting that as of right now, only physical deluxe editions are available to pre-order on Xbox – with PS5 users having the option to also purchase the standard edition while still receiving an actual disc.

Of course, as with previous physical releases by Microsoft, expect these discs to include only a portion of the game’s actual data. Still, having a physical disc is better than no disc at all.

It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft chooses to release physical versions of the standard editions on Xbox – or if users will have to cough up the extra £10-20 for the pleasure of owning a disc.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest move? Why do you think there is no physical standard edition for Microsoft's consoles? Let us know down below.

The post Physical editions of upcoming Xbox games will include a disc after all (with a catch) first appeared on KitGuru.

Lian Li showed us an early version of their O11D Mini V2 six months ago at CES and then we saw the finished product at Computex, so you can understand we have been eagerly awaiting its launch. In today's review we look at a bazillion options and features of this compact ATX case and bemoan the fact we Brits don't think much of Micro ATX, which is a pity as it is clearly the best motherboard form factor on the planet.

Specification:

• Motherboard support: ATX, ATX Back-Connect, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
• Expansion slots: 5.
• Included fans: None (Flow version comes with 5x 120mm reverse flow PWM fans)
• Fan mounts: 2x 120mm front, 3x 120/2x 140mm roof, 1x 120mm rear, 3x 120mm floor.
• Radiator mounts: 240mm front, 280mm/360mm roof, 240mm side.
• Bottom radiator: 280mm or 360mm depending in M-ATX mode.
• 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None.
• Internal drive bays: 2x 2.5-inch , 2x 2.5-inch/3.5-inch.
• Dimensions: 392mm H x 424mm D x 273mm W.

Testing

To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, Palit RTX 5080 and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Lian Li O11D Mini V2's cooling capabilities.

Test System:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
• CPU Cooler: Lian Li Hydroshift LCD 360 Fanless + 3x Lian Li Uni Fan TL Wireless 120
• Case fans: 4x Lian Li Uni Fan TL Wireless LCD 120
• Motherboard: MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi
• Memory: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000
• Graphics card: Palit RTX 5080 Gamerock OC 16GB
• Power supply: Lian Li Edge EG0850G
• SSD: Crucial T700 M.2 NVMe
• OS: Windows 11 Pro

Cooling Performance

Cooling Performance Overview

The Lian Li O11D Mini V2 works well however it is clear the relatively small size has an impact on airflow. Each time we increased fan speed we saw a reduction in CPU temperature and as you will see in our video this moved to a point where the PC was intolerably loud. Compromise is the name of the game.

Closing Thoughts

The new Lian Li O11D Mini V2 is a success but it isn't quite a great success, and the issue in our view is that most people use an ATX motherboard which will effectively fill the main compartment of the case. If you use a Micro ATX motherboard instead the situation changes for the better.

We love the clean look of the frameless glass and the ability to add cooling at the top, bottom, back and side of the case gives you plenty of options.  The price is also appealing, however you need to factor in the necessary cooling hardware.

If you buy the Flow version is comes with non-ARGB fans, though this case was clearly intended as a showcase for fancy lighting. We suggest you buy the fanless version and add plenty of bling.

MSRP for Lian Li O11D Mini V2 is £75.99 inc VAT and will be available from OCUK HERE.

Pros:

• We love the looks and clean finish.
• Decent air flow and cooling
• Front IO panel can be moved from the front of the case to the top.
• Neat option for moving a Micro-ATX motherboard downwards in the main chamber.

Cons:

• Top of case is tight for space with a 360mm cooler
• You need to use a Micro ATX motherboard to get most from this case.

KitGuru says: The updates Lian Li has made to the O11D Mini V2 work superbly well.

The post Lian Li O11D Mini V2 Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Earlier this week, Ubisoft appeared to confirm that Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws did not perform as the publisher was hoping, with CEO Yves Guillemot blaming the “choppy waters” of the Star Wars IP for its lack of success. As such, it perhaps comes as little surprise that a sequel which was reportedly in development has now been scrapped.

