Lexar is seeking a share of the high-end consumer storage market with the announcement of its new flagship SSD, the NM990. Aimed at hardcore gamers, content creators, and AI developers, the new drive promises to deliver blistering speeds that leverage the full potential of the PCIe 5.0 interface.

Harnessing next-generation technology, the NM990 boasts impressive performance figures. Lexar claims the drive can achieve sequential read speeds of up to 14,000MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 11,000MB/s, effectively doubling the performance of many standard Gen 4 SSDs. This raw throughput is complemented by equally high random-access performance, with a DRAM cache and dynamic SLC cache helping to deliver up to 2 million IOPS for random reads and 1.5 million for random writes.

Under the hood, the NM990 is powered by an 8-channel controller. Lexar is also highlighting its ‘Thermal Defender Technology', which, when combined with a graphite heat dissipation decal, is said to improve power consumption management by up to 23%. This focus on efficiency should help maintain smooth and consistent performance without succumbing to thermal throttling during demanding workloads.

Durability looks to be a key focus, with the 4TB model rated for an endurance of up to 3000 terabytes written (TBW), ensuring reliability for users who frequently handle large files. The drive also fully supports Microsoft's DirectStorage API, which is crucial for enabling the near-instant load times promised in next-generation games. For maintenance, users can utilise the Lexar DiskMaster software to monitor the drive's health and perform firmware updates. The Lexar NM990 M.2 2280 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD will be available in capacities ranging from 1TB up to 4TB.

KitGuru says: Have you ever owned a Lexar SSD? How was your experience?

Razer is updating its external GPU enclosure line for the next generation of connectivity with the announcement of the Core X V2. This new chassis is the company's first to feature the Thunderbolt 5 standard, but it comes with some major changes that may surprise those who know the original Core X and its all-in-one convenience.

The headline feature is, of course, the move to Thunderbolt 5. While compatible laptops are still a rarity, the new standard theoretically offers up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth, a massive leap over Thunderbolt 4 that should help reduce performance bottlenecks. The Core X V2 also improves host charging, now capable of delivering 140W of power over a single cable. Physically, the enclosure has been updated to support larger, four-slot graphics cards from both Nvidia and AMD, making it ready for the biggest GPUs on the market.

However, in a significant departure from previous models like the Core X Chroma, which came with a built-in PSU, the Core X V2 requires users to bring their own. This move offers more flexibility for those looking to install power-hungry cards that might have exceeded the limits of the old integrated units. For most users, however, it simply adds an extra component and cost to the shopping list.

Another change is the removal of all extra I/O. The built-in USB hub and Ethernet port that you see on older Core models are gone, leaving just the single Thunderbolt connection. For users who need that extra peripheral connectivity, Razer has opportunistically just launched a new, separate Thunderbolt 5 Dock. It has a 3.5 mm jack, 10 Gbps USB-C and USB-A ports, a UHS-II SD card slot, support for up to three 4K 120 Hz screens, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD slot. Additionally, it incorporates Thunderbolt Share, a KVM-like function that enables peripheral control and file transfers between two linked PCs.

The Core X V2 is a clear evolution, focusing purely on providing a high-speed Thunderbolt 5 connection for a powerful desktop graphics card. But by stripping out the integrated PSU and I/O hub, Razer has also unbundled the convenience that made its predecessors so appealing. While the chassis is listed at £329.99/$349.99/€389.99, the cost for a complete setup is now significantly higher. As for the Thunderbolt 5 Dock, this one is even more expensive at £389.99/$389.99/€439.99

KitGuru says: What do you think of eGPU enclosures like the Core X V2? 

Following the conclusion of the Janthir Wilds story, ArenaNet isn't wasting any time, officially announcing the next major expansion for its long-running MMO. Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity is set to launch on October 28th, continuing the studio's new annual expansion model and sending players away to a mysterious new island.

The new adventure kicks off with sailors' tales of Castora, a legendary island brimming with magical ley energy. Such a location has attracted the attention of the Inquest, the villainous Asuran tech syndicate, and it's up to the player's Commander to beat them to it and uncover their plans.

