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Blackgate Welcomes In 'Fresh Meat' with Alien Free Play Weekend

You can play the 4v1 zero-gravity survival horror game Blackgate as the paywalled alien for free right now until Monday.

Blackgate, heavily inspired by Dead By Daylight and Echo Arena, pits four engineers against one alien for survival. Engineers fly around the space station repairing systems and unlocking an armory full of weapons to incapacitate the alien before it gets to them all. The game is free to play for engineers with an additional $19.99 purchase required to play as the alien.

We played the game in Early Access, noting "it's a game attuned to and takes advantage of VR... Fully immersed in that world, the sense of dread you feel even when other people are nearby is wonderfully achieved." However, the limitations of its host-driven online play made it difficult to finish matches.

BlackGate Is A Tense VR Multiplayer Survival Horror With One Major Flaw
BlackGate has potential with its tense survival horror multiplayer, though its early access launch is difficult to currently recommend.
UploadVRAlicia Haddick

For the free to play weekend, starting right now and ending at 10am EST on Monday, the paywalled alien character is free for all players. Developer Megaverse, an original IP division of Fun Train, says it is running this event as a thank you for a recent influx of new players.

In a developer post about its other horror title, The Exorcist Legion VR, undergoing a name change, Fun Train noted a monthly active player base of seventy-five thousand players as of January.

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Blackgate is available on Quest headsets. A PC VR version has been announced with no release date as of yet.

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PayPal Warns Of Exposed Social Security Numbers In 6-Month Data Breach

PayPal Warns Of Exposed Social Security Numbers In 6-Month Data Breach PayPal just disclosed a data breach that exposed sensitive user information, including social security numbers. From July 1st, 2025 to December 12th, 2025, a software glitch in PayPal Working Capital (PPWC) loan applications allowed attackers to gain access to personal user information. While PayPal has since acknowledged and fixed the error,
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Google Highlights Huge AI‑Driven Crackdown On Android Malware And Fraud Apps

Google Highlights Huge AI‑Driven Crackdown On Android Malware And Fraud Apps Google is flexing its AI muscle in an effort to make its Android ecosystem safer and more secure. Malicious actors are constantly evolving the ways attacks are deployed, including leveraging AI themselves. Google says it was able to use the “investments in AI and real-time defenses over the last year to maintain the upper hand and stop these
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Colorful GeForce RTX 5070 Mini OC Review

The Colorful GeForce RTX 5070 Mini OC delivers impressive performance in a compact metal design, perfect for SFF builds. This is the smallest high-end graphics card on the market, measuring just 18 cm long, and its dual-slot design is more than enough for powerful gaming.

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Next-gen Ryzen desktop CPUs may ship with single CCD and dual-CCD configurations

AMD's next-generation Ryzen desktop processors, reportedly codenamed “Olympic Ridge”, may bring a significant architectural shift by leveraging the Zen 6 core design to push desktop core counts to new heights. By moving to TSMC's N2 2nm process, AMD has reportedly achieved the transistor density required to pack up to 12 cores per CCD, a notable increase from the 8-core limit seen in the previous Zen 4 and Zen 5 generations.

This shift, according to HXL's latest report on the upcoming AMD Ryzen CPUs (via VideoCardz), will enable a more diverse SKU lineup. For single-CCD configurations, AMD is now expected to have CPUs with 6, 8, 10, and 12 cores, scaling up to 16, 20, and 24 cores for dual-CCD CPUs.

The move to the 2nm node doesn't just benefit core density but also frees up space for more on-die resources. Each Zen 6 core is expected to feature 4 MB of L3 cache, resulting in 48 MB per CCD and a total of 96 MB for the dual-CCD models. This baseline cache improvement is set to launch on the existing AM5 socket, fulfilling AMD's promise of long-term platform longevity through at least 2027.

With 3D V-Cache variants likely to follow a few months after the release of the Zen 6 desktop lineup, we can expect AMD CPUs with up to 288 MB of L3 cache (assuming AMD is limited to 96 MB of 3D V-Cache per CCD) in the next year or so.

KitGuru says: Would you like to see AMD increase the core count of its upcoming Ryzen processors, or do you think the current lineup has enough cores?