As reported by known industry insider Tom Henderson via the Insider-Gaming Weekly podcast, Ubisoft is said to have “recently cancelled Star Wars Outlaws 2…because that was planned and in the works.”

According to Henderson however, the project was “very very early” in production – which makes sense given the fact that the original game only recently released its second major DLC – ‘A Pirate’s Fortune’.

That said, while Outlaws seems to have underperformed relative to Ubisoft’s expectations, the open world title is still set to arrive on Switch 2 in September. Whether this will be enough to warrant a second look at a potential sequel we will have to wait and see.

All that said, if you are a big fan of Star Wars: Outlaws, you might have to rely on another publisher to get your open-world fix – if and when another studio decides to take on the challenge.

KitGuru says: What are your thoughts on Star Wars: Outlaws? Was it overly-hated at launch? Would you have liked to see a sequel come to fruition? Let us know down below.

The post Ubisoft have reportedly cancelled plans for a Star Wars: Outlaws sequel first appeared on KitGuru.

The story of Project Cars is an interesting one, with the first entry in the series from developer Slightly Mad Studios being met with a ton of praise following its release back in 2015. The team then followed this up with 2017’s Project Cars 2 – to equally solid impressions. Unfortunately, things seemed to go downhill from there, with the team being acquired by Codemasters; subsequently releasing the less-than-stellar Project Cars 3 in 2020. Now under EA, Project Cars 3 is officially being delisted.

Taking to the game’s respective store pages to make the announcement, Slightly Mad Studios / Codemasters / EA offered an unfortunate update on the latest mainline release, writing:

“Update on PROJECT CARS 3. All product sales will end on: August 24th, 2025 23:59 UTC.”

Of course, as with most delistings, the publisher notes that “If you bought the game digitally it will remain in your library and can be redownloaded in the future” while also confirming “any DLCs purchased before August 24th, 2025 23:59 UTC will still be available to use after this date.”

As always, alongside the delisting, Project Cars 3’s online functionality is also set to be discontinued, with the team confirming that servers will “remain active until February 24th, 2026” – exactly 6 months following its delisting.

Racing games in particular are regularly delisted far earlier than other genres, often owing to licensing agreements made with car manufacturers. In the case of Project Cars 3, this tracks neatly with the series’ previous entries – both of which were removed 5 years after launch.

Project Cars could have been the next big thing in the sim racing genre. As such, it is a shame to see the franchise slowly but surely peter out of the general consciousness.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest announcement? Did you enjoy the first two Project Cars games? Will racing games ever manage to escape the licensing cycle? Let us know your thoughts down below.

The post Project Cars 3 is being delisted next month first appeared on KitGuru.

If you've ever wanted to review tech, then this is a perfect opportunity as we are now hiring for a new reviewer to join our team! Prior experience is not strictly necessary, but we would like to see some example works from applicants. 

We are looking for someone who will be able to produce reviews of a range of tech gear in video format and in the KitGuru style. Any experience in this sector is beneficial, however we are open to all applicants provided you can give us a sample of your written and video work so we can assess your abilities.

KitGuru is a great company to work with, we are all tech enthusiasts who enjoy gaming, so we all have very similar interests. Behind the scenes it is very close-knit environment and many of our team have been with us for several years.

To be considered for this position you need:

• Skillset to present well on camera – and in English.
• The ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills.
• Some knowledge of video editing would be useful, but we have that capability in-house if we find the right candidate.
• Strong writing ability.
• This is a freelance position.

The successful applicant must be based in the United Kingdom, and we pay very well for this kind of work. If you are interested and feel you can meet the criteria above and want to work in this fast-moving sector then please send your CV along with any samples of your work to our Editor in Chief, Allan Campbell – allan(at)kitguru.net.