The headline feature for most veteran players will be the arrival of a new Elite Specialization for every profession, promising to shake up the meta with new traits and utility skills. ArenaNet is giving everyone a chance to try these out ahead of launch, with a week-long beta event scheduled to run from August 20th to the 27th. The expansion also adds three new mastery lines for the aquatic Skimmer mount and a ‘Homestead Layout' feature, allowing players to save and share their home instance designs with others.

On launch day, players will get to explore two new open-world maps on the island of Castora. ArenaNet has also detailed the post-launch roadmap for 2026, which will deliver two more maps, new Raid Encounters, a new Convergence instance, two storyline extensions, and a fresh batch of legendary gear to chase.

Pre-orders are live now, starting with the Standard Edition for $24.99/€24.99, which includes a handful of cosmetic goodies. A $49.99/€49.99 Deluxe Edition adds a unique skimmer skin and other digital items, while the $74.99/€74.99 Ultimate Edition packs the same as the Deluxe Edition, plus 4,000 Gems.

KitGuru says: Are you still playing Guild Wars 2? Will you get the new expansion?

EA has officially announced that EA FC 26 will launch on PC on September 26th. The news arrived alongside the first gameplay trailer and, perhaps most notably for PC gamers, the official system requirements, which look suspiciously familiar.

To address long-standing community feedback, EA is introducing two distinct ways to play the game: Authentic Mode and Competitive Mode. Authentic Mode is designed to provide a more realistic football experience, making it the default for offline play. Competitive Mode, on the other hand, is all about fast, fluid, and responsive gameplay, tuned specifically for the online game modes.

Career mode is also getting a new feature called Manager Live Challenges. This will introduce dynamic “what if” scenarios and challenges based on real-world football storylines. These can range from short, quick-play events to multi-season arcs, offering rewards as you complete them throughout the year.

For PC players, the hardware barrier to entry remains unchanged. The system requirements for FC 26 are identical to those for FC 25. You'll need at least an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-6600K, 8 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti or AMD RX 570. The recommended specs call for a Ryzen 7 2700X or Core i7-6700, 12 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1660 or RX 5600 XT. While this means anyone who could run last year's game is good to go, it also confirms that we shouldn't expect any major graphical leaps on the PC platform this year. The detailed system requirements can be found below:

MINIMUM

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10/11 – 64-Bit (Latest Update)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5 6600k
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD RX 570 or Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti
• DirectX: Version 12
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 100 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX: 12 Compatible video card or equivalent (feature level 12_0)

RECOMMENDED

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10/11 – 64-Bit (Latest Update)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X or Intel Core i7 6700
• Memory: 12 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD RX 5600 XT or Nvidia GTX 1660
• DirectX: Version 12
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 100 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX: 12 Compatible video card or equivalent (feature level 12_0)

EA FC 26 is now available to pre-order, with the standard edition costing £69.99/€69.99/$69.99. This version includes the game, a 92+ Icon player for EA FC 25, 3 Icon players for Manager Career, a 5-star coach in Manager Career, a 5-Star youth scout in Manager Career, Manager Live Challenge content, an archetype unlock consumable, and 2x Double AXP for 10 matches. The Ultimate Edition is also available to pre-order for £89.99/€89.99/$89.99. It includes an EA FC 26 Icon player, an EA FC 25 Exclusive Player EVO, an EA FC 25 93+ ICON Pick (1 of 5), up to 7 days early access, the season 1 premium pass, up to 6000 FC points over 2 months, an additional Evo slot, and more.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on getting EA FC 26 at launch?

PC gaming has changed significantly over the last few years, and while this is sponsored content, there's also no denying that NVIDIA has been at the forefront of that shift since the company's first RTX GPUs launched back in 2018. While raw GPU power is still important, NVIDIA is keen to emphasise the ‘three pillars of gaming': latency, frame rate and image quality.

In today's content, we're focusing on a range of NVIDIA gaming features, including Super Resolution, Frame Generation, Reflex and more, examining how they each offer different relationships with those three pillars of gaming. Super Resolution, for instance, renders at a lower resolution before using AI to upscale the final output – meaning an increase to frame rate, while image quality also varies compared to native rendering.

Frame Generation is also a key consideration for our video today, a technology which inserts AI-generated frames in-between traditionally rendered ones. This does have the effect of increasing latency, but it also boosts frame rate beyond what could be otherwise achieved. We also touch on the image quality of said AI-generated frames, while looking at Reflex – NVIDIA's technology to reduce PC latency.

For the full analysis, be sure to check out the video below, where we assess each key feature and the knock-on effect for frame rate, latency and image quality in game:

Closing Thoughts

As we said at the very start of this article, there’s no doubt PC gaming has changed massively over the last few years. The adoption of modern features means there is a lot more to the gaming experience now than just raw FPS, and it’s fascinating to see the interplay between the features we looked at today. Super Resolution, for instance, affects both latency, image quality and frame rate, while Frame Generation can add latency but also boost frame rates in a way that would otherwise be impossible. Then there’s Reflex which can mitigate that latency penalty.

Ultimately it comes down to the individual and what specific features and technologies you want to enable – and for me that is the beauty of PC gaming, as there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

Our testing today has focused on the latest and greatest features, including the likes of MFG, which is exclusive to the Blackwell architecture. As we saw from our testing with the 5060 Ti 16GB, the 5070 and the 5070 Ti, all three GPUs are able to offer a way of playing that you simply can’t achieve on older generations, particularly when looking at ray traced or path traced experiences in the latest AAA games.

KitGuru says: Let us know which features you use regularly!

Though far from Capcom’s best-selling franchise, the Devil May Cry series is certainly one of the publisher’s most iconic. While fans wait patiently for news on a potential Devil May Cry 6, Humble is currently offering the entire series for a heavily discounted price.

Available to purchase for the next two weeks, the Devil May Cry ‘Devil Trigger Collection’ is being offered in two forms. Paying £7.40 or more will get you the original Devil May Cry HD Trilogy Collection alongside the pseudo-reboot DMC: Devil May Cry.

Paying the full £14.81 meanwhile will net you the above plus Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition and DMC 5 + the Vergil DLC – giving you the full complete Devil May Cry franchise collection (aside from 5’s Special Edition additions).

Though some of these games may have issues on PC, this bundle represents a great way to get your hands on the full Devil May Cry series for a relatively low cost.

Hopefully we get official word on DMC 6 at some point before the end of the decade.

In case you missed it, Humble is also currently offering a Borderlands franchise bundle – the full details of which can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Devil May Cry series? Which entry is your favourite? Which one has the best gameplay? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Announced late last year, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is the newest entry in SEGA’s own take on the Kart Racing genre. Set to arrive on the 25th of September across pretty much all systems, Switch 2 owners in particular will have to wait a few extra months to get in on the racing – with Crossworlds confirmed to be launching on Switch 2 this Holiday.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds was announced during last year’s Game Awards ahead of the Switch 2’s official unveiling. In the wake of the console’s announcement, SEGA confirmed that a version of Sonic Racing: Crossworlds was in the works for Switch 2 – though it would arrive at a later date.

Finally, we’ve gotten more details on the Switch 2 version, with SEGA revealing an interesting launch strategy. Unlike all other systems, the Switch 2 release will be staggered – with a digital version arriving in Holiday 2025 and a physical release some time in Early 2026.

Fortunately, the wait for the cartridge release should at the very least be worth it, with the team confirming that “the physical version will feature the full base game on the cartridge” –  meaning no Game-Key Cards.

Finally, those who can’t wait and wind up getting the Switch 1 version can upgrade later down the line while keeping all progress, Unfortunately, no price was given for said upgrade. Hopefully it won’t be too steep.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for Sonic Racing: Crossworlds? What platform do you plan to buy it on? What would be a fair price for the upgrade? Let us know down below.

Each week, the Epic Games Store gives away a title or two as part of the company’s free games program. Available for the next 7 days, all those with an Epic Games account can get their hands on the highly-praised 4x strategy game Civilization VI.

Available to add to your library from today at 4PM UK time (and claimable until the 24th) is Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Platinum Edition.

Initially released back in 2016, the game received plenty of post-launch content, helping the Civilization name to maintain its spot at the top of its genre. Unfortunately, the latest entry in the series – 2025’s Civ VII – has not had the greatest of starts.

As such, if you’re looking for a Civilization game to get into, Epic’s free offering is an excellent option. The Platinum Edition in particular includes the base game, 6 DLC packs and 2 Expansions, meaning you won’t be hurt for content.

As mentioned, you have until 4PM on the 24th of July to claim Civ VI – at which point it will be replaced by another title. Of course, once it’s in your library it’s yours to keep forever, so there’s no reason not to.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offering? Were you disappointed in Civilization VII? How many games are in your Epic Library at this point? Let us know down below.

As with the game itself, HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 has been somewhat of a mixed bag reception-wise. That said, the show remains huge for both PlayStation and HBO, with a 3rd Season being announced ahead of Season 2’s premiere. As the dust settles on The Last of Us Season 2, HBO has started to discuss what’s next with Season 3.

HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 concluded at the tail-end of May, teeing up for future seasons including the already-greenlit Season 3. Though the next series is obviously years away, HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys spoke to Variety on what’s in store for The Last of Us.

Offering their thoughts on the recent announcement that Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann is stepping away from the show following Season 2’s conclusion, Bloys stated:

“Obviously it was great to have Neil involved in the beginning. The whole reason that I wanted to do ‘Last of Us' is after ‘Chernobyl,' I said to Craig, ‘what do you want to do next?' And ‘Last of Us' was what he wanted to do. That's what was most important to me, Craig's creative excitement about the show.”

While Bloys added that “It was fantastic to have Neil involved” HBO seems confident in what Druckmann has left behind for the capable hands of Craig Mazin.

Prior to the release of Season 2, it was confirmed that the adaptation of TLOU Part II would at the very least take up a couple seasons – though nothing was solidified at the time. Expanding on this decision, Bloys said:

“The series is definitely planned for 2027. Craig is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn't been decided yet, and I'm following Craig's lead on that.”

Given the fact that each season seems to be premiering roughly two years after the last, having another multi-year wait following Season 3 for the end of Part II’s narrative could be a bit rough. That said, whatever winds up being best for the story is what will be best for the show, and so we will have to patiently wait.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Season 2? Are you looking forward to the next one? How should they approach the rest of Part II’s adaptation? Let us know down below.

CD Projekt Red has been working with Apple's new Macs for a while now, having ported over the classic Witcher titles to run on Apple M1 and newer Macs. Now, CD Projekt Red is going for something more ambitious – a Mac release of Cyberpunk 2077. 

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is heading to macOS this week. CD Projekt Red confirmed its plans to bring Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition to Mac in November last year, but months of silence followed. Now, alongside details on Patch 2.3, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the game will arrive on Mac tomorrow, the 17th of July.

The Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077 features all the same tech as the regular PC version, including features like Path Tracing, Frame Generation and Spatial Audio. CDPR plans to take “full advantage” of Apple Silicon, along with Apple's Metal API, but we do not yet know how well the game will run.

Once available, Cyberpunk 2077 will run on any Mac powered by an Apple M-series chip, but you are going to have a better time running the game on a newer M4-powered Mac, versus an older M1 unit.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It will be very interesting to see the benchmarks for this once it lands. We've already seen titles like Death Stranding and Resident Evil Village on Mac, but Cyberpunk 2077 is a very different beast. 

The Rockstar Games Social Club is no more. Rockstar announced today that its online platform will be closing down later this month.

The Rockstar Social Club was widely used by GTA V players, as it allowed people to create their own ‘Crews' for easy team-ups in GTA Online. The Social Club would also track achievements and allow users to share custom missions and races for GTA Online.

It is unclear exactly why Rockstar is shutting down the social club, but it likely has everything to do with the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. While GTA Online was popular in GTA 5, it did have its issues, such as a lack of protection against cheats. It seems likely that Rockstar will debut a new system for GTA 6, with increased security and cross-platform features so those on Xbox and PlayStation can team up.

Rockstar has not yet made any public announcements regarding GTA Online in GTA 6. Grand Theft Auto 6 is due to release in May 2026.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Did you use the Rockstar Social Club much? What do you think Rockstar will replace it with?

Last month, CD Projekt Red announced plans for yet another Cyberpunk 2077 update. While Patch 2.2 was supposed to be the final patch, Patch 2.3 brings even more to the game. New content aside, the game is also getting more tech upgrades, with the addition of FSR 4 support and Intel XeSS 2.0, which includes Intel's own form of Frame Generation. 

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.3 will be rolling out to all platforms tomorrow, the 17th of July. While the full patch notes are not yet live, a group of developers from the Cyberpunk 2077 team hosted a stream this afternoon detailing the new features:

As mentioned in the video, Patch 2.3 will include more tech upgrades, bringing AMD's improved FSR 4 upscaling technology, and Intel's new XeSS 2.0 upscaler. However, in the case of FSR 4, you will also need a new graphics driver from AMD to enable the feature, so be on the lookout for a Radeon Software update in the coming week.

The new patch also introduces new vehicles for players to collect, some of which are only obtainable after completing certain quests. The new update also adds ‘AutoDrive' to most cars in the game. Any ‘high tech' car in Cyberpunk 2077 will now be able to enable the AutoDrive feature to have the car automatically follow the roads through Night City to get you to your destination. This destination can be any waypoint on the map, so if you really hate driving, you can now avoid it entirely, while still getting to soak in the sights of Night City. If you don't feel like taking your own car, you can also call up the Delamain Taxi Service.

The full patch notes will be available tomorrow when the update rolls out, so expect more details tomorrow.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Unfortunately, it looks like New Game+ still isn't on the radar for Cyberpunk 2077.

Obsidian has been hard at work on Avowed updates since launching the game in February. Following on from a roadmap reveal in May, Avowed's major 1.5 update has arrived, bringing some highly requested new features along with it.

While Patch 1.4 brought increases to earned gold and crafting materials in-game, as well as an Arachnophobia mode, Patch 1.5 brings changes that open up new character builds. Patch 1.5 adds new unique gear to collect, new abilities and passives in the skill tree, and reworked Ranger and Fighter classes.

Avowed Patch 1.5 is also notable for its Steam Deck improvements. Following this update, Avowed is now Steam Deck Verified, and you'll be able to enable a 40FPS limit, which will play nicely with the Steam Deck OLED's 120Hz display.

Avowed Patch 1.5 is now rolling out on all platforms. Later in the year, Obsidian plans to add more features, including New Game Plus.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Avowed has been one of my favourite games of 2025 and it has only improved since launch. Have you tried Avowed since its release? Or are you waiting for a sale later in the year?

If you've been tinkering with NVIDIA's Project G-Assist and have a great idea for a new feature, now's your chance to shine, and potentially win some next-generation hardware. Nvidia is running a hackathon to encourage developers to build custom plug-ins for its AI assistant, but you'll have to be quick, as the deadline for submissions is July 21st.

For those who haven't been following along, Project G-Assist is Nvidia's new programmable AI assistant that lives within the GeForce overlay. It's designed to let you control and optimise your system with natural language commands, all without needing to Alt-Tab out of your game. The “Plug and Play” hackathon challenges developers of all skill levels to expand their capabilities by creating their plug-ins using Python, C++, or even a ChatGPT-based tool for those less familiar with coding.

Nvidia is putting up some seriously impressive loot to attract talent. The grand prize winner will walk away with a brand-new GeForce RTX 5090 laptop. Second place will snag a GeForce RTX 5080, and third place will receive a GeForce RTX 5070. All three winners will also get a spotlight on Nvidia's social channels and a chance to meet the G-Assist team.

To get your entry in, you have until Monday, July 21st, at 7:59 BST to submit a GitHub repository (detailed requirements here) containing your plug-in's source code and executable files. Entrants must also create a short video (between 30 seconds and 2 minutes) showing off their creation in action and promote it on X, TikTok, or Instagram using the hashtag #AIonRTXHackathon before filling out the official online submission form.

Judges will evaluate entries based on creativity, technical execution, and usability. For anyone looking to make a last-minute push, Nvidia has provided a host of resources, including sample plug-ins on GitHub and a dedicated developer Discord channel for support.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning to join Nvidia's G-Assist Hackathon? 

The long-running instability saga surrounding Intel's 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs has taken another turn, with reports now emerging that the ongoing summer heatwaves in Europe are taking a toll on these processors. According to a Mozilla engineer, the recent heatwaves coincided with a spike in crash reports from systems using Intel Raptor Lake processors. 

Gabriele Svelto, a staff platform engineer at Mozilla, revealed the startling correlation on social media. He stated, “I can literally see which EU countries have been affected by heat waves by looking at the locales of Firefox crash reports coming from Raptor Lake systems”.

The underlying problem is the widely publicised “Vmin Shift” issue, a hardware flaw related to timing and voltage regulation that can cause system instability, particularly under load and at high temperatures. While Intel has released a series of microcode updates to address the problem, Svelto refers to these as “mitigations rather than fixes”, suggesting the fundamental issue remains. He explains that these chips were already running very close to their limits, and the combination of expected silicon degradation and summer heat is enough to push them over the edge.

The situation has become so pronounced that Mozilla was forced to take action. According to the platform engineer, the team had to disable an automated bot that files crash reports simply because it was being overwhelmed by the logs sent by the systems affected. He specifically noted that a large percentage of the crashes were coming from systems running the Core i7-14700K CPU.

While Intel has been working to contain the issue through firmware updates, having a mainstream application like Firefox consistently crash serves as a frustrating reminder of the hardware's limitations. With the summer heat showing no signs of letting up, many users are being advised to ensure they have the latest BIOS updates and adequate cooling, while some are avoiding the affected CPUs altogether until a more permanent solution is found.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you have a system running an Intel Raptor Lake processor? Have you had any issues with it during the recent heatwave?

Back in 2023, following the box office success of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo officially announced its plans to make a Legend of Zelda movie. The film is set to hit cinemas in 2027 and now, we have our first look at the cast, with the lead actors for Link and Zelda now being confirmed. 

Unlike the Super Mario Bros. movie, Nintendo's Legend of Zelda film will be live-action. Some reports have previously claimed that there are plans for a trilogy, not just one standalone movie, but there is no official confirmation on that at this time. Zelda co-creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, is involved in the film from Nintendo's side and has been providing periodic updates. A few months ago, Miyamoto confirmed that the film is targeting a May 7th 2027 release date. Now, he's back to confirm the lead actors for the roles of Link and Zelda:

This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KA5XW3lwul

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025

Link will be played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, while Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason. Ainsworth is a young British actor known for appearances in The Sandman and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Bragason is newer to the acting world with just a handful of roles. Last year, she appeared in the film ‘The Radleys' and in the Disney+ show, Renegade Nell. Gamers will recognise her as the voice of Young Luna in Final Fantasy 15.

Little else is known about the live-action Zelda movie at this time. However, when filming begins, we expect to learn a bit more through Behind-the-Scenes leaks, like set photos.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We now have our live-action Link and Zelda. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we get a look at the cast in costume. 

AOC is making a significant push into the business and professional space with the announcement of its new Essential E4 series, a lineup of ten new monitors designed for the modern workplace. Ranging from standard 24-inch displays all the way to 34-inch curved ultrawides, the series is notable for its impressive feature set, strong sustainability credentials, and a 5-year warranty on all models.

For users demanding single-cable docking solutions, AOC has a range of USB-C enhanced models. These displays, identified by a ‘CV' in their model name, act as complete workstation hubs. They provide up to 90W of Power Delivery to charge a connected laptop, a built-in 4-port USB-A hub for peripherals, and even an RJ-45 port for a stable, wired network connection passed through the same USB-C cable. Select models also include a DisplayPort-out, allowing for easy daisy-chaining of a second monitor without a mess of cables running back to the PC. Notably, there's also a 4K model, the U27E4CV, featuring a 10-bit panel, 60 Hz refresh rate, and 400 nits of brightness.

At the top of the range are the feature-packed 34-inch ultrawide models, the CU34E4CV and CU34E4CW. These curved VA panels offer a WQHD (3440×1440) resolution and are packed with productivity features, including a built-in KVM switch to seamlessly control two different computers with a single set of peripherals. For those in constant video calls, the CU34E4CW model even integrates a 5MP webcam with Windows Hello support for secure, password-free login. Both monitors use 10-bit panels with 350 nits of brightