In a collaboration video with LinusTechTips where they build his new PC, Linux creator Linus Torvalds made a surprising defense of Windows by stating that "a big percentage of those [Blue Screens of Death] are hardware not being reliable" and thus not the fault of Microsoft. It's during a section of the video where Torvalds insists upon the 
Put your wallet away; it's another leak post, not an official announcement. However, maybe keep the billfold in arm's reach, because it's looking like it won't be long now before we see Intel's "Big Battlemage" GPU. The latest leak comes from familiar face "X86 is dead&back", who actually deleted his post, but not before we and many others 
Apple has had a bit of a shakeup recently, with some senior executives headed for the exit. Rumors have also been swirling that Tim Cook may step down as CEO next year. The latest rumor suggests that Johny Srouji, senior vice president of hardware technologies, and one of the leaders responsible for the success of Apple silicon, may be leaving--at The first real image and clip of Xreal's Project Aura have been revealed.
A concept render was shown at Google I/O earlier this year when Project Aura was first announced as the second Android XR device, set to launch next year.
It's a prism-lens see-through device in a form factor that tries to imitate the basic appearance of sunglasses, as with Xreal's existing products. But while Xreal's current products primarily act as a virtual monitor for your existing devices, via the included cable, Project Aura will come with a tethered compute puck running Google's Android XR on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.
The short clip depicts the relatively limited field of view at the start.
Xreal says Project Aura will have a field of view of 70 degrees diagonal, its widest yet, and have built-in head and hand tracking.
Most features and apps available on Galaxy XR will also run on Project Aura's puck, with some notable exceptions such as the face-tracked Likeness realistic avatars, as Aura doesn't have face tracking.
Today, during The Android Show: XR Edition, Google and Xreal showed off the device in images and a short clip. They also confirmed that it's still on track to launch in 2026 – just days after internal Meta memos leaked revealing that its headset with a tethered puck is delayed to 2027.
Note that while Xreal devices are designed to look like sunglasses, they sit much further out from your eyes than real glasses, and thus are a markedly different device category than the AR glasses in development at Meta and Apple. Those future AR glasses use a display technology called waveguides to sit as close to your eyes as regular glasses, while Xreal uses a far cheaper but also far bulkier optical approach. They also block out most light, so can't be used as regular indoor prescription glasses.
Essentially, you can think of Project Aura as a lightweight alternative to Samsung Galaxy XR that trades off field of view and opacity for sleekness, rather than competition for future outdoor AR glasses.
The confirmation that Project Aura is still set to ship in 2026 comes one month after Lynx revealed that Google terminated its Android XR deal. After Samsung, Lynx, Xreal, and Sony were the three companies Google had earlier confirmed were working on Android XR products. While declining to comment on the Lynx situation, Google confirmed that it's still working with Sony, though we've yet to see even a tease of a Sony Android XR device, and its SRH-S1 headset runs Sony's own fork of Android.
UploadVRDavid Heaney
TP Vision's two gaming sub-brands, AOC and Philips, have officially introduced the first monitors capable of reaching 1000Hz. Unveiled at an event in China, the AOC AGON Pro AGP277QK and the Philips Evnia 27M2N5500XD share the same underlying display panel technology to achieve this milestone.
According to DisplaySpecifications, the 27-inch panel in both units offers dual-mode functionality similar to what we have seen in recent LG and ASUS offerings, but with significantly higher frequencies. Natively, the screen operates at a QHD resolution with a 500Hz refresh rate. However, for users prioritising pure motion clarity over pixel count, the display can switch to a Full HD resolution to unlock the 1000Hz mode. The panel specifications include VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification and a static contrast ratio of 2000:1. The panel type wasn't specified, but given the specs, it should be an IPS panel.
Image credit: DisplaySpecifications
Beyond raw speed, the Philips model integrates the brand's ComfortView 4.0 and AI-driven light-synchronisation technology. Both monitors are expected to feature fully ergonomic stands, with the Philips model utilising its Smart ErgoBase and the AOC variant likely sporting its signature 4-way adjustable design. Standard gaming features, such as 1ms GTG response times and low-input-lag modes, are available on both units.
While the monitors have made their formal debut in the Chinese market, TPVision has yet to confirm specific release dates or pricing for Western territories.