KitGuru says: We look forward to receiving your application!

The post KitGuru is hiring – tech reviewer applications open! first appeared on KitGuru.

Humble Bundles are a great way for fans of a series to get their hands on a range of games for a relatively low price. While the previously-announced Devil May Cry bundle remains available to purchase, Humble has now announced their latest ‘Sniper Elite Classics Collection’ Bundle.

Available to purchase in 3 different forms, paying at least £4.47 will net you:

• Sniper Elite
• Sniper Elite V2 Remastered
• Sniper Elite 3 + Season Pass

Upping your contributions to £7.46 meanwhile will get you the above plus:

• Sniper Elite 4: Deluxe Edition (includes Season Pass)

Finally, paying £10.45 gets you access to the full bundle, including everything above alongside:

• Sniper Elite 5

For the uninitiated, the Sniper Elite series is developed by Rebellion and is perhaps known best for its liberal use of slick slow-motion x-ray shots when eliminating Nazis across the world – including allowing you to famously snipe Hitler’s genitals.

If you’ve not given the series a go, now is as good an opportunity as any, with Sniper Elite offering a satisfying sandbox to stealth your way through and complete however you please.

As always, a small portion of the proceedings will be going to charity, with this bundle supporting The Trevor Project – whose goal is to “end suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people.”

Humble’s Sniper Elite Classics Collection bundle is available to purchase from now until the 7th of August.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Sniper Elite series? Which entry is your favourite? How would you kill Hitler (in Sniper Elite) if given the chance? Let us know down below.

The post Humble announces ‘Sniper Elite Classics Collection’ Bundle first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft's first attempt to inflict Recall and Copilot Vision upon us did not go well; apparently Redmond was shocked by people expressing concerns about their privacy created by an app that recorded…

Sony has made another strategic move as it seeks to improve partnerships to bolster its gaming and anime businesses. This time around, Sony has bought a 2.5% equity stake in Bandai Namco, known for a massive range of licensed anime games, as well as publishing massive hits like The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring.

In a joint statement, Sony and Bandai Namco explained that the alliance will focus on expanding fan communities around the world, particularly for anime and manga IP, while leveraging each other’s strengths to co-create new content and maximise IP value.

Bandai Namco is home to franchises like Tekken, Pac-Man, Soul Calibur, and Ace Combat. It also has close working relationships with studios like CD Projekt Red and From Software, having published hits like the Dark Souls, Elden Ring and The Witcher 3. The publisher is also well known for its stable of licensed anime games for franchises like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece and newer hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer.

This isn't the first time Sony has invested in a third-party publisher to strengthen its position. Sony also holds shares in companies like Epic Games, From Software, Devolver Digital and Kadokawa.

KitGuru Says: This is a small stake, so we don't expect too much to happen on the game front. On the anime side though, this could be very interesting, as Sony now has anime production & distribution capabilities thanks to the acquisitions of Crunchyroll and Funimation. 

The post Sony buys equity stake in Bandai Namco first appeared on KitGuru.

While Microsoft has brought quite a few games over to the rival PS5 platform over the past year, its Nintendo support is still lagging behind. With the Switch 2 now available, many Xbox titles, and big games like Call of Duty, are expected on Nintendo's platform, and official announcements are just around the corner.

According to Chris Dring of The Game Business, Xbox is “expected to announce more game ports to other platforms, including Switch 2 and PS5, in the coming weeks”. The move comes as analysts piece together the state of the industry and the growing need for console makers to branch out to other platforms.

Analyst firm, Circana, has found that the top ten live service games eat up 50% of all gaming hours in the US, leaving single-player games and smaller, emerging IPs to fight over the remaining 50% of the market. As a result, getting those games on more platforms is more important than ever before. At this point, all three major console makers are now multi-platform game makers.

Sony has been bringing its games to PC for several years now. Microsoft ships on Xbox, PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. As for Nintendo, the company has a bustling mobile game business to supplement the rising costs of developing AAA games for its main console platforms.

