Xbox Game Pass had a surprisingly big April thanks to the sudden release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Now, Microsoft has announced the first wave of Game Pass titles for May, with the biggest game of the bunch naturally being DOOM: The Dark Ages.

DOOM: The Dark Ages launches on May 15th and will be a day-one title for Game Pass on PC, and available on cloud and console via Game Pass Ultimate. The game is also releasing for Steam and PS5.

Here is the full list of titles coming to Game Pass in May 2025, including dates and platforms:

• Dredge (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X/S) – Available Today
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) – May 7th
• Dungeons of Hinterberg (Console) – May 7th
• Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Xbox Series X/S) – May 7th
• Metal Slug Tactics (Console) – May 7th
• Revenge of the Savage Planet (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X/S) – May 8th
• TMNT: Mutants Unleashed (Cloud, Console, PC) – May 8th
• Warhammer: Vermintide 2 (Cloud, Console) – May 13th
• DOOM: The Dark Ages (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X/S) – May 15th
• Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (Cloud, Console, PC) – May 16th
• Firefighting Simulator: The Squad (Cloud, Console and PC) – May 20th
• Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (Cloud, Console, PC) – May 20th

On the 15th of May, there will be five games leaving Game Pass, including Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Chants of Sennaar, Dune: Spice Wars, Hauntii and The Big Con.

KitGuru Says: Will you be installing any of this month's Game Pass titles? 

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Today we're taking a look at the Onyx Pro prebuilt gaming desktop from PCSpecialist. It features an Intel Core i7-14700F and Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5070 at its core, alongside 32gb of Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 memory and a 2TB Solidigm P41+ SSD. Priced at £1549, can the Onyx Pro deliver solid gaming performance at its mid-range price tag?

Timestamps:
00:00 Start
01:10 Price and Value
02:45 Specification
05:32 Mobo Support and Ports
06:49 PSU
07:20 CPU Cooler / Fans
08:08 Case
09:11 Front I/O
09:57 Thoughts on the build
10:45 BIOS and updates
11:15 Real World Gaming 1440p
12:59 Real World Gaming 4k
15:25 Cinebench / PL power limits / Sustained / BIOS tweaks
17:32 Thermal Camera readings
18:07 System power draw
18:30 Noise Sound Test
18:42 Closing Thoughts

 

Specifications:

• CPU – Intel® Core i7-14700F
• Motherboard – ASUS® PRIME B760-PLUS
• Memory – 32GB Corsair VENGEANCE 5600MT/s CL40
• GPU – 12GB Asus Prime Geforce RTX 5070
• SSD – 2TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2
• CPU Cooler – PCS FrostFlow 240 Series ARGB High Performance Liquid Cooler
• Power Supply – CORSAIR 750W RMe SERIES
• Case – Fractal Design Focus 2 ARGB

The core specs are confirmed in the following CPU-Z and GPU-Z screenshots:

Gaming performance was unsurprisingly better at 1440P when compared to 4K in the titles I tested (for full details watch our video review on YouTube) – Escape from Tarkov Arena was a particular highlight when running at 2560×1440 with maximum settings, as the game can sometimes struggle on even high end machines. Call of Duty Warzone ran at roughly the same level when testing at 1440p.

Moving up to 4K does see the framerates tumble – dropping significantly in Warzone. However, as the system has an RTX 5070, the use of DLSS 4 and multi frame generation are an option and do improve fps significantly, as can be seen in the screen capture from Cyberpunk 2077 below.

Escape from Tarkov: Arena (1440p)

Call of Duty: Warzone (1440p)

Call of Duty Warzone (4K Native)

Cyberpunk 2077 (4K Native)

Cyberpunk 2077 (4K – DLSS 4 Quality – MFG 4x)

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (4K – DLSS Quality, FG Auto)

Overall, the Onyx Pro desktop performed as expected and is much more suited to 1440p gaming, especially if playing competitive titles and targeting high framerates. However, it is still very capable of gaming at 4K, as long as you are willing to utilise DLSS and frame generation. If full rasterised gaming at 4K is your goal then you will need a little more grunt under the hood.

For details of synthetic benchmarks, power usage, noise and temperatures check out our full video review on YouTube.

You can buy the Onyx Pro desktop directly from PCSpecialist for £1549 HERE.

Pros:

• Very competitive pricing when compared to build a similar system.
• Solid 1440p gaming performance.
• Good 4K gaming performance when using DLSS and frame generation.
• 2TB SSD.
• Excellent cable management and overall build quality/attention to detail.

Cons:

• 5600MT/s CL40 memory could be better.
• Default BIOS settings hamper multi-core performance.

KitGuru says: The Onyx Pro is very well priced and offers good gaming performance with the latest features from Nvidia. 

The post PCSpecialist Onyx Pro Prebuilt Review (i7-14700F/RTX 5070) first appeared on KitGuru.

Cougar has introduced its latest case, featuring a new design that will certainly attract some attention. The Cougar OmnyX is built around the company's new Omnidirectional Dynamic Flow (ODF) system. This system enables a chassis offering complete build freedom without sacrificing airflow. 

Thanks to the ODF design, the OmnyX ensures front-to-rear airflow, allowing for strong and efficient cooling. It comes pre-installed with four 160mm PWM fans in a mirrored arrangement, providing what Cougar states is the most powerful cooling right out of the box on the market.

The OmnyX includes an integrated base compartment for cable management. This means that during setup, all wires can be routed through and hidden beneath the main chamber, reducing cable clutter. Additional features include a sliding rail system for ambidextrous front I/O placement and bracketless vertical GPU mounting for cards up to 380mm long.

The case is fully compatible with reverse-connector motherboards such as Asus BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Aorus Stealth. Modular components, like removable fan and drive brackets, make installation easier. Inside the case you will also find a universal fan hub for PWM and RGB control without extra software. The OmnyX has an MSRP of $139.99 and will be available globally starting June 2025.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Cougar's new OmnyX case? 

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Nvidia celebrated Star Wars Day (May the 4th) by showing off some unique custom GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics cards. The company designed two distinct versions: one featuring a Star Wars X-Wing theme and another showcasing a Star Trek Enterprise design.

Unlike previous generations, when Nvidia could easily add large custom stickers to backplates for special events, the RTX 50 Founders Edition's Double Flow Through cooler typically limits them to much smaller branding elements. However, for this event, Nvidia created these full-scale custom designs as part of a promotion where they asked fans to vote between Star Wars and Star Trek. 

If you want to win one of these special edition graphics cards, you'll need to head to Nvidia's social channels, like X, and reply to the post to be registered for a chance to win. Both the Star Wars card and the Star Trek card will be given away, although entries are limited to certain regions, including: Australia (excluding New South Wales, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory), Austria, Brazil, Canada (excluding Quebec), Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, USA (excluding New York and Florida), and Vietnam.

KitGuru says: Which themed RTX 5090 graphics card do you prefer?

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Returnal is an excellent and heart-pumping 3rd-person bullet hell rogue-like from the team at Housemarque. Released back in 2021 shortly following the PS5’s launch, the title saw solid support from the studio. 3 years on from its last major update (and two years since the PC release), Returnal has gotten a small yet welcome patch bringing full PS5 Pro support.