KitGuru says: There aren't that many PCs out there capable of taking advantage of these monitors. However, if you do have one of these, it seems you won't have to wait long to see what that experience looks like.
The post AOC and Philips unveil world’s first 1000Hz dual-mode gaming monitors first appeared on KitGuru.Nvidia has officially confirmed the schedule for its next major GPU Technology Conference, with GTC 2026 returning to San Jose on March 15th, 2026. The company has wasted little time in sharing the details on its official website, outlining a four-day event that will once again place its aggressive AI roadmap front and centre.
While the conference kicks off with workshops on the 15th, the headline event will undoubtedly be CEO Jensen Huang's keynote address on March 16th. Given the company's staggering $4.4 trillion market valuation, all eyes are on how the Green Team plans to maintain its momentum.
Unveiled at last year's event alongside Blackwell Ultra and DGX Spark, Vera Rubin is expected to be the primary talking point as Nvidia prepares to ramp up mass production of AI clusters based on the new architecture. Vera Rubin should deliver substantial improvements over Blackwell, featuring TSMC's 3nm process node, HBM4 memory integration, and significant upgrades to the networking stack. Moreover, Jensen Huang is also expected to provide an update on the next-generation Feynman GPU architecture.
Gamers expecting consumer-focused announcements should likely temper their expectations. GTC has increasingly solidified its reputation as an “all-AI” commercial showcase, with GeForce products typically reserved for venues like CES. Instead, attendees can expect a deep dive into the industrial metaverse, updates to the CUDA library, and the latest breakthroughs in robotics.
KitGuru says: What are your expectations for GTC 2026?
The post Nvidia GTC 2026 dated for March with Vera Rubin and Feynman AI architectures in focus first appeared on KitGuru.It has been over four years since the Knights of the Old Republic remake was first announced. There have essentially been no official updates since the initial reveal in 2021, but one insider has fans thinking that will change very soon.
According to Kurakasis, a leaker with a reliable track record in recent years, there will be a “big Star Wars” game revealed at The Game Awards this year and that it has something to do with “The Old Republic”. They didn't specifically say Knights of the Old Republic, but the MMO doesn't exactly fit the description for a new game.
Disney has been looking at ways to tell canon stories during the Old Republic part of the Star Wars timeline for years at this stage. KOTOR may have been the game that kicked it all off, but that doesn't mean that there aren't other projects in the works also set during this era. If the leak is accurate, I would expect a new game announcement, rather than an official update on the status of the KOTOR Remake.
Knights of the Old Republic was released back in 2003, developed by BioWare. The game is based off the same D&D engine that BioWare used for several older titles. As a result, every skill check and combat move in the game is decided by an invisible dice roll. For a remake, the gameplay would need to go through some significant changes, likely moving towards an action combat system, rather than the semi turn-based combat of the original.
KitGuru Says: Personally, I would like to see a KOTOR 3. Obsidian proved that there were many ways to grow this universe with their excellent sequel, KOTOR 2. There is no reason that we couldn't see a KOTOR 3 with a fresh set of characters and new stories to tell.
The post Leaker claims Star Wars ‘The Old Republic’ news is on the way first appeared on KitGuru.Over the past couple weeks, we’ve heard an increasing amount of talk surrounding Ubisoft’s long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake, with insiders claiming that the title is set to arrive as early as next month. While many believed that the remake would be officially shown off at the upcoming Game Awards, Ubisoft has now set expectations straight.
As talk surrounding the potential re-reveal of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake at the upcoming Game Awards has been increasing, the official PoP Twitter account responded to one fan page which suggested as much, writing:
“Sorry to disappoint, but can confirm Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time won’t be at TGA this year.”
Though a detail based on omission rather than confirmation, it is interesting to note that the account did not refute the rumoured release date of the 16th of January.
That said, assuming the remake is planned for mid-January, Ubisoft won’t have much time to begin showing off and marketing the title, especially if it indeed won’t be at The Game Awards.
Perhaps we will get a dedicated showcase sometime in the early days of the new year? We will have to wait and see.
KitGuru says: Do you believe in the leaked release date? What are your expectations for the remake? Let us know down below.