KitGuru Says: What games do you think Microsoft will bring to Switch 2? Personally, I'd like to see Halo finally burst out of the exclusivity bubble, perhaps then we'd finally get a new version of Halo 5. 

The post Xbox to announce more ports for Switch 2 and PS5 soon first appeared on KitGuru.

EA's big Battlefield reveal trailer officially dropped, giving us a much smaller amount of information than previously anticipated. Due to leaks earlier in the week, we had expected release date news, but the trailer simply ends with the promise of… more trailers. 

The new Battlefield 6 trailer is live and can be viewed below. It comes in at just over two-minutes long and is primarily cinematic footage to tease the game's campaign, because yes, for the first time in years, Battlefield 6 will have a true campaign mode. The trailer offers a first look at Pax Armata, a Private Military Corporation bankrolled by former NATO states whose agenda threatens to throw the world into global conflict.

So when will we actually see gameplay? Well on July 31st at 7:30AM BST, EA will host the Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal event and various partnered streamers will be showcasing the game across sites like Twitch and YouTube all day long. It is here where we expect to learn about upcoming beta plans and an official release date.

Earlier this week, leaks claimed that Battlefield 6 will release on October 10th, with a beta to take place in August.

KitGuru Says: What did you think of the Battlefield 6 reveal trailer? Are you looking forward to the return of the single-player campaign mode? 

The post Battlefield 6 reveal trailer goes live, multiplayer event announced first appeared on KitGuru.

Back in May, Elden Ring Nightreign quickly climbed the charts, shifting over two million copies over its launch month. Now, Bandai Namco has given sales figure updates for two major From Software titles, as Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and the base game have also reached new milestones.

Elden Ring, From Software's highly praised fantasy epic, has now surpassed 30 million sales. Of those 30 million players, 10 million of them have also picked up the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which released almost two years after the original game.

As for the new multiplayer spin-off, Elden Ring Nightreign, that game has now reached five million players in total.

For perspective, the Elden Ring franchise now has total sales of 45+ million, which puts it well ahead of Dark Souls and in a similar league to major franchises like Fallout, Diablo and Gears of War.

KitGuru Says: Have you played Elden Ring? Did you beat the game, or end up putting it down?

The post Elden Ring franchise hits new sales milestone first appeared on KitGuru.

There are another nine games joining the GeForce Now cloud gaming library this week. From major launches like Killing Floor 3, to recent remasters like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 released a few weeks ago and as its a first-party Microsoft game now, that means it would be destined for GeForce Now due to an agreement in place between Nvidia and Microsoft. For reasons undisclosed, the game wasn't ready to run on GeForce Now on launch-day, but that has now been rectified. If you own the game on Steam, Epic Games Store or Xbox, you'll be able to stream it via GeForce Now. PC Game Pass subscribers also get access without needing to spend any extra.

Here is the full list of games joining GeForce Now today:

• Abiotic Factor (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 22)
• Wildgate (New release on Steam, July 22)
• WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers (New release on Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, July 23)
• Killing Floor 3 (New release on Steam, July 24)
• Legion TD 2 (Epic Games Store, Free July 24)
• Barony (Steam)
• He is Coming (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
• SUPERVIVE (Steam)
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)

KitGuru Says: Will you be playing any of this week's new releases?

The post GeForce Now gets nine more games this week first appeared on KitGuru.

At 59 g, the ambidextrous XE V2 Wireless is much lighter than the first iteration. PixArt's PAW3950 sensor, Huano switches for the main buttons, and 4000 Hz wireless polling are on board as well, and VAXEE cites up to 110 hours of battery life.

All the votes are in for the KitGuru Reader Awards 2025, where you decide which products get recognised as the ‘best of' for the year. Alongside the survey, we ran a giveaway for entrants to win an RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT graphics card. Now with voting closed, we're ready to announce the winner. 