The post Next-gen Ryzen desktop CPUs may ship with single CCD and dual-CCD configurations first appeared on KitGuru.
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Ryzen ‘Medusa Point’ APUs may use ‘RDNA 4m’ GPU architecture

The technical picture for AMD's next-generation Medusa Point APUs is becoming clearer through recent Linux compiler activity. The emergence of the GFX1170 target, explicitly labelled as “RDNA 4m”, suggests AMD will finally bring FSR4 support to its APUs.

As noted by Phoronix (via TechPowerUp), while technically part of the GFX11 (RDNA 3) family, GFX1170 is receiving specific instruction-set updates that move it closer to GFX12 (RDNA 4) behaviour, effectively creating a “Pro” version of the current RDNA 3.5 architecture. Some of the changes include adding the WMMA (Wave Matrix Multiply-Accumulate) and SWMMAC instructions, along with support for FP8 and BF8 data formats. These matrix-oriented instructions are the cornerstone of modern AI and machine learning workloads.

By implementing WMMA128b variants specifically for GFX1170, AMD is providing the foundation necessary for neural-link upscaling and frame interpolation. This architectural “hybridisation” is precisely what will allow mainstream Zen 6 APUs to support FSR 4, even without a full transition to the GFX12 graphics.

The introduction of the “m” suffix (presumably standing for “Mobile”) suggests that AMD views GFX1170 as a bridge to keep its high-volume APUs from falling behind the competition. By allowing the hardware to handle 8-bit floating-point operations natively, AMD is expanding the “Redstone” ecosystem, ensuring that even a thin-and-light laptop in 2026 can run the latest AI-enhanced titles with acceptable frame rates.

KitGuru says: With FSR 4 bringing so many improvements over previous versions, AMD should ensure that it works across as many products as possible. 

The post Ryzen ‘Medusa Point’ APUs may use ‘RDNA 4m’ GPU architecture first appeared on KitGuru.
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Capcom speaks out on Resident Evil Requiem leaks

A few days ago, we learned that physical copies of Resident Evil Requiem had leaked, close to two weeks before the game's planned release. As a result, footage of the game's ending, amongst other spoilers, have begun landing on social media and forums. The footage won't last long though, as Capcom is keeping a watchful eye out. 

In a statement this afternoon, Capcom confirmed that it is aware of the gameplay footage leaks for Resident Evil Requiem, which includes on leak showing off one of the game's major endings. Capcom confirms that it is in the process of taking down uploads of gameplay footage in the lead-up to launch day.

“Currently, we have found a large number of gameplay videos of Resident Evil Requiem that appear to have been obtained through illegal means. For the sake of our customers who are eagerly awaiting this game, we ask that you refrain from publishing or posting gameplay videos on video streaming services or social media before the game's release date”.

Capcom goes on to say that “posting gameplay videos prior to the release of this game is not only copyright infringement but also an act that offends other customers”. The publisher will “take firm action” against channels uploading early gameplay spoilers, including DMCA takedowns.

KitGuru Says: If you're planning on picking up Resident Evil Requiem next week, be careful when looking at gaming forums and sites like Twitter, as leaks are bound to appear and be shared before Capcom is able to get them taken down. 

The post Capcom speaks out on Resident Evil Requiem leaks first appeared on KitGuru.
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Nioh 3 has sold over one million copies in a week

Nioh 3 has had a hugely successful launch. Billed as the most ambitious game in the series so far, Nioh 3 has gone on to sell over one million copies in its first week on the market. 

Koei Tecmo revealed the milestone in a new Steam Community post, confirming that Nioh 3 has surpassed one million sales globally across PC and PlayStation 5. A new accolades trailer for the game has also dropped, showing off the game's numerous high review scores.

Nioh 3 launched on the 14th of February to wide critical acclaim, achieving an 86 overall score on Metacritic, a score aggregated over almost 100 individual critic reviews. The game achieved praise for its weapon variety, refined combat system, difficulty curve and massive open-world regions.

As a whole, the Nioh series has now surpassed 10 million copies sold, split between all three titles in the series.

KitGuru Says: Have any of you picked up Nioh 3 since its launch? 

The post Nioh 3 has sold over one million copies in a week first appeared on KitGuru.
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Ubisoft has ‘multiple’ new Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry games in development

To the surprise of no one, Ubisoft has confirmed that it has ‘multiple' games in development for its flagship Assassin's Creed and Far Cry franchises, focused on both single-player and multiplayer experiences. 

Ubisoft has been attempting to branch out its biggest franchises into the multiplayer realm for more than a decade at this point but so far, nothing in the Assassin's Creed or Far Cry universes has managed to stick the landing. However, this week in an interview with Variety, Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot, has confirmed that more attempts are in the works, alongside the usual single-player games.

Insider Gaming has a bit more information gathered via developer sources. Two Far Cry games are still in development under the codenames Blackbird and Maverick. The former is said to be the codename for Far Cry 7, while the latter is supposed to be an extraction shooter set in the Far Cry universe.

Meanwhile, the Assassin's Creed games in development are said to include the Black Flag remake, as well as two other games codenamed Invictus and Obsidian, with the former being a new single-player game and the latter being a multiplayer project.

This news comes at an odd time, as Ubisoft had just recently cancelled a slate of games, including the Assassin's Creed Shadows multiplayer spin-off.

KitGuru Says: Ubisoft has been trying to crack the multiplayer formula for over a decade but so far, none of its attempts have been as successful as Rainbow Six Siege. The ironic part is that Ubisoft was an early contender in the extraction shooter genre with The Division, which had an excellent extraction-based PvP mode. 

The post Ubisoft has ‘multiple’ new Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry games in development first appeared on KitGuru.
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Asus launches its first ProArt keyboard

Asus's ProArt series is expanding with its first keyboard. Named ProArt KD300, this is a 65% wireless keyboard that trades the aggressive aesthetic of the ROG line for a sophisticated “Black Aerolite” finish aimed at designers and office professionals.

While similar to the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile, including using the same Asus RX Red optical switches with a 1.0 mm actuation point, the KD300 (via NotebookCheck) relocates the signature touch panel to the rear of the chassis to maintain a clean, distraction-free top plate. This positioning allows for a sleek aluminium top cover while still providing gesture-based controls for volume, brightness, and creative macros through the web-based AsusGear Link interface.

 

Connectivity-wise, the keyboard supports tri-mode connectivity for up to 5 devices simultaneously via 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and USB-C. To further enhance functionality, Asus has included a dedicated PC/Mac toggle switch and integrated storage for the wireless dongle in its injection-moulded plastic base. The device is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery, which the company claims can last 16 months on a single charge with the backlighting disabled, or around 100 days with the RGB running at full brightness.

The typing experience is designed to be both responsive and quiet, featuring dual layers of integrated silicone-damping foam to absorb the metallic pings often found on compact mechanical boards. Currently, the ProArt KD300 has officially launched in the Chinese market for CNY 999 (approximately £107).

KitGuru says: Do you prefer the more understated looks of the KD300 or the gamified aesthetics of the ROG Falchion RX?

The post Asus launches its first ProArt keyboard first appeared on KitGuru.
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TOZO’s Top-Rated Wireless Earbuds Are Just $12 Right Now

TOZO’s Top-Rated Wireless Earbuds Are Just $12 Right Now Yes, twelve dollars. These aren't some turn-of-the-millennium wired bunkum you'd find on the discount rack at Target, either. TOZO's A1 wireless earbuds are true, fully wireless Bluetooth 5.3 in-ear headphones that come complete with a charging case and even a customizable EQ. They're normally bargain priced at just $21.99, but right now,
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AMD Zen 6 Olympic Ridge Ryzen CPUs Rumored For A CCD Upgrade With 6 To 24 Cores

AMD Zen 6 Olympic Ridge Ryzen CPUs Rumored For A CCD Upgrade With 6 To 24 Cores Let's talk about AMD's next-generation Zen 6 processors. It has already been all but confirmed that AMD will finally be increasing the core count of a Ryzen CCD to 12 cores from a long time spent at 8. However, a new Xwitter post from well-known hardware enthusiast and occasional leaker HXL seems to have revealed the core counts of the SKUs
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Leak Reveals A Slick Metal Shift Away From AirPods Styling

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Leak Reveals A Slick Metal Shift Away From AirPods Styling A series of leaks from retail listings and physical dummy units suggest that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 is taking a slightly different turn design-wise by merging industrial chic with user-friendly practicality. While last year’s transition to a stemmed design drew immediate comparisons to Apple AirPods, the new earphone could likely
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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Deal Slashes Price To A Low $424.99 If You're Fast

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Deal Slashes Price To A Low $424.99 If You're Fast This is a great week to be in the market for a smartphone, and it doesn't even matter if your preference leans to Android or iPhone. If it's the latter, check out our recent coverage of a big sale on 'Grade-A' refurbished iPhone models spanning the iPhone 16 Pro Max all the way down to the iPhone XR starting at $119.99, complete with a full
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Fish! In VRChat Feels Like A Mix Between Animal Crossing & Webfishing

If you've been craving a visit to a cluster of islands that feels like a mix of Animal Crossing and Webfishing, Fish! in VRChat is worth a look.

The new social fishing world from TrickForge Studios features four scenic islands full of unique inhabitants as well as upgradable rods, an array of purchasable boats, and over 20,000 fish to possibly catch.

An Egypt-themed island in a video game setting.
The islands of Fish! are vibrant with their own special themes.

Loading the map will welcome players to a main lobby where they can choose to go through a short tutorial to understand how fishing mechanics work. Pulling the trigger on a VR controller while holding a fishing rod will cast the line.

Once a fish bites, an exclamation point will appear above the bobber. Press the trigger button while the exclamation point is active and a fishing minigame will begin. Repeatedly pulling the trigger while keeping the fish icon within the goal area of your line will help to reel the fish in. If the fish falls outside of the goal area for too long, the minigame will fail and the fish will escape.

Photo of an NPC smiling at the viewer quietly from behind the counter.
The shops in Fish! stay open 24/7.

Once the fish is caught, it will remain in the player's inventory until it can be sold at the village's shop. Each island has a store for selling goods as well as offering new fishing rods and different types of boats (surfing board, rowboat, dinghy, racing boat, and yacht). Captured fish can contain various appearance and size traits that can affect sale value.

Along with catching fish among the islands is the possibility of obtaining special relic pieces that can be used to enchant fishing rods. Hidden along the nooks and crannies of each island are also scraps of metal that can be used to play a special prize machine for perks, experience, and game currency.

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Although Fish! contains cozy design, it's also hiding plenty of secrets. On one island I found a villager inhabiting a dirt-laden shack who remarked that something terrible occurred to the house's previous inhabitant but wouldn't say what. A small distance away I spotted a headless ghost wandering along a path next to the swamp. A walk up that same path leads to a church where an ungodly eye shines atop the steeple.

Fish! is a standout experience both as a playable game and as an online "destination" to visit. Weather and day cycles affect the islands to provide different vistas throughout play. A sunny day can be overtaken by fog and moody rain, giving way to serene evenings. It truly feels like a fun-filled vacation.

A village at night in an immersive video game.
Try to fish out of the fountain if you find yourself here.

Godfall, head of TrickForge Studios, spent almost 8 months with his team to bring the experience to life. The soundtrack and environmental modeling were handled by Godfall and Svenssko while coding and programming were completed by Kittehkun and Gamerexde.

"I think developing for immersive platforms might be in a really good state right now," Godfall explained in an interview with UploadVR. "The goal at TrickForge Studios currently is to keep making great VRChat games, and then expand into Steam and console games in the future."

A villager looking on from their dock space at a faraway island.
You might find precious scrap among the wreckage on different islands.

Fish! is currently in beta with expectations to wipe player progress upon the release of 1.0 at the end of the month. Visitors can enjoy the preview with their friends as long as they understand progress must be reset due to the map needing a fresh upload to debut the full game. TrickForge Studios has announced new areas upon the 1.0 release along with secrets and additional content.

"We want to offer everyone a full game experience, with simple optional transactions," said Godfall. "We are very passionate about FISH! and we want to keep the integrity of it."

You can find Fish! on VRChat, available in VR on standalone and PC VR headsets.

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Hands-On: Birdseed Invites You To Relax & Photograph Cute Dumb Birds

Birdseed is a cozy, free-to-play game about photographing silly birds. And trying the Early Access release, I simply love it.

Games are so often obsessed with spectacle, which is paradoxically one of the reasons I so dearly appreciate Birdseed. This gentle game about watching and photographing comically cute birds doesn't shout or overstimulate you. Instead, it invites you to relax, slow down, and simply enjoy a peaceful slice of nature filled with charming, delightfully curious birds.

After my first hands-on session with the Early Access release, I found myself returning over and over, not just to satisfy daily objectives and collect more in-game currency, but to simply exist, to listen to music or the sounds of nature, to hang out and shoot some photos of my hilarious birdbrained pals.

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Serious Photography?

As someone who's been a photographer for over 20 years, and a writer covering the camera industry for more than a decade, I was especially interested in how Birdseed, a game about photographing birds, handles the art and craft of photography.

While I personally love mechanical cameras and the extreme nuance of making a picture with a dedicated camera, adjusting aperture and shutter speed, ISO, and reading all about the finer points of depth-of-field and circle of confusion and other photography nonsense that most of the humans on Earth have never heard about, I understand that highly technical simulations of making pictures don't always make for a good gaming experience. For most people, serious photography is obtuse and opaque and boring.

Birdseed sidesteps that by being incredibly simple. You can't move very far. In fact, you stand (or sit) in just a small central viewpoint from where the whole of your observation and photographing occur. You hold a camera, and that camera has just two controls: It can zoom in and out, and it can take a picture. That's it (for now). There are unlockable lenses of different focal lengths that can be interchanged, and future updates will likely bring art lenses and special effect filters and all of that good stuff. But for now, we're basically using a point-and-shoot, a type of camera that works as its name suggests. Point it at something, shoot, and a picture comes out.

The simplicity of gameplay is beautiful, and perfect for a game that's trying to do what Birdseed is trying to do. That is, put a camera in your hand, and give you something to point it at.

The environment is far from photorealistic, but it still manages to be lush and pretty, presented with artfully-crafted cartoonish simplicity. A pastel sun creeps low across a distant mountain range. Marshmallow clouds drift across the azure sky. Sparkling water dances down a falls while towering evergreens sway in the breeze. And within this beautiful nature scape flit birds of all sorts.

They dance among the branches, preen on the rocks, and soar high in the sky. And they look absolutely stupid (complimentary). They're goofy and silly, delightfully plump and bouncy. Their enormous eyes blink dumbly as they flutter and squawk and bounce. Even when diving on the wind, they look more like bowling pins than sleek products of a million years' evolution. I love these dumb birds.

The Decisive Moment

You have twelve pictures per day, as you're using a film camera, and these images are instantly ejected to be held, looked at, and then stored automatically in your photo album. Photos are rated for their content, as well as for the rarity of the bird, and the bird's poses or actions are marked as well. Capturing a rare bird or a bird in a rare action or pose will rate higher, and higher ratings or achieving certain challenges (for example, photographing a specific type of bird or making a three-star photo) will earn in-game currency which can be spent to buy new lenses and cosmetic items, such as new skins for your camera.

The scarcity of available photos per day is an interesting mechanic, and one that I appreciate. As happens in real life when we're shooting a film camera, the knowledge that we only have a limited number of shots tends to change the way we photograph. It forces me to pause for a moment, or to think deeper during the act of making an image. Do I really want to use a frame to make this photo? The result is that I either make better pictures, or sometimes I miss out. I found the same thing happening in Birdseed.

Exhausting your daily supply of film doesn't necessarily mean the play session is over. You can still hang out in the environment, watch birds, and enjoy the scenery. There's even a radio with which you can listen to some chill tunes.

If there's one major strike against Birdseed, it's that the game is not technically solid. During my play sessions, there were several instances of the game crashing. Restarting my Quest 3S smoothed things out temporarily, but a few more crashes led me to uninstall and reinstall Birdseed, which seemed to mostly solve the problem.

For now, and when it works without crashing, I'm enjoying every minute that I spend in Birdseed. Though those minutes amount to just about 30 per day, it's a nice half hour in VR. Birdseed has been a lovely experience that will surely only become more endearing, fully-fledged, and enjoyable when the game officially releases in March.

Birdseed VR is out now in Early Access on Quest 3 and 3S, with the full release coming in March on Quest and Steam.

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Need a QHD gaming monitor? MSI’s MAG 275CQF E18 is currently just £120

If you are looking for a wallet-friendly monitor upgrade then MSI has a great option available for UK gamers this week. Currently, the MAG 275CQF E18 is 37% off.

The MSI MAG 275CQF E18 is a curved 27-inch QHD (1440p) gaming monitor with a Rapid VA panel and a 180Hz refresh rate, giving you a significant boost over typical 120Hz and 144Hz displays. The curvature here is rated at 1500R, giving it a slight wrap-around effect in your periphery for more immersive gaming.

In terms of colour accuracy, this monitor supports 136% sRGB, 94% DCI‑P3, 90% Adobe RGB, with a 10-bit depth. For response time, you are looking at a minimum of 0.5ms GtG, and you'll also get HDR support too. Connectivity-wise, the monitor ships with 1x DisplayPort 1.4a, along with two HDMI 2.0b ports, with HDMI-CEC included so you can wake the monitor when powering on a console.

Currently, the MSI MAG 275CQF E18 gaming monitor is 37% off on Amazon, bringing the price down to £119.

KitGuru Says: At just under £120, you can't really go wrong with a monitor spec like this.

The post Need a QHD gaming monitor? MSI’s MAG 275CQF E18 is currently just £120 first appeared on KitGuru.
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Thermal Grizzly now sells delidded Ryzen 9850X3D backed by warranty

Back in early 2025, Thermal Grizzly officially began selling delidded processors, backed by a warranty to give PC builders peace of mind. This week, the company is adding a new CPU to its delidded line-up – the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D.

A delidded CPU ships with the IHS removed, offering beginners and veterans alike an easy gateway to improved cooling by using a direct-die solution. The process of removing the IHS yourself can be risky and void warranty, so buying one through Thermal Grizzly instead is a safer option.

The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is AMD's new flagship gaming processor. It launched at CES in January, offering up 104MB of speedy cache, alongside a boost clock speed of 5.6GHz. With the proper cooling, a delidded 9850X3D should be capable of hitting that boost clock speed and sustaining it more often. If you know what you're doing, you may be able to get a bit more performance out of it through manual overclocking too.

Each delidded CPU from Thermal Grizzly is validated by their team before being shipped out to customers, so you shouldn't have to worry about receiving a dud. The CPU ships with its own warranty guaranteed by Thermal Grizzly, as well as the validation test results so you can see what they tested first-hand.

The TG Delidded Ryzen 7 9850X3D is available now, priced at €749. The company also offers delidded versions of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.

KitGuru Says: Have you ever tried running a delidded CPU before?

The post Thermal Grizzly now sells delidded Ryzen 9850X3D backed by warranty first appeared on KitGuru.
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PCSpecialist responds to our Element Elite R article

Yesterday we published an article and accompanying video, detailing the Element Elite R prebuilt PC that we were sent by PCSpecialist. We demonstrated how the system had been built improperly, resulting in the PCIe riser cable completely blocking one of the two AIO cooler fans. We reached out to PCSpecialist with our findings and questions and have today received a full response.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out on the original article and video which explored everything in detail, and the issues raised by our findings. We had already reached out to PCSpecialist before publishing to let them know what we had found, inviting a response to our article. Dialogue opened yesterday and today we were sent a full statement from the company.

First and foremost, it was good to see the company took responsibility for the issue, with a statement from John Medley, PCSpecialist Head of Sales & Marketing, agreeing that the issue shown ‘should not have happened' and was clearly ‘short of the high standards we hold ourselves to and that our customers rightly expect from us.'

The statement also gave additional context to the build error. According to Medley, TR100 builds are a recent addition to PCSpecialist configurators and the number of systems using the case ‘to date is very small, they represent just 0.08% of orders since it was introduced'. Furthermore, most of those builds were configured with a low-profile air cooler – specifically the be quiet! Pure Rock LP – so even fewer use an AIO with this case. On top of that, the statement says PCSpecialist reviewed the database of customer orders and found ‘that there are no customer orders built into the TR100 at risk of potentially overheating'.

Images above provided by PCSpecialist.

To illustrate the point, we were also provided with the above images from PCSpecialist's build preview tool, showing proper routing of the PCIe riser cable for these systems built into the TR100 chassis.

As to how this managed to happen in the first place, Medley told us that PCSpecialist's standard process ‘includes both a visual inspection and functional stress tests. In this instance, the bracket/stuck fan was not caught at either stage. We are reviewing why that was the case and updating our processes to ensure case-specific requirements are explicitly signed off before any system is dispatched. This will apply to all new chassis going forward.'

On top of that, PCSpecialist emphasised that ‘retrospective training has already begun to further improve the quality of our builds', and while the company acknowledged that mistakes can happen as each system is hand-built, Medley said that PCSpecialist is using this as ‘an opportunity to strengthen our processes, improve our training, and to continue developing our skilled team.'

Lastly, PCSpecialist emphasised the importance of ‘independent scrutiny' and rightly pointed out that the vast majority of prebuilt PCs that we have reviewed from them in the past, have been positively received. In closing, Medley told us the following: ‘We have listened, we have taken the feedback onboard, and we can assure your readers that action has been taken to improve even more moving forwards.'

KitGuru says: Thanks to PCSpecialist for providing with us with such a detailed response. While we would have liked to avoid this situation in the first place, the company certainly seems to be taking the matter seriously and improving its processes as a result.

For transparency, the full statement provided to us by John Medley is copied below:

First and foremost, the build error identified in your review should not have happened. The bracket was not correctly utilised, and this clearly falls short of the high standards we hold ourselves to and that our customers rightly expect from us.

We also want to acknowledge the value of independent scrutiny of this kind. Honest reviews give your audience confidence that coverage is not influenced by the brands being reviewed.

Addressing your questions:

We cannot publicly share exact sales data, but we want to provide context. The TR100 has only recently been added to our configurators and units built to date is very small, they represent just 0.08% of orders since it was introduced. The majority of those have been configured with a low-profile air CPU cooler (be quiet! Pure Rock LP), meaning the pool of TR100 builds with a 240mm AIO is smaller still. Whilst not utilising the bracket correctly is the primary issue; our immediate focus has been on TR100 + 240mm AIO builds, specifically where the potential impact could be more severe.

The automated photography of each customer build has been referenced in the article, video, and comments. To clarify, this process is fully automated so the images are not taken or edited by a staff member, and they are captured without power, meaning fans don’t spin and lighting will not be illuminated.

In reviewing the database of customer order images potentially impacted by this issue, we are pleased to confirm that there are no customer orders built into the TR100 at risk of potentially overheating. Things to keep in mind:

  • The TR100 is a niche product with low sales volume, so the pool of potentially impacted sales was very small.
  • The majority of TR100 system orders have been ordered with a be quiet! Pure Rock LP cooler, which does not have a radiator or top mounted fans.
  • We have dozens of system builders within our team, thankfully most have followed the correct process and are utilising the bracket correctly.

Our standard build and QC process includes both a visual inspection and functional stress tests. In this instance, the bracket/stuck fan was not caught at either stage. We are reviewing why that was the case and updating our processes to ensure case-specific requirements are explicitly signed off before any system is dispatched. This will apply to all new chassis going forward.

Each order is tracked throughout production, and every stage is logged by a staff member. This has allowed us to trace each order back through the production process and retrospective training has already begun to further improve the quality of our builds. All systems are assembled by hand, and unfortunately by nature humans can make mistakes. We are taking this as an opportunity to strengthen our processes, improve our training, and to continue developing our skilled team.

Between Jan 2020 – Jan 2026, PCSpecialist has submitted 28 systems to Kitguru’s editorial team for an unbiased and honest review, the average score of these systems is 8.19/10 and we’re confident if we went back to further the average score would remain high.

Over the past 10 to 15 years, our systems have received high acclaim from Kitguru, many have been accredited awards, and even EHA (European Hardware Association) recognition. PCSpecialist are incredibly proud of the quality standards we have achieved on a consistent basis over two decades of trading. We do not send golden samples to the press like many companies within our industry do. All sample units come directly from our production line with no additional intervention or checks, because like you, we want reviews to be a true reflection of what our customers receive.

The Element Elite R is the first system KitGuru have received to fall short of the high standards we expect of ourselves and we acknowledge this. We have listened, we have taken the feedback onboard, and we can assure your readers that action has been taken to improve even more moving forwards.

The post PCSpecialist responds to our Element Elite R article first appeared on KitGuru.
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Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red are officially coming to Nintendo Switch

It's official, Nintendo and Game Freak are finally bringing back Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red. However, unlike the majority of other classic game re-releases on the Switch, these titles will not be part of the Switch Online virtual console system and will instead be sold as standalone games on the eShop. 

Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red return next week, on the 27th of February for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Before you get too excited, this is a simple re-release, with no graphical upgrades or Quality-of-Life updates, so you will be re-living the GameBoy Advanced experience, the same as it was over 20 years ago.

The games will both be made available on the Switch eShop at 2PM next Friday. Pre-orders are already live, but you'll have to shell out $19.99 for each game. On top of that, there is no confirmed online multiplayer functionality for trades or battles, so you will have to rely on local wireless in order to make trades or battle friends.

Considering how legendary both of these games are, it is a shame to see a lack of online functionality in particular, as it would make filling the Pokedex a lot easier for players. The price tag is also somewhat questionable given that this is a simple ROM of a game from 2004, with minimal work done to update it.

KitGuru Says: As much as I loved these games back in the day, the lack of online trade functionality is off-putting. Fans may be able to get around this if the games support Pokémon Home transfers, but I would still far prefer seeing online trade functionality in-game, rather than needing to mess around with phone apps. 

The post Pokémon Leaf Green and Fire Red are officially coming to Nintendo Switch first appeared on KitGuru.
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Microsoft announces new ‘Postgame Recaps’ for Xbox PC titles

As part of Microsoft’s continued efforts to push PC players towards its Xbox app ecosystem, the console maker has been updating its Xbox app on Windows with new functionality. Available now for Xbox insiders, Microsoft is introducing ‘Postgame Recaps’ – highlighting various “moments” from your most recent play sessions.

Making the announcement on the Xbox Wire blog, Alex Charters, the senior project manager at Xbox wrote: “Starting today, Xbox Insiders in the PC Gaming Preview can try postgame recaps in the Xbox PC app on Windows.”

Explaining exactly how it’ll work, Charters continued, “After you finish a play session, you may see a quick recap that highlights moments from that session—like captures you took, achievements you unlocked, and relevant in‑game events.”

Postgame PC

Said to be “designed to show up only when they’re useful” these recaps won’t pop-up after every single session, with Microsoft claiming that it will trigger primarily if you “take a capture through Game Bar or unlock an achievement.”

While this new functionality will require that the Xbox app runs in the background during play, Microsoft made sure to note that you can turn off aspects of Postgame Recaps to suit your needs – or you can disable it entirely.

Additionally, they claim that the tool has been optimised in order “to minimize memory and performance impact” – but we’ll have to wait and see about that.

Microsoft’s Xbox Postgame Recaps are available now to all PC Xbox insiders. Full details on this new functionality can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft’s PC Xbox app? Will anything take you away from using Steam? Let us know down below.

The post Microsoft announces new ‘Postgame Recaps’ for Xbox PC titles first appeared on KitGuru.
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Scientists Celebrate As Webb Creates First-Ever 3D Map Of Auroras On Uranus

Scientists Celebrate As Webb Creates First-Ever 3D Map Of Auroras On Uranus When it's not busy dissecting distant galaxies or creating dark matter maps, the James Webb Space Telescope is also making a name for itself closer to home. To wit, it has produced the first-ever three-dimensional images of upper atmosphere on Uranus, revealing a chaotic and shimmering world of infrared auroras.  By utilizing Webb’s Near-Infrared
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ASRock Z890 Steel Legend Wi-Fi Review

For those looking to stay under $250 without sacrificing performance, the ASRock Z890 Steel Legend Wi-Fi is a solid choice. It handles Intel's top-tier CPUs and PCIe Gen 5 SSDs with ease. With a stylish white design and a good range of features, ASRock delivers a compelling option, even if it has some minor drawbacks.

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Razer's Next Limited Edition Drop Is A Fancy Mechanical Keyboard For $500

Razer's Next Limited Edition Drop Is A Fancy Mechanical Keyboard For $500 Razer is back with another limited edition run of a popular peripheral for those of you who missed out on the Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition that sold out on the first day. This time, it's focusing on keyboards with its upcoming Huntsman Signature Edition that is "precision-engineered" and "master-crafted" from CNC aluminum, and once again
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