The post Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake WON’T be at The Game Awards claims Ubisoft first appeared on KitGuru.Acer has quietly expanded its high-end gaming monitor portfolio with the introduction of the Predator X27UZ1, a new 26.5-inch display built around QD-OLED technology. The screen targets competitive gamers, offering a WQHD resolution (2560×1440) and an impressive overclockable refresh rate of up to 280Hz.
According to Prad, the panel specifications align with the high standards expected of modern OLEDs. It features a 0.03ms G2G response time and covers 99% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with a Delta E of less than 2, ensuring accurate colour reproduction right out of the box. Contrast is rated at 1,500,000:1, while brightness levels are rated at 250 nits for full-screen SDR content and up to 1,000 nits for HDR highlights at a 3% APL. These specs have earned the unit DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4, and a dedicated headphone output. The included stand offers comprehensive ergonomic adjustments, including 120mm of height travel and tilt, swivel, and pivot functionality. For those preferring aftermarket arms, the chassis supports a 75x75mm VESA mount. Integrated 5-watt stereo speakers are also present for basic audio duties.
The value proposition is slightly complicated due to the warranty terms. While the street price is quite accessible at €450, the monitor ships with a standard two-year guarantee. This is shorter than the three-year burn-in coverage that has become the industry standard for OLED gaming monitors from major competitors, which may give some potential adopters pause regarding long-term panel longevity.
KitGuru says: Given its shorter warranty period, would you still consider Predator X27UZ1 if you were looking for an OLED gaming monitor?
The post Acer unveils Predator X27UZ1 QD-OLED monitor with 280Hz refresh rate first appeared on KitGuru.
It's not often that celebrity game developers step down from their posts, or personally survey how their games perform in international arcades, but Katsuhiro Harada has done both. After three decades with the Tekken (Japanese: Iron Fist) fighting game series, including directing since Tekken 3 (1997), Harada has formally announced his coming 
By pioneering a new method that studies our galaxy from the inside out, astronomers using data collected from the Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey (GES) have uncovered surprising hidden features of the Milky Way’s spiral structure
For ages, mapping the precise architecture of our home galaxy has been a challenge similar to attempting 
It feels like each passing day brings with it a new leak or rumored related to Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake-S Refresh processors. That's not actually the case, of course, but the leaks are starting to pile up, the latest of which is a benchmark run. The chip in question is an unannounced (and obviously not-yet-released) Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 
Samsung has kicked off the One UI 8.5 beta program and, with it, promises "next-level ease of use" across Galaxy S25 devices (for now). Built on Android 16 QPR2, the latest Samsung mobile skin intends on bringing a unified and intelligent mobile experience, focusing intensely on productivity, system performance, and security.
Photo Assist The first major update for Google's Android XR on Samsung Galaxy XR is rolling out now.
The update brings a beta release of Google's Persona-like realistic avatar system for video calls, called Likeness, a Travel Mode, and a beta for a built-in PC remote desktop feature for Windows called PC Connect.
UploadVRDavid Heaney
Likeness is Google's realistic avatar system for video calls in Android XR, an equivalent to the original non-spatial mode of Apple Vision Pro's Personas.
Your Likeness replaces the video feed that apps would normally get from a phone's selfie camera, providing a virtual equivalent, and should thus work for any video calling platform without developer implementation.
Android XR's Likeness on Samsung Galaxy XR.
Unlike with Vision Pro, you scan your face for Likeness by holding up your phone, not the headset itself. From here, the data is transferred to and securely stored on the headset. The Likeness app is currently only available on "select Android device models".
In video calls on Android XR, your Likeness is driven by Galaxy XR's eye tracking and face tracking capabilities in real-time, and the feed shows a virtual representation of your hands when you hold them up too.
Android XR now has a Travel Mode, which when enabled, makes the positional tracking work properly on moving vehicles, such as planes and trains.
Apple was the first to launch this feature, alongside Vision Pro, and since then Meta, Pico, and Snap have followed.
Android XR's Travel Mode
Without a Travel Mode, the accelerometer and gyroscope in the headset's IMU will interpret the acceleration, orientation changes, and vibrations of the vehicle as your head movement, causing virtual objects and windows to drift off in the opposite direction.