As a thank you for taking part in our Reader Awards survey, we also offered all with the chance to win their choice of high-end graphics card – either an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti or a Radeon RX 9070 XT. Everyone had an equal chance in the prize draw but ultimately, there can only be one winner.

This time around, our winner is Glab Krzysiek! We've sent them a message to confirm their graphics card selection and organise shipping. If you missed out this time around, then keep an eye out as there is always another giveaway around the corner. 

KitGuru Says: Congrats to Glab! We'll be back with more competitions soon. 

The post KitGuru Reader Awards graphics card giveaway winner announced! first appeared on KitGuru.

Over the past couple of months we’ve heard reports that Microsoft is looking to once again revamp its Xbox Game Pass subscription platform as well as the company’s xCloud streaming service. Though yet to be officially announced, dataminers have uncovered what appears to be 4 new tiers for its xCloud service – all of which feature a different library of games.

As reported by cloud gaming enthusiast / dataminer ‘redphx’ via BlueSky, Microsoft’s streaming service appears to be undergoing some changes, writing: “Something is incoming to xCloud? Several games have been added to unknown programs called CALLISTO, DIA, EUROPA, and FERDINAND.”

Though purely speculation, ‘redphx’ believes this is likely to be a new 4-tiered system for Xbox’s streaming service, with Callisto (or C) being the highest tier and Ferdinand (or F) being the lowest – with different titles available in each.

As mentioned, we’ve heard various leaks over the past couple of months pertaining to Xbox Game Pass / xCloud, with Microsoft reportedly working on “next generation” Xbox cloud servers with a focus on “lower lag, improved bitrates, and higher resolution options” – as well as new Game Pass tiers including a cloud-only option.

Given that xCloud in its current state leaves plenty to be desired, a revamp of the servers could prove to be a major boon. That said, whether users will be willing to pay extra for better / more stable performance, we will have to wait and see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Game Pass / xCloud in its current state? Would you pay even more for an improved experience? When do you think Microsoft will officially announce the revamp? Let us know down below.

The post Dataminer uncovers upcoming xCloud revamp, featuring 4 different tiers first appeared on KitGuru.

Despite concerns surrounding the console’s price tag, the Nintendo Switch 2 was a major hit upon its release in June, with various publications claiming Nintendo to have had a record-breaking launch. Almost two months into the console’s lifecycle, and we now have more concrete sales data – with the Switch 2 officially becoming the fastest selling video game hardware in US history.

As reported by Circana’s Mat Piscatella via BlueSky, “Nintendo Switch 2 sold 1.6M units in June, the highest launch month unit sales for video game hardware in US history.”

For comparison, the previous US record holder was the PlayStation 4, which managed to push past 1.1 million units in its first month back during November 2013.

Of course, this comparison isn’t apples-to-apples, with there being over a decade worth of growth across the industry between the systems. In addition, Nintendo announced prior to the Switch 2’s launch that they would make sure to have enough hardware available to meet demand – something which 2020’s PlayStation 5 suffered from as a result of its Covid launch.

Of course, launch month sales are just that, with the real test of a console’s success being its long-term adoption. That said, this does bode well for the short-medium-term future of the console.

It will be interesting to see what sales data looks like both in the US and globally by the end of 2025.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Did you pick up a Switch 2 during its launch month? Will the Switch 2 outsell the Wii U by the end of the year? How many units do you think the PS5 would have sold if it didn’t suffer from stock issues at launch? Let us know down below.

The post Switch 2 is officially the fastest-selling console in US history first appeared on KitGuru.

Sony has been pretty good when it comes to updating the PlayStation 5’s firmware, adding new and notable features on a semi-regular basis. As part of the latest beta firmware, PS5 owners can look forward to DualSense pairing improvements alongside a somewhat mysterious “Power Saver Mode.”

Taking to the PlayStation Blog, the VP of Product Management at SIE – Shuzo Kikuchi – wrote: “We’re excited to announce that the latest PS5 system update beta will preview a new feature that allows DualSense wireless controllers and DualSense Edge wireless controllers to be paired across multiple devices simultaneously, making it easier to switch between them without needing to pair each time.”

With this update, players will be able to pair their DualSense with up to 4 different systems at the same time, allowing for seamless switching using a combination of the PS button and one of the ‘sacred symbols’ (Triangle, Circle, Cross and Square). Full details on how this new pairing system works can be found HERE.

Perhaps the most interesting addition however is this new ‘Power Saver for Games’ mode, which according to Sony will allow supported PS5 games to “scale back performance and will allow your PS5 to reduce its power consumption when the feature is enabled optionally by gamers.”

Though pitched as being part of the company’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions, this could also have been developed with the rumoured PlayStation handheld in mind – preparing the OS to support lower-powered / portable hardware.

Regardless, both the enhanced DualSense pairing and the upcoming Power Saver modes are welcome additions. Hopefully the update is brought over to the stable channel as soon as possible.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Sony’s support for the PS5’s firmware so far? Are there still some missing features you would like to see added? Do you think this new power mode is primarily for the rumoured handheld? Let us know down below.

The post New PS5 beta brings major DualSense improvements and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Following the surprise announcement last month that Microsoft’s upcoming holiday titles would retail for $80 (starting with The Outer Worlds 2), the console maker backtracked on this decision, instead charging the more ‘standard’ $70. It seems as though Obsidian’s upcoming RPG isn’t the only game being lowered to $70 – with all of Microsoft’s upcoming Holiday titles dropping back down to the previous industry standard.

Following the likes of Nintendo and Mario Kart World, Microsoft announced back in June that its upcoming full-priced Holiday releases will all be retailing for $80 – starting with The Outer Worlds 2.

As mentioned, Microsoft has since backtracked on this decision, claiming “current market conditions” as the reason for this change of heart.

While already an interesting alteration, what is perhaps more surprising is the fact that The Outer Worlds 2 isn’t the only title being dropped back down to $70, with Microsoft telling the publication Windows Central:

“We're focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99.”

Of course, though we don’t know all of Microsoft’s Holiday plans, one major title which would have cost $80 was the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

While Nintendo still got the ball rolling with $80 video games, it is encouraging at the very least to see one of the biggest publishers in the world choosing to go back and stick with $70 as the standard – at least for now.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this decision? Why did Microsoft backtrack? Are you more likely to pick up Microsoft’s Holiday releases following this announcement? Let us know down below.

The post Xbox abandons $80 price tag for the rest of its Holiday line-up first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft, specifically their gaming studio, is dual wielding axes and slashing everything within reach.  So far they've cancelled Rare's Everwild, The Initiative's Perfect Dark, and ZeniMax's Project Blackbird to name a few…

It would seem that we each interfere with WiFi signals in a unique way, which can be measured thanks to several researchers who have created a system they call WhoFi.  Their…

Are you looking for a low-cost ergonomic chair that still offers a decent level of comfort and build quality? The Sharkoon OfficePal C10 may be the model that appeals to you. The question is, will you be able to accept its drawbacks?

We recently heard that many third-party games struggled during the Switch 2 launch period, as Mario Kart World seemed to eat up the bulk of game sales. Now, we have data for the best performing Switch 2 titles in June, with Mario Kart World, Fantasy Life I and Cyberpunk 2077 leading the way. 

Newzoo has released its analysis for Switch 2 sales in June, the same month the new console launched. According to their data, Mario Kart World ate up 34% of eShop revenue in June, followed by Fantasy Life I at 23%, and Cyberpunk 2077 with a modest 10% share. Funnily enough, the Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a paid-for instruction manual, cracked the top 5, generating 6% of the eShop revenue in June.

Looking at Monthly Active Users, Mario Kart World also led the way with the most players, followed by Fortnite, Mario Kart 8, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It is impressive that the Mario Kart World MAU managed to beat out legacy titles like Mario Kart 8, Fortnite and Animal Crossing, which already have huge player bases thanks to their wide availability on Switch 1. Mario Kart World is a Switch 2 exclusive, giving it a much smaller pool of players to sell to.

In terms of ‘Digital Only' games, Deltarune was the surprising #1 game on the eShop. The new title from Undertale creator, Toby Fox, recently had a huge update that adds more chapters to the game. The final chapters are expected next year. The Switch 2 Welcome Tour slots into the #2 spot, followed by Mario Kart World, Minecraft and No Man's Sky.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you had the chance to test out a Switch 2 yet? I've been re-experiencing Breath of the Wild and Pokémon Scarlet on one recently and the upgrade is massive. Hopefully more first-party titles get Switch 2 updates soon. 

The post Mario Kart World, Fantasy Life and Cyberpunk dominate Switch 2 launch first appeared on KitGuru.

We already knew that Borderlands 4 would be launching for PC, PS5 and Xbox in September, but a highly anticipated Switch 2 version of the game still had no date. As it turns out, the Switch version won't be releasing too far behind the other platforms.

On PC, PS5 and Xbox, Borderlands 4 will be available on the 12th of September. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will release a few weeks later, on the 3rd of October.

Borderlands 4 takes players to a brand new planet, Kairos, which is ruled by a dictator known as Timekeeper. The game features new Vault Hunter classes, and a whole host of new weapon types, including:

• Order guns focus on precision with high-powered bursts
• Ripper guns charge up to go fully automatic
• Daedalus guns are easy-to-use and incorporate multiple ammo types
• Tediore guns are reloaded by tossing them as grenades
• Maliwan guns specialize in elemental damage to burn, freeze, and shock
• Jakobs guns can fire bullets as fast as you can shoot with ricochets on critical hits
• Vladof guns have a high rate of fire and huge magazines
• Torgue guns have heavy-duty explosive rounds that can switch to sticky projectiles.

Gearbox has also made improvements to looting, making farming for coveted gear “much more intuitive”. Players will be able to replay missions as many times as required to obtain certain drops, or you can use the Big Encore Machine to replay specific boss fights.

That is about everything we know about the game so far. We expect to learn more in the weeks leading up to launch.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you looking forward to Borderlands 4? 

The post Borderlands 4 gets October release date for Switch 2 first appeared on KitGuru.

The Outer Worlds was a big deal at the time for being the biggest in a wave of ‘budget' AAA games that aimed to prove that you could still make quality games with a smaller team by sticking to a strict scope. The Outer Worlds 2 was developed under a similar mindset so it came as a shock when Microsoft announced plans to charge a whopping $80 for the sequel, a decision that is now being reversed. 

The Outer Worlds 2 will no longer cost $80 when it releases on October 29th. It is unclear what sparked the change, but perhaps pre-order numbers had them spooked. The new price of $70 is still a significant jump from the original game, but it isn't quite as unexpected as the jump to $80 was.

Speaking on the change, an Xbox spokesperson said that the price change was to bring the game “in line with current market conditions”, which sounds about right. Everyone was quick to point out that The Outer Worlds 2 was not the best test case for this new $80 price point considering the smaller-scope titles Obsidian is known for.

The Outer Worlds 2 will release on October 29th and will not be an Xbox console exclusive at launch. The game will be available on PC, Xbox and PS5 on day-one. No Nintendo Switch 2 version has been announced yet, but Nintendo reportedly has a backlog of devkit requests, so it is quite likely that Obsidian doesn't have the necessary hardware yet.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to The Outer Worlds 2? Will you be buying it, or getting it through Game Pass? 

 

The post Microsoft comes to its senses – will no longer charge $80 for The Outer Worlds 2 first appeared on KitGuru.