In celebration of the game’s 4th anniversary, Housemarque announced and released a surprise PlayStation 5 Pro patch – said to bring “up to 2.5X the pixels on PS5 Pro for a higher resolution experience of Returnal.”

While certainly a welcome upgrade, what you see is what you get with this Pro patch. As analysed by Digital Foundry, this update solely offers a boost to resolution, bringing it up from a native 1080p (temporally reconstructed to 1440p then upscaled to 4K) to a dynamic 1728-1350p. All in all, a solid enhancement.

Interestingly, Housemarque seemingly decided against PlayStation’s PSSR. Similarly, none of the ray-tracing effects added with the PC port have been brought over.

Still, a 2.5x resolution boost is certainly noticeable, making a fast-paced game like Returnal more easily appreciable – especially with how many particles the game throws at the screen at any given moment.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Pro patch? Do you notice a difference? Are you underwhelmed by the enhancements? Let us know down below.

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For a while now, we’ve known many of Ubisoft’s plans regarding the future of the Assassin’s Creed series, with the publisher themselves announcing a bunch of projects all at the same time. With AC: Shadows finally out and performing well, insiders have now begun to offer more details on the next 9 iterations of AC.

While Ubisoft Quebec is busy with their extensive post-launch support for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, known leakers Insider-Gaming have offered new details on the rest of AC’s line-up of titles.

According to the report, Ubisoft has 9 total Assassin’s Creed games currently in development in one form or another: “2 RPG's, 2 remakes, 2 smaller experiences, 2 multiplayer games, and 1 mobile title.”

As mentioned, we already know what some of these will be, with the mobile title being the Tencent co-developed AC: Jade; one of the multiplayer games being Codename Invictus and at least one of the smaller experiences being codename Hexe.

Beyond this, rumours have persisted for a while now that a remake of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is in the works.

According to Insider-Gaming, the first game of the bunch to come out will be Assassin’s Creed Jade. (set in China). Following this will be the aforementioned Invictus, which will reportedly be a Fall Guys styled game with 5 years of support already planned out.

Then comes Obsidian, the codename for the Black Flag remake, which is planned to release around the same time as Invictus.

Following this will be Hexe. Said to be arriving after Shadows’ two years of support ends, this smaller experience will offer just one year of support.

The final 5 games Ubisoft currently has planned are:

• Scarlet (RPG which will take place across India, the Mediterranean, and the Aztec Empire)
• Stardust (Second remake project)
• Emerald (Second multiplayer project)
• ‘RPG3’
• ‘Remake3’

While some could argue that Ubisoft is planning a bit too far ahead, Assassin’s Creed does represent the publisher’s biggest franchise and so it is somewhat reassuring at least to know that the team has a vision for its future.

KitGuru says: What do you think of all these projects? Which are you most interested in? Are they planning too far ahead? Let us know down below.

The post Leakers offer details on the next 9 Assassin’s Creed games first appeared on KitGuru.

One of the most interesting tidbits from the life of the Nintendo 3DS was the fact that it was used as a digital audio tour guide for the iconic French museum The Louvre. That said, with smartphones becoming the standard more than a decade ago now, the museum has decided that it’s finally time to retire the service.

In an update made to the website’s section detailing their audio guide, which allows you to “Explore the palace and collections with the audio guide on the New Nintendo 3DS” The Louvre made note of the service's impending discontinuation, writing:

“The New Nintendo 3DS console audio guides will go out of operation in September 2025, to be replaced by a new system.”

The new system has not been detailed, but as mentioned, with the ubiquity of smartphones nowadays, it will likely be a downloadable phone app of some sorts.

While the use of a 3DS for The Louvre was always a bit of an odd choice, it does feel somewhat like the end of an era for a handheld system which punched far above its own weight.

KitGuru says: Have you toured The Louvre before? Did you utilise their 3DS guides? What do you think they’ll be replaced by? Let us know down below.

The post The Louvre museum is finally discontinuing its 3DS tour guides first appeared on KitGuru.

Since its shadow-drop two weeks ago, the remaster for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has been performing extremely well – selling over 4 million copies in mere days and achieving the 3rd biggest launch on PS5 this year. As time progresses and more data is gathered, we’re getting a clearer idea of just how well Oblivion performed; with the game currently sitting as the 3rd best-selling game of 2025 in the US.

As reported by industry analyst Mat Piscatella via BlueSky, “After just one week in market (w/e 4.26) Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Remastered is already the 3rd best-selling game of 2025 in the US ($ sales) trailing only Monster Hunter: Wilds and Assassin's Creed: Shadows.”

As noted by Piscatella, this only represents the first week of sales, meaning it could have surpassed AC Shadows by now.

Furthermore, Oblivion was a day-one Game Pass PC / Ultimate addition, making the achievement more notable. Of course, Oblivion is a known quantity and so even with a shadow drop, the game was likely to see plenty of interest.

All that said, it will be curious to see how other rumoured Bethesda remasters wind up performing when they are eventually announced and released.

KitGuru says: Have you been enjoying the Oblivion remaster? Are you hyped now for the rumoured Fallout 3 remake? With GTA VI no longer coming out this year, could Oblivion become the best-selling game of 2025? Let us know down below.

The post Oblivion Remastered is the 3rd best-selling game of 2025 first appeared on KitGuru.

A few weeks ago, a rumour went around claiming that Microsoft was working on a Gears of War Remaster, one that would bring the franchise to PlayStation for the first time. Now, Microsoft has announced Gears of War: Reloaded, and it is coming out later this year. 

Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the original Gears of War. It includes all of the improvements of the Ultimate Edition that Microsoft launched back in 2015 for Xbox One and PC. The key difference this time around is that Microsoft is including 4K and 120FPS modes for console.

While Gears of War: Ultimate Edition did release on PC, it did not come to Steam. Since then, Microsoft has opted to bring many of its first-party games to Steam, often day-and-date with the Windows Store and Xbox versions of a new release. With Gears of War: Reloaded, Microsoft will bring the game to Steam, joining the likes of Gears 4 and Gears 5.

Unfortunately, Gears of War: Reloaded only includes the original game, not the entire Xbox 360-era trilogy. On the bright side, while rumours claimed multiplayer would not be part of this new re-release, Microsoft has confirmed that multiplayer will be present in Gears of War: Reloaded.

The re-release will give new fans a chance to jump in and familiarise themselves with key characters like Marcus Fenix, before the prequel, Gears of War: E-Day, releases in 2026.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I love Gears of War and am happy to see the game finally coming to more platforms. However, I am a little disappointed to learn that this is more of a rebrand for Gears of War Ultimate, and not a new attempt to bring all three games to modern systems. While we've had a ‘modern' version of Gears 1 for 10 years now, we are still stuck with the old Xbox 360 versions of Gears 2 and Gears 3. 

The post Microsoft announces Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, PS5 and Xbox first appeared on KitGuru.

The rumour mill is buzzing again about Valve's long-awaited next entry in the Half-Life series. According to rumours, the game is currently “playable end-to-end”, which would mean that Valve may make a full announcement later this year. 

In a video posted on YouTube, Tyler McVicker, known for reporting on Valve rumors, has stated that Half-Life 3 is entirely playable, and an official reveal might be around the corner. Although a shadowdrop is unlikely for a game like this, there's always a first time for everything. However, the leaker stated that the release date is likely set for later this year. For reference, Half-Life Alyx was first announced in November 2019, before releasing in March 2020.

Beyond McVicker's insights, there have been other clues recently. In March, Valve concept artist Evgeniy Evstratiy reportedly claimed to have been in the room where Valve created Half-Life 3. In the same month, fellow Valve leaker Gabe Follower suggested the game will mark the “end of Gordon's adventure”. Internet rumblings have also uncovered code mentioning “HLX”, widely assumed to be the codename for Half-Life 3, appearing in recent updates to Valve titles like Deadlock and Dota 2.

KitGuru says: Do you believe Valve will reveal Half-Life 3 soon? 

The post Rumours claim Half Life 3 is playable from start to finish first appeared on KitGuru.

Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is proving to be a major hit, quickly racking up impressive sales figures. The studio has announced that the game has officially sold over three million copies just three months and one day after its release, solidifying its position as one of the most successful games of 2025 so far. In addition, the developer also announced that the first game has sold a total of 10 million copies.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 broke the two million sales mark in February and added another million in just over two months. While the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance has sold over ten million copies to date, reports from March indicated the sequel outsold its predecessor five times over during their respective first months on the market. This strong start suggests that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 might surpass the original's lifetime sales total.

A combination of factors is likely driving these strong sales figures. The game received excellent reviews at launch (90 over at OpenCritic), with critics praising its evolution from the 2018 original. Word-of-mouth from players has also clearly translated into sales. Warhorse Studios' commitment to post-launch support hasn't hurt either, with the studio providing free content updates for the game.

Players can also look forward to plenty more content soon. Warhorse Studios recently unveiled details about the game's first expansion, which is set to be released later this month, in May 2025. It has also been reported that three paid DLCs are planned for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 throughout 2025, so there's still much to come for this medieval RPG.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you tried any of the Kingdom Come: Deliverance games? Which one was your favourite?

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While Skype was at one point the dominant VOIP software in the market, over the 2010s, Microsoft saw a rapid decline in users thanks to competing technologies and nowadays, services like Discord, Microsoft Teams and Zoom have essentially replaced Skype entirely. Now, Microsoft is shutting Skype down for good. 

Microsoft officially announced plans to shut down Skype earlier this year, citing the emergence of Microsoft Teams as a key reason behind the shutdown. Rather than working on two competing VOIP apps at once, Microsoft is cutting Skype off and focusing all future efforts on Teams.

The shutdown date happens to be today, May 5th. After today, Skype will no longer be functional, and you won't be able to continue making calls, or access Skype's Premium features.

At its peak, Skype attracted over 300 million users, a figure that had dropped to around 36 million in 2023 – a number that I personally find quite hard to believe given how irrelevant Skype has become over the past five years.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: When was the last time you used Skype? Are you sad to see it go, or have you moved over to another platform already?

The post Skype shuts down after 23 years first appeared on KitGuru.

In an unexpected shift for a studio long synonymous with the genre, Codemasters is officially stepping away from rally racing simulators. While Formula One has become their primary focus under EA, rally sims have been an integral part of Codemasters' identity for decades, from the days of Colin McRae Rally to the Dirt series.

In an official blog post, the studio revealed they are ceasing development support for EA Sports WRC and ending their WRC cooperation after just one game. Not only that, but Codemasters stated they do not intend to create any further rally racing simulations for the time being.

As some may have anticipated following this significant shift, the studio has confirmed that layoffs sadly accompany this transition. Speaking to VGC, Codemasters confirmed they are “eliminating roles” as they complete their rally development pipeline. The exact number of affected positions wasn't specified, though the studio noted that efforts are being made to reassign some employees to other EA Sports projects and teams.

These layoffs at Codemasters are not isolated incidents within EA. They come shortly after EA announced broader job cuts affecting around 300 positions across the company, which reportedly included Respawn Entertainment cutting about 100 staff and cancelling a Titanfall extraction shooter project. Unfortunately, this also marks the second time Codemasters has recently had to reduce its workforce, having also laid off staff in December 2023.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Did you play any of Codemasters' rally games? Which one was your favourite?

The post Codemasters halts rally sim development and WRC partnership, layoffs confirmed first appeared on KitGuru.

Last year, a writer sued Bungie, claiming that Destiny 2's Red War campaign copied from his own stories published online. The Red War campaign was the original set of story missions that launched with Destiny 2. This campaign hasn't been available in Destiny 2 for several years at this stage and now, that fact is causing issues for Bungie as it attempts to fight the lawsuit. 

Bungie filed to have the lawsuit dismissed, claiming that its Red War campaign is ‘demonstrably' different to this author's writings. However, as the Red War missions now sit locked in the Bungie Content Vault, Bungie cannot actually ‘demonstrate' the differences at all.

As reported by VGC, Bungie tried to explain to the court that this ‘legacy' content can no longer be accessed and as a result, it can't be provided to the court in any “operable or reviewable form”. To work around this, Bungie submitted YouTube videos showcasing Destiny 2's launch campaign, as well as Wiki articles explaining the story events that are no longer present in the live game.

The judge ultimately ruled that third-party retellings of the Destiny 2 campaign can't be considered as evidence as their “authenticity has not been established”.

As a result, the case will move forward, which could lead to Bungie having to waste time and resources going through an expensive trial process.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: My question here is if content can't be brought back out of the ‘Content Vault', then what purpose does it serve? 

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Call of Duty 2025 will be announced within the next few months and we're starting to hear more rumblings about the changes this year's game will bring. One of the big changes may be coming to monetisation, as one prominent leaker claims that Activision plans to make limited time modes exclusive to the Battle Pass. 

Currently, Call of Duty has many limited time modes that appear for a few weeks or months at a time, before being retired. These modes, like last year's limited-time Squid Games event, often garner a lot of traction and have become a core part of the annual COD experience.

According to COD leaker, GhostofHope, in COD 2025, limited time modes will no longer be free for all players and will instead be locked behind the Battle Pass.

This is not great news considering that this year will also likely see Call of Duty rising to $80 for the standard edition at launch. Microsoft announced last week that it intends to begin pricing some of its first-party games at $80, with premium editions rising to $100 or more.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: For me, this might be the last straw for COD. I tend to only play the game for a couple of weeks at a time and it is often the limited time mode pushing me to reinstall. If all of that gets locked behind a battle pass, my few weeks a year of playtime is going to turn into zero weeks a year. 

The post Call of Duty may begin locking limited-time modes behind Battle Pass first appeared on KitGuru.

Back at CES, many attendees were shocked to see one company showing off a Nintendo Switch 2 right there on the show floor. The company known as Genki, had boldly brought along a Switch 2 dummy unit to showcase its upcoming accessories for the unannounced console. Now, Nintendo is suing them. 

Nintendo has filed a lawsuit in California, targeting Genki parent company, Human Things. The lawsuit alleges that Genki committed trademark infringement and false advertising when it brought its fake Switch 2 model to CES. Nintendo didn't officially detail the Switch 2 and all of its features until April, four months after CES.

In the lawsuit (via VGC) Nintendo puts together a timeline of events, beginning in December 2024, when Genki tweeted at Gamestop CEO, Ryan Cohen, saying: “Would love to DM you with some of the launch Switch 2 accessories we are working on”. They then took things a step further by bringing those accessories to CES in January 2025, along with 3D-printed mock-ups of the Switch 2 console.

The lawsuit also takes issue with Genki's media interviews, claiming that in these interviews, employees confirmed “specific, highly confidential designs and functionality of the not-yet announced Nintendo Switch 2”.

Nintendo alleges that Genki's actions were an attempt to “confuse the public as to whether Genki had access to a Nintendo Switch 2 and/or an affiliation with Nintendo”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The lawsuit has just been filed, so Human Things / Genki have not yet responded. They'll have 30 days to respond to the lawsuit with their own filings, so there should be an update soon. 

The post Nintendo files lawsuit against company that leaked Switch 2 at CES first appeared on KitGuru.

Tyler Mcvicker became a well-known figure in the Valve fandom during the run-up to Half-Life Alyx, after leaking many accurate details about the game prior to Valve's official announcement. Now with Valve seemingly working on a new Half-Life game, Mcvicker is making news once again with claims that the game could be launching later this year. 

According to his latest video, the new Half-Life game from Valve is not a VR title. The game is said to be undergoing an extensive round of playtesting right now, which opens the door up for a Summer announcement followed by a Q4 release. It is also speculated that the new Half-Life title may open things up for a multiverse, as Portal's Chell may make an appearance.

With Half-Life Alyx, Valve announced the game in November 2019, followed by a release in 2020, so while fans may hope for a traditional Summer announcement – Holiday release timeline, Valve tends to operate on its own timeline and has never really cared for industry norms. When Valve is ready to announce something, it will do so itself, right on Steam, without any real build up.

Everything we know about the next Half-Life game has been revealed by datamined code. This is the same way details about Half-Life Alyx leaked well before the game's announcement.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm not sure Valve will use the title Half-Life 3, but at the very least, Valve is working on a new single-player Half-Life game, featuring content and mechanics not seen in any of the previous games. 

The post Valve may create multiverse with new Half-Life game first appeared on KitGuru.

Asus has just announced its latest pre-built desktop PC, the TUF Gaming T500. While it looks like an ordinary gaming system from the outside, it happens that this system utilises Intel's 13th Gen mobile CPU, The Core i7-13620H with a desktop RTX 5060 Ti graphics card. 

Measuring 15.55 x 29.64 x 35.68 cm, the T500 can be configured with some potent components for its size. It's available with up to an Intel Core i7-13620H CPU, featuring six P-cores and eight E-cores with a maximum boost clock of 5.0GHz, providing ample processing power. Graphics are handled by up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU, offering strong performance for modern gaming and creative applications with support for the latest features. Memory options go up to a generous 32GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 5200MHz (support for up to 64GB), while storage can reach up to 2TB via a speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD for fast game load times. All this is powered by an 80+ Platinum PSU with either 330W or 500W of power.

Visually, the TUF Gaming T500 embraces a mecha anime-inspired design aesthetic. Builders have a choice of side panels, with options for a translucent panel to showcase the internal components or a solid metal side panel with an “X” mesh for a more understated look. Subtle lighting on the front of the machine illuminates the front I/O panel.

True to the TUF Gaming brand, the T500 desktop meets MIL-STD durability standards. It has undergone rigorous testing against environmental stresses like drops, temperature extremes, and vibration to ensure reliability.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: This is a very compact system, making it ideal for student living. 

The post The new Asus TUF Gaming T500 PC pairs mobile processors with desktop graphics first appeared on KitGuru.

MSI is preparing to launch a new 4K OLED gaming monitor, potentially offering a more streamlined, value-oriented option in their OLED lineup. Named MAG 272UP X24, this 26.5-inch model features a latest-generation QD-OLED panel boasting a 240Hz maximum refresh rate.

As expected from an OLED panel, the MAG 272UP X24 offers a near-instantaneous 0.03ms response time for sharp motion, alongside a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio. Colour performance is robust with a Delta-E value of less than 2, a 10-bit colour depth and wide colour coverage, hitting 138% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3, 98% Adobe RGB. HDR highlights can reach up to 1,000 cd/m² peak, while SDR luminance is rated at 250 cd/m². Moreover, it carries DisplayHDR True Black 400 and ClearMR 13000 certifications.

 

For gamers, the monitor supports Adaptive Sync technology to prevent screen tearing, and its HDMI 2.1 inputs mean it can handle 4K at 120 Hz with VRR from modern consoles. On-screen gaming features include an AI-supported black stabiliser and a smart crosshair overlay. There's also a handy feature to convert the display to a 24.5-inch mode for potentially higher frame rates and reduced input latency in fast-paced games.

Port selection includes two HDMI 2.1 inputs, one DisplayPort 1.4a, a headphone output, and a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort (alt. mode and 15 W of PD). It's worth noting that this model does not have a standard USB hub, suggesting a focus on core display functionality. The stand is versatile, offering tilt, swivel, pivot, and 110mm of height adjustment, plus standard 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. The monitor incorporates MSI's OLED Care 2.0 suite of features to combat OLED burn-in, including a fanless custom heatsink and a three-year warranty.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Although pricing is still unknown for Western regions, this monitor is the cheapest MSI 4K QD-OLED monitor for sale in China. Hopefully, the same will happen on this side of the globe.

The post MSI unveils its latest 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel has a new hardware game bundle available. Over the next few months, those buying an 14th Gen Intel Core CPU, or an Intel Core Ultra CPU, will be eligible to claim free codes for two games – Dying Light: The Beast and Civilization VII. 

This new bundle includes a selection of games and creative tools. Gamers can get a free key for the upcoming Dying Light: The Beast, which is set to be released sometime in summer 2025. They'll also receive a key for the recently released Sid Meier's Civilization VII. On the software side, the bundle adds valuable creative tools, including Vegas Pro 365, XSplit Premium Suite, and Canvid.

Intel includes a broad range of processors in this promotion, covering recent and current generations. Eligible CPUs include models from the Core Ultra 100, Core Ultra 200 series, and the 14th Generation Core series. This covers many variants, including desktop K and T-series processors and mobile H and HX-series chips, meaning desktop and laptop users can qualify.

Claim your items by August 15th, 2025, and use the provided codes by September 15th, 2025. You can learn more about the bundle on its website.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning an upgrade in the near future? 

The post Intel launches new game bundle featuring Dying Light: The Beast and Civ 7 first appeared on KitGuru.

Just days after rumours suggesting AMD might be reconsidering or even cancelling the 8GB variant of their upcoming Radeon RX 9060 XT desktop graphics card, a new report refutes those claims. According to this new report, citing reputable sources close to AMD board partners, the 8GB RX 9060 XT is, in fact, still very much on schedule.

According to Benchlife (via VideoCardz), the initial rumour about the 8GB model's potential cancellation stemmed from the poor market and review reception of Nvidia's competing RTX 5060 Ti 8GB. As seen by various media outlets and independent reviewers, that card struggled with VRAM limitations in some modern titles.

Countering this, Benchlife's sources reportedly indicate that the 8GB RX 9060 XT variant is not only still planned, but production is already underway. However, while the variant itself isn't cancelled, the report does claim that the 8GB version of the RX 9060 XT may not get a traditional rollout to the wider DIY PC market and may end up being reserved for OEMs and system integrators.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: With games nowadays demanding more and more VRAM, we would like to see the industry push for more 12GB+ GPUs, particularly in the £200 to £400 market segment. 

The post New report suggests AMD RX 9060 XT with 8GB memory is still planned for release first appeared on KitGuru.

Evil Dead: The Game only just came out in 2022 but this week, the game mysteriously began disappearing from store fronts. At this point, the game is no longer available to purchase on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox. Now, publisher and developer, Saber Interactive, has spoken out. 

Saber Interactive did not comment on the game's removal earlier this week when fans first found the game missing from the PSN, Epic Games and Steam Stores. Now with the game's delisting completed, Saber has finally confirmed that yes, the game is going away.

Here is Saber Interactive's full statement on the matter (via VGC):

“We can confirm we’ve begun the process of removing the game from digital storefronts. Anyone who has purchased the game will still be able to play it as we plan to keep our servers online for everyone. We want to extend a sincere thank you to our community, to those who have been part of the game from the very beginning, and those who have recently joined us. We appreciate all of your support.”

Typically when a game is going to be delisted, developers will give fans a heads up, leaving the door open for last-minute purchases before a game disappears for good. Saber unfortunately did not take that approach here, keeping its licensing details secret until the very end.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The handling of this has been abysmal, but it wouldn't be the first time that Saber Interactive has failed to communicate with its audience effectively. 

The post Saber Interactive confirms Evil Dead: The Game is being removed from sale first appeared on KitGuru.

KitGuru was first introduced to the Lian Li Lancool 217 at CES this year and our first impressions were excellent. Happily the time has now come for a full review of this chassis which is landing at £110 here in the UK. Is it just another airflow-focused case in an already crowded market, or has Lian Li managed to deliver something special? We find out today.

Specification:

• Motherboard support: SSI-EEB, E-ATX up to 280mm wide, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
• Power supply support: ATX, SFX-L, SFX.
• Expansion slots: 7.
• Included fans: 2x 170mm 1,550rpm front intake, 1x 140mm 1,800rpm rear exhaust, 2x 120mm 1,900rpm on PSU shroud.
• Fan mounts: 2x 170mm front, 3x 120mm/2x 140mm roof, 1x 120mm/140mm rear, 3x 120mm on PSU shroud.
• Radiator mounts: 360mm/280mm roof.
• 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None.
• Internal drive bays: 2x 3.5-inch, 3x 2.5-inch.
• Front I/O ports: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C, audio.
• Dimensions: 503mm H x 482mm D x 238mm W.

Testing

To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Lian Li Lancool 217's cooling capabilities.

Test System:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 3D
• CPU Cooler: Lian Li Hydroshift LCD 360 Fanless + 3x Uni Fan TL Wireless 120
• Motherboard: ASRock X870E Taichi
• Memory: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000
• Graphics card: PowerColor Red Devil RX 9070 XT 16GB
• Power supply: Seasonic Focus GX-1000 Gold
• SSD: Crucial T700 M.2 NVMe
• OS: Windows 11

Cooling Performance Overview

The Lian Li Lancool 217 does a good job and our advice would be to run the fans low and slow to keep noise levels to a minimum. You certainly can turn them up and slightly help the cooling but the noise levels rapidly get unbearable.

Closing Thoughts

The Lancool 217 continues Lian Li's habit of getting pretty much everything correct while avoiding errors with a product that caters for a mass market at a very acceptable price. Clearly some PC builders would prefer glass on four sides to mesh, while others want stacks of ARGB lighting bling, and no doubt those people will be disappointed by the Lancool 217.

On the other hand we are confident a large swathe of the buying public wants a spacious case that is populated with high quality fans and which flows air with ease. The fact the UK price is lower than the US dollar price adds to our delight and makes it even easier for us to strongly recommend this case for your next PC build.

You can buy the Lian Li Lancool 217 for £106.99 from Scan HERE.

Pros:

• Immaculate quality of components and white finish.
• Impressive emphasis on cable management and neatness.
• PWM and ARGB fan hub is included.
• Accessories include rails to swap the 170mm fans for 120mm or 140mm.
• Good air flow.
• Supports E-ATX and SSI-EEB motherboards.

Cons:

• Top panel can easily come loose when you move your PC
• Front panel IO is down low and awkward if your PC is on the floor.

KitGuru says: The Lian Li Lancool 217 is packed with goodness.

The post Lian Li Lancool 217 Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Since seeing the trailer in December 2023, fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the release date for GTA 6. Today, Rockstar finally made that announcement, pushing the game out of 2025 and landing on a May 2026 launch date. While this news is being celebrated around the industry, it has made some investors skittish. 

At the time of writing, since dropping the news that GTA 6 has been delayed, Take-Two shares have dropped by just shy of 7 percent. In a statement published on the Take-Two Investor Relations website, CEO, Strauss Zelnick, backed the decision to delay the game, adding that leadership is confident in Rockstar's ability to deliver a hit when GTA 6 does release next year.

“We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to bea groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations. While we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence.”

While GTA 6 is not coming out this year, Take-Two still has a very strong line-up ahead for 2025, including the likes of Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Some investors are going to be very upset with themselves when May 2026 rolls around, as GTA 6 projects to be the biggest video game launch in history. 

The post Take-Two investors spooked by GTA 6 delay, CEO releases statement first appeared on KitGuru.

It has been a while since Valve's new multiplayer game, Deadlock, made headlines. That changed this week thanks to the discovery of a secret new build of the game – one that looks to be much closer to a 1.0 launch build. 

When the masses learned about Valve's secret Deadlock alpha last summer, it didn't take long for Valve to open the floodgates, inviting hundreds of thousands of testers to try out the game. It turns out that there is a secret build not shared to all Deadlock alpha testers.

The new build was revealed by Deathy, a prominent Deadlock livestreamer who accidentally launched the wrong version of the game on Steam. The original livestream was deleted, as was the VOD version of the stream, but eagle-eyed gamers were quick to save screenshots.

The new build of Deadlock includes a much larger roster of playable characters, as well as redesigned versions of heroes already announced for the game. In general, it looks to be a much more polished version of the game, indicating that despite the public alpha, Valve has continued to work away on the game in secret.

With this new build now discovered, it seems that Valve will be making new announcements around Deadlock in the coming months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Deadlock had its viral moment in 2024 but we still have no idea when the game will come out. With this new build of the game surfacing, it would seem that official announcements from Valve are now imminent. 

The post Valve has a secret Deadlock build circulating amongst streamers first appeared on KitGuru.

G.Skill is bringing ultra high-speed and high-capacity DDR5 memory kits to AMD Ryzen based systems. The new G.Skill DDR5-8400 128GB kit is available starting this month, packing high-performance DDR5 ICs from SK-Hynix. 

The new DDR5-8400 128GB (2x 64GB) RAM kit was tested and validated on a system using an Asus ROG Crosshair X870E APEX motherboard, paired with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU. This speed is achieved via the high-performance SK-Hynix ICs, allowing G.Skill to crank the speeds higher on larger capacity modules.

This latest overclock achievement showcases G.Skill's continued pursuit for high speeds. The company has continually raised the bar for high-speed RAM in the past and G.Skill has not slowed down at all during the DDR5 era.

Just recently, G.Skill memory was used to set the world record for DDR5 overclock speeds and with the annual OC World Cup taking place at Computex, we may see more world records broken in just a few weeks.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: How fast is the RAM in your system? 

The post G.Skill unveils 128GB DDR5-8400 kits for AMD Ryzen systems first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel's latest generation of Arc graphics cards, codenamed Battlemage, might soon receive a new entry. The G31 GPU has been the subject of numerous rumours, with some suggesting that Intel had either abandoned or significantly changed its plans since late 2024. However, new information sourced from leaked shipping manifests contradicts those cancellation whispers.

According to the shipping manifest found by Haze, the hardware labelled ‘Battlemage G31' or ‘BGM-31' is still being transported between Intel labs. Specifically, shipments from late March were reportedly sent to Intel Vietnam, the facility previously responsible for producing Intel's Limited Edition (reference) Arc cards like the B580 and B570. This could hint that Intel is working on a new Limited Edition design for an upcoming Battlemage desktop GPU based on the G31 die.

Despite this apparent confirmation of ongoing development, the exact release timing for G31 remains unknown.

In addition to the BMG G31 GPU, there are rumours of an Arc GPU with 24GB of VRAM. It's unclear if this GPU is targeting gamers or professionals, but the sheer amount of VRAM suggests the latter.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you think Intel will still launch a higher-end Battlemage GPU? If so, how would it compare with AMD and Nvidia graphics cards?

The post Shipping manifest reveals Intel Arc Battlemage G31 GPU first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel's next-generation mobile platform, Panther Lake, is officially confirmed to launch this year. While Intel has reiterated a 2025 debut multiple times, they haven't specified the exact scope of this initial rollout, and new reports suggest it might be quite narrow.

According to Meng (via VideoCardz), only a single Panther Lake variant is set to arrive this year, with remaining versions pushed back to 2026. This configuration is rumoured to feature 4 P-cores and 8 E-cores but will not include low-power cores. Instead, it's said to come equipped with four Xe 3 graphics cores. The platform is predicted to have a 45W TDP, indicating a significantly higher power envelope compared to Lunar Lake's typical 17W-28W range.

This rumoured variant lacking low-power E-cores hasn't been mentioned in previous reports, suggesting it's a new configuration developed more recently. Without the low-power E-cores, this configuration is likely aimed at gaming laptops, where a powerful integrated GPU is less important. Meanwhile, the other Panther Lake variants expected to be released later are likely targeting premium laptops without discrete graphics.

Panther Lake succeeds Lunar Lake in Intel's roadmap, although it won't feature the same memory-on-package design due to associated costs.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: What are your expectations for Intel Panther Lake? 

The post First Intel Panther Lake CPUs could come in 2025, more models to come in 2026 first appeared on KitGuru.

The era of the Lian Li Lancool 216 is over. This year, Lian Li is introducing the Lancool 217, a direct successor featuring design and aesthetic tweaks to suit new PC builds. 

The new LANCOOL 217 is available in Dark Walnut or Light Beech colour options, with real wood accents a touch of warmth to the colour scheme. The chassis is designed with thermal performance in mind, with five pre-installed fans out of the box, including two unique 170mm fans in the front of the case, bringing in fresh air to cool all of your components.

You can find the full specs for the Lian Li LANCOOL 217 below:

Model	LANCOOL 217
Case Type	Tower Chassis
Dimensions	(D) 482 x (W) 238 x (H) 503mm
Color	Black / White
Material	Steel 4.0mm tempered glass Wood
Motherboard Support	SSI-EEB (max. 330mm wide) E-ATX (max. 280mm wide)/ ATX / Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX
Back Connect Motherboard	ATX / Micro-ATX
Expansion Slot	7
Storage	Behind MB Tray: 2 x 2.5″ SSD or 1 x 2.5” SSD(When using Back-connect Micro-ATX motherboard) 2 x Hard Drive Cage: Each cage support 1 x 3.5″ HDD + 1 x 2.5″ SSD + ( 1 x 3.5″ HDD or 1 x 2.5″ SSD) PSU Cover: 1 x 2.5” SSD
GPU Length Clearance	380mm(Max)
CPU Cooler Height Clearance	180mm (Max.)
PSU	Standard: ATX (Under 220mm) Rotated: ATX (Under 180mm)
Fan Support	Front: 170mm x 2 (pre-installed) or 140mm x 3 or 120mm x 3 Top: 120mm x 3 or 140mm x 2 Above PSU Shroud: 120mm x 3 (2 x pre-installed) Or Under PSU Shroud: 120mm x 2 Rear: 140mm x 1 (pre-installed) or 120mm x 1
Radiator Support	(Top) 360 / 280 / 240
I/O PORTS	USB 3.0 x 2 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 20G Type C x 1 Audio x 1 Power Button x 2
Dust Filters	Front x 1 Bottom x 1
Fan Hub	ARGB/FAN Hub with 6 x PWM Fan Headers and 4 x 5V ARGB Headers x 4

The Lian Li Lancool 217 will be available priced at $119.99 for the Dark Walnut version, or $124.99 for the Light Beech version. We have one in house at the KitGuru labs, so expect a review soon.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning a new PC build for 2025? Are you considering a Lian Li case? 

The post Lian Li’s Lancool 217 arrives in Dark Walnut and Light Beech colours first appeared on KitGuru.

We've been waiting months for Rockstar to give an update on GTA 6. The game was officially announced last year, with a record-breaking trailer garnering hundreds of millions of views. At the time, Rockstar has a 2025 release window in mind, but today's announcement has pushed GTA 6 to 2026. 

Grand Theft Auto VI is no longer releasing this year but Rockstar has narrowed down a date – May 26th 2026. In a statement, Rockstar thanked fans for their patience and said that the delay would aid in achieving “the level of quality” fans expect from a Rockstar game.

Here is Rockstar's statement in full:

“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game. With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

The GTA 6 release date has been a hot topic of debate recently. As Rockstar announced a 2025 release window for the game, many publishers have been holding off on announcing release dates for their own games. Now with the GTA 6 release date confirmed, we can expect to see a flurry of release date announcements as we head towards Summer Game Fest in June.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: GTA 6 is coming to consoles in May. Hopefully by this time next year, we'll start to hear rumblings about the PC version. 

The post Rockstar delays GTA 6, announces May 2026 release date first appeared on KitGuru.

Each month, those who are subscribed to Amazon Prime are able to acquire a wide range of ‘free’ games as part of the company’s Prime Gaming initiative. Over the course of May, subscribers will be able to claim 22 different titles, including but not limited to LEGO Star Wars; Wolfenstein II; Saints Row and more.

Available as a staggered release throughout the month, May’s Prime Gaming offerings range from massive franchises to obscure indie games, with the following titles being added:

Available Now

• STAR WARS Galactic Battlegrounds Saga [GOG]
• LEGO Star Wars — The Complete Saga [GOG]
• Styx: Master of Shadows [GOG]
• The Invisible Hand [Prime]

Arriving on the 8th of May

• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Digital Deluxe Edition [Microsoft Store]
• Amnesia: Rebirth [EGS]
• Hypnospace Outlaw [GOG]
• Doors — Paradox [EGS]

 

Available on the 15th

• Saints Row: Gat out of Hell [GOG]
• ENDLESS Legend Definitive Edition [Prime]
• Golf with Your Friends [GOG]
• Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 [GOG]
• Mail Time [GOG]

Dropping on the 22nd

• FATE [GOG]
• Thief 2: The Metal Age [GOG]
• Everdream Valley [Prime]
• Chessarama [EGS]
• The Lost Ashford Ring [Legacy Games Code]

29th of May

• Samurai Bringer [Prime]
• Trinity Fusion [Prime]
• Masterplan Tycoon [Prime]
• Liberté [EGS]

Though it would be preferable that more games be given away through Steam, having almost two dozen new games to play is certainly not worth complaining about – especially as a decent number of them are GOG codes.

KitGuru says: Are you subscribed to Amazon Prime? Do you like the current system or would you rather they offer fewer-but-higher-quality games? Which title are you most looking forward to playing? Let us know down below.

The post May’s free Amazon Prime Gaming titles begin rolling out first appeared on KitGuru.

2025 has been pretty good for Xbox Game Pass so far, with the service seeing a number of major day-one additions including the highly-anticipated Oblivion Remaster and GOTY contender Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Given that they are both GP titles, it’s not surprising to see that a majority of players so far have utilised the service. Interestingly, Game Pass players have also put significantly less time into these titles compared to other platforms.

As reported by Ampere Analytics (via TheGameBusiness) the recent influx of day-one Game Pass releases seems to be sparking the interest of its subscribers.

According to the report, so far, 47% of all Oblivion players did so through Game Pass (PC and Xbox) with 45% of Clair Obscur players also using the service. The second biggest ‘platform’ for the GOTY contender was PlayStation, with 30% of the Clair Obscur market – followed by Steam with 25%.

When it came to Oblivion meanwhile, the stats are reversed somewhat, with second place going to Steam with 34% of the market; and 3rd place being PlayStation at 19%.

Interestingly, it seems those who purchased the game had more of an incentive to play though it, as Game Pass subscribers have put far less time into both titles compared to the other platforms.

For Oblivion, Game Pass subscribers have so far played for 2.2 hours on average. This represents just over half the time of the other consoles, with PlayStation at 3.8 hours and Steam with 3.6.

Offering similar results, Clair Obscur also saw roughly double the playtime on non-Game Pass platforms, with 4.4 hours on average for both Steam and PlayStation – compared to just 2.2 hours on Game Pass.

Of course, Game Pass is positioned as the Netflix of games, and so it perhaps makes sense that subscribers are putting in roughly as much time into each title as they would a standard film. It will be interesting to see how these figures evolve as more people get the chance to check out either of these two games.

KitGuru says: Have you been playing either of these titles? Which platform are you using? How many hours have you put into these games so far? Let us know down below.

The post Half of all Oblivion players are on Game Pass – despite much lower playtime first appeared on KitGuru.

A couple days ago Nintendo released one of the biggest firmware updates the Nintendo Switch has seen in its 8 years on the market – adding a ton of welcome additions while preparing the system for the upcoming Switch 2. Though a solid update overall, a number of users have encountered major issues while trying to install the patch – causing some systems to be bricked.

Earlier this week we reported on update 20.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch, preparing it for the upcoming Switch 2 by adding the likes of Game Chat; digital game keys and more. Unfortunately, the update has not been without its issues, with some users reporting that their systems have been bricked following the update – showcasing the error code ‘2206-1015’.

Fortunately, Nintendo is already aware of the issue, taking to Twitter to write: “We are currently receiving inquiries from some customers about the occurrence of ‘Error Code: 2206-1015’ after updating to Nintendo Switch system version 20.0.0. We are currently investigating how to deal with this issue. We apologize for the inconvenience, and ask that you wait for further information.”

While certainly a massive issue, it appears to be far from a permanent problem. Hopefully Nintendo will be able to resolve this through a simple over-the-air update – or at the very worst a USB-based installation.

KitGuru says: Have you updated your Switch? Did it brick your console? What do you think of the new digital game card menu? Let us know down below.

The post Nintendo warns that recent Switch update may brick your device first appeared on KitGuru.

Forza Horizon 5 remains one of the few games today which publicly lists just how many players have tried the game out at any given time. Right ahead of the game’s launch on PS5, Horizon 5 was confirmed to have surpassed 45 million total players. Since the arrival of the game to PS5 mere days ago however, player counts have risen by almost 1 million.

In going to the main menu on Forza Horizon 5, it can be seen exactly just how many people have signed-in / registered to play the game (a requirement before gaining full access).

As mentioned, in the lead up to its launch on PS5, the total player count rested at just over 45 million (45,125,376 players to be exact).

Since then, as reported by ResetEra user ‘Theorry’ the total number of players has increased to 45,984,734 players – an increase of around 850,000 players.

Of course, during this time, Forza Horizon 5 would have seen new Xbox and PC players also and so the exact figure for PS5 players is not quite set in stone.

Still, it is interesting to see some early stats for how the game is likely performing on PS5. It will be curious to see whether Microsoft releases any concrete sales figures at some point.

KitGuru says: Have you picked up Forza Horizon 5 on PS5? What do you think so far? Are you more of an arcade or sim-cade racer? Let us know down below.

The post Forza Horizon 5 sees nearly 1 million new players since PS5 launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Leakers digging through official AMD repositories and related databases have found new details about Team Red's future processor roadmap. Based on their posts, they've discovered entries about upcoming desktop, mobile, and workstation product lines, offering a glimpse into products beyond what has been officially announced.

Among the Olrak29 and InstLatX64's findings (via VideoCardz) are more mentions of Zen 5-based products that we have heard about previously. This includes the purported Ryzen Threadripper ‘Shimada Peak' 9000WX family for workstations, which should be announced soon, potentially during Computex 2025 in early June. For the desktop space, the Ryzen 9000G ‘Gorgon Point' APU series, combining Zen 5 cores with RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, has also reappeared in these databases, seemingly confirmed for the AM5 desktop socket.

The leaks extend into the mobile space and beyond. Entries related to Ryzen AI Mobile SoCs on an FP8 socket were found, with one of them suggesting ‘Gorgon Point' would succeed ‘Strix Point' mobile APUs, contradicting the previous reports and rumours. Additionally, a ‘Krackan2' appears to be a refresh of the current ‘Krackan Point' APUs.

Another rumoured AM5-bound lineup discovered is the EPYC 4005 ‘Grado' series, which some believe could be built on existing designs but adapted for entry-level commercial/enterprise use, potentially succeeding processors like the EPYC 4004. Perhaps most intriguingly, an FF5-based ‘Soundwave' processor design has surfaced alongside these future mobile chipsets, fuelling industry rumours that AMD might be exploring or planning to use Arm architecture at a lower product tier.

KitGuru says: Of all AMD's upcoming products, which one are you the most curious about?

The post AMD’s future AM5 plans reportedly include Ryzen 9000G “Gorgon Point” and EPYC 4005 “Grado” first appeared on KitGuru.

The InWin Prism chassis matches its name nicely with its tilted tempered glass panels. The new case uses a three-piece glass panel to form a frameless wall for those looking to show off their systems. 

Beyond its looks, the Prism is designed with ample cooling in mind. Large mesh filters provide tool-free dust prevention and are intended to ensure optimal air circulation. The case supports up to 10 fans in total and accommodates radiators up to 360mm for extensive liquid cooling setups (including 240mm and 280mm options). InWin preloads the case with four of their Vortex fans, featuring PWM control and vibrant ARGB illumination.

The Prism offers broad compatibility for high-end hardware, including BTF motherboards. There's generous clearance for large components, supporting CPU coolers up to 175mm tall and graphics cards up to 435mm long. For those wanting to display their GPU vertically, the case supports this via a modular PCI-E slot bracket. Keeping things tidy, two 2.5-inch SSD bays are hidden behind the motherboard tray.

Managing the included ARGB fans and preinstalled LED strips (located at the top, bottom, and front) is done via the integrated 6-channel ARGB hub. This hub supports multiple coordinated lighting effects, easily controlled through a button on the front I/O panel. The front panel also features two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a 3.5mm HD audio combo jack, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (40 Gbps) Type-C port.

KitGuru says: As expected from InWin, its new Prism PC case can easily stand out in this crowded market. However, do you like the aesthetics of it, or do you find it a bit over the top?

The post InWin unveils Prism mid tower with unique tempered glass design first appeared on KitGuru.

PlayStation Plus subscribers have some interesting new titles coming their way in May. Leading the lineup for this month are the hugely popular Poker/roguelike hybrid Balatro, the retro-styled shooter Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, and the ambitious survival title Ark: Survival Ascended. All three games will become available to add to your library starting Tuesday, May 6th.

Balatro has taken the gaming world by storm with its incredibly addictive poker-meets-roguelike gameplay, and PS Plus members can now see what all the hype is about on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. For old-school shooter lovers, dive into the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000 with Boltgun, a fast-paced first-person shooter featuring graphics reminiscent of classic 1990s titles, a varied arsenal, and satisfyingly frantic action. Boltgun will be available on both PS4 and PS5.

Lastly, for those seeking a survival experience, Ark: Survival Ascended is a remaster of the 2015 original, utilising Unreal Engine 5. This version includes all previously released DLC (Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ark: Genesis Part 1, and Ark: Genesis Part 2), supports up to 70-player online multiplayer, and features two-player local split-screen. However, note that this version is exclusive to PlayStation 5.

As the digital doors open for new titles, others must make way. PlayStation Plus subscribers have a short window left to claim the April PlayStation Plus games. You'll need to make sure you've added titles like the well-received RoboCop: Rogue City and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory to your game collection by Monday, May 5th, before they depart the service.

KitGuru says: Are you subscribed to PlayStation Plus? Are you planning on claiming any of these games?

The post This month’s PlayStation Plus lineup includes Balatro, Ark and Warhammer first appeared on KitGuru.

Weeks following Sony's price hike for PS5, Microsoft has now announced plans to increase Xbox Series X/S prices. The price increase will take effect in Europe, Australia, the US and the UK. Microsoft has also announced plans to follow in Nintendo's footsteps and raise the price of “some first party games” to $80.

The timing here is odd as Xbox revenue was up in Microsoft's recent quarterly earnings report, however, most of this growth is attributed to content sales. Xbox console sales actually did drop year-on-year for the quarter. There are other economic factors likely at play here too, as the effect of US tariffs on tech begins to take effect.

In the UK, The Xbox Series X will be going up from £479 to £499, and the Xbox Series S will go up from £279 to £299. These are the prices for base storage models, so 1TB for the Xbox Series X and 512GB for the Xbox Series S. The larger storage version (2TB) of the Series X is going up to £589.99.

In a statement sent to Eurogamer, Microsoft confirmed the price adjustments, saying: “As of 1st May, we have adjusted recommended retailer pricing for our consoles and controllers worldwide. We also expect to adjust the pricing of some of our new, first-party games starting this holiday season to $79.99. Those titles purchased on the Xbox store have the benefit of Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to buy once and play on console and PC at no additional cost. We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players”.

The game price hike will take longer to go into effect, but this statement essentially confirms that Call of Duty is going to be more expensive starting this year.

KitGuru Says: It is only a matter of time before the industry at large accepts this new $80 standard for new games. There is already a strong push for it from Nintendo and Microsoft, so I'd be shocked if Ubisoft, EA and Square Enix didn't follow.

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Microsoft's Q3 earnings report is in, and things are looking up for Xbox. The Xbox business showcased another quarter of growth across game sales and subscriptions/services. A big portion of this growth is being attributed to Microsoft's increasingly strong presence on PlayStation.

Xbox grew by 5% overall compared to the same quarter the previous year. This was primarily driven in revenue from Xbox content and services, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella specifically highlighting Game Pass, Call of Duty and Minecraft as key driving factors.

Nadella seems pleased with Microsoft's shift to multiplatform game releases. For the quarter, Microsoft was the top-selling publisher on both PlayStation and Xbox. As reported by VGC, Nadella stated on the call:

“We continue to transform the business and focus on margin expansion, as we bring our games to over 500 million monthly active users across devices. We ended the quarter as the top publisher by pre-orders and pre-installs on both Xbox and the PlayStation Store. PC Game Pass revenue increased over 45% year-over-year.”

With results trending positive, it is likely that Microsoft will lean more into this multiplatform direction moving forward. There are rumours that iconic exclusives like Gears of War and Halo could make the transition to PlayStation for the first time. It is also rumoured that Bethesda's 2023 Xbox exclusive, Starfield, may come to PS5 later this year.

In more recent months, Forza 5 and Indiana Jones have both become available on PS5. DOOM: The Dark World, developed by id Software and published by Bethesda, is launching as a multi-platform title and will be available on PS5 from day-one.

KitGuru Says: Despite Xbox's growth, console hardware sales have dipped. The new revenue coming in from game sales on PlayStation and Game Pass growth is keeping Xbox earnings trending in the right direction.

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Evil Dead: The Game only just came out in 2023 but it would seem that the license has already expired. The game has suddenly been delisted from PlayStation and PC via both Steam and The Epic Games Store.

At the time of writing, the game is still available on the Xbox web store, but with the game being removed from sale and search results on all of the other stores, I don't expect that availability to last very long.

Evil Dead: The Game was a take on the Dead by Daylight formula starring iconic characters from the Evil Dead franchise. Players would group up as a team of four survivors, trapped in with a player as the killer. Unfortunately, the game has been suddenly delisted without warning from the developers and it is unclear if it will ever come back.

It is also unclear if those that own the game can still access online servers. Saber Interactive will have to make things clear with a statement soon. We will update once they speak out.

KitGuru Says: Did many of you play Evil Dead? Are you surprised to see it being delisted so soon?

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