Travel Mode works by having the headset rely more on computer vision from the cameras, typically incurring a small loss in tracking quality.
PC Connect (beta) is a feature that lets you connect to and control your Windows PC as a virtual screen in Android XR.
PC Connect on Android XR
After installing the streamer app on your PC, you can mirror your entire desktop or one window.
There are already many third-party apps on the Google Play Store that can do this, including Guy Godin's Virtual Desktop, but PC Connect offers a built-in option.
UploadVRDavid Heaney
Meta has a partnership with Microsoft for an officially supported Windows 11 remote desktop system, leveraging the operating system's RDP system, with support for virtual extra monitors and multiple aspect ratios. Android XR's PC Connect doesn't seem to have Microsoft's involvement, and seems more basic for now, at least in beta, lacking these more advanced options.
We'll keep a close eye on Google through 2026 for further Android XR updates, such as whether a spatial version of Likeness arrives or advanced virtual monitor options for PC Connect.
A popular power bank sold exclusively at Amazon is being recalled after over a dozen reports of the problematic unit overheating. In 11 of those reported incidents (out of 15), affected units caught fire, resulting in three minor burn injuries and over $380,000 in property damage. Suffice to say, if you own an affected power bank, stop using 
Affordable gaming is facing an existential threat from the rise of AI and the resulting insatiable demand for key components. This has led to a massive spike in PC DRAM prices, and storage solutions may not be far behind. The sliver lining is that we're in the midst of the holiday shopping season, and with it comes what is perhaps one last The LiberNovo Omni is a high-end ergonomic office chair packed with features: electric lumbar adjustment, a flexible segmented backrest, a massage mode, a wide reclining range and fully adjustable headrest and armrests. With all those fancy features comes a fancy price tag – costing around £1200 when at full RRP. We're looking at everything the Omni offers, how its design and adjustability work in practice, and whether this premium chair is actually worth the asking price.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Pricing and bundle options
02:17 Design first impressions
03:25 ‘Dynamic’ Ergonomic chair?
05:01 Adjustment capabilities
06:51 Electronic lumbar support
07:28 Mat’s experience day-to-day
09:27 The massage functionality + battery
10:56 But there are issues…
13:30 The assembly process + build quality
14:30 Mat’s closing thoughts
Specifications
You can buy the Omni office chair directly from LiberNovo HERE.
Pros:
Cons:
KitGuru says: The Omni is a very good and extremely comfortable chair, but it lacks adjustability in key areas.
Black Friday has now come and gone, with various hardware and software manufacturers offering deep discounts on their games, accessories, consoles and more. Despite the Nintendo Switch 2 being the new hotness, it was Sony’s PlayStation 5 which seems to have ‘won’ Black Friday – taking home half of all console sales for the period.
According to industry analyst Mat Piscatella of Circana, the PlayStation 5 accounted for 47% of all console hardware sales during Black Friday in the US, with the Switch 2 landing in second (24% of sales) and the relatively unknown Kinect-styled ‘NEX Playground’ taking the 3rd spot from Xbox with 14% of sales.
In the UK, PlayStation performed even better, with Christopher Dring of TheGameBusiness confirming that PS5 took home 62% of all console sales during Black Friday. As expected, the Switch 2 ended up in second place with 23% of sales, and Xbox bringing up the rear with 10%.
Sony had been pretty aggressive this Black Friday, with the relatively-more-affordable PS5 console seeing rather steep discounts during the promotional period. This strategy seems to have worked wonders for the console maker, with PS5 continuing its lead.
It will be interesting to see how sales for both PS5 and Switch 2 evolve over the next year as Nintendo’s console starts to mature.
KitGuru says: What did you pick up this Black Friday? Are you surprised by PlayStation’s dominance? Did you expect the Switch 2 to take the top spot? Let us know down below.
The post PlayStation 5 ‘wins’ Black Friday, selling more than Xbox and Nintendo combined first appeared on KitGuru.The second season of Amazon Prime's Fallout series is about to air very soon and it looks like production will pretty swiftly move over to Season 3 in an effort to have a quicker turnaround time between seasons.
In a recent interview with IGN, Fallout executive producer, Jonathan Nolan, confirmed plans to begin filming Season 3 next year, with the goal of getting “back on the air in a reasonable amount of time”.
Nolan also addressed the current state of TV, with many shows opting for longer and longer breaks between seasons, which has become a source of frustration for many:
“I think what's happened with television in terms of taking longer and longer from season to season is an unfortunate trend. You don't want the show to lose any of its scope, but we know that we'd like to be back on the air as soon as we can.”
It sounds like the Fallout production team is aiming to capitalise on the show's early momentum and not needlessly slow down the process.
Fallout Season 2 begins on December 17th, furthering the story in New Vegas, a favourite location amongst fans of the Fallout videogames.
KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to the second season of Fallout? It sounds like the show will stick to a one season per year cadence moving forward, which I think would be for the best. A lot of shows lose their momentum with lengthy breaks.
The post Fallout TV series aiming for one season each year first appeared on KitGuru.After the overwhelming success that was Elden Ring, FromSoftware surprised many with the announcement and release of Nightreign – a co-op roguelite spin-off. Since its launch back in May, the title has received a solid amount of free post-launch support and even a paid expansion; the latter of which has already sold over 2 million copies since its arrival a couple days ago.
Making the announcement via Twitter, FromSoftware confirmed that “The cumulative worldwide shipment volume of ‘ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN The Forsaken Hollows’ has exceeded 2 million units. To all the users who are playing this game, thank you very much. We hope you enjoy the new battles undertaken by the Nightfarers. We look forward to your continued support.”
For context, The Forsaken Hollows released just a couple days ago on the 4th of December, and so to have sold 2 million copies already is a major achievement. That said, reception towards the DLC is less-than-perfect, with Steam reviews currently sitting at a Mixed rating owing to the game’s new ‘Shifting Earth’ map being less-than-intuitive to navigate.
Still, 2 million copies sold for what is a DLC for a spin-off is highly impressive and seems to suggest that FromSoftware has ensured their financial success regardless of the direction they choose to go in.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Nightreign’s new DLC? Is it worth the relatively cheap asking price? As an experiment, has Nightreign succeeded or failed in your eyes? Let us know down below.
The post Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows DLC has already sold 2 million copies first appeared on KitGuru.Despite an incredibly strong launch, Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds has been a disappointment in many people’s eyes, primarily due to various optimisation issues. In what will hopefully be a positive affair, Capcom has now scheduled their next Monster Hunter Showcase for later tonight – offering a look at their upcoming ‘Title Update 4’ and more.
Making the announcement via a brief teaser trailer, Capcom officially announced their next Monster Hunter Showcase, writing:
“Join us for a Monster Hunter Showcase on December 8 at 2pm PT/10pm GMT! Tune in to the livestream for all the info on Monster Hunter Wilds Free Title Update 4, and new info for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection!”
While it will be exciting to see more from Monster Hunter Stories 3, the free title update for MH Wilds is by far the most interesting, especially as PC players in particular continue to suffer from various performance and optimisation issues.
Capcom made sure to note that Wilds’ presence in the showcase will be limited to talk surrounding Title Update 4, and so don’t expect to hear about any expansions any time soon.
Hopefully however this means that the publisher has put a lot of effort into ensuring that this upcoming update will satiate frustrated fans. We won’t have to wait long to find out exactly what is being fixed/improved.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the showcase? Have you had many issues running Wilds on your PC? Let us know down below.
The post Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 4 to be unveiled at upcoming Capcom Showcase first appeared on KitGuru.For Day 8 on the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with Thermal Grizzly to give away the brand-new WireView Pro II tool, along with a mouse mat and a full set of premium thermal materials to level up your cooling and overclocking.
Here is a breakdown of the prizes:
Due to the WireView Pro II being in the pre-order phase at the moment, the winner of this giveaway will receive their prizes in January.
To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What GPU are you running?
This competition is open in the UK, EU and USA.
The winners will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 9th, and a new competition will be announced for Day 9. The chosen winners have 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.
Terms and Conditions: This competition is open UK, EU and USA starting at 11AM GMT on December 8th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 9th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.
KitGuru Says: Good luck, we'll be back tomorrow to announce the winner and turn the calendar over to Day 9!
The post KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 8: Win a Thermal Grizzly bundle! first appeared on KitGuru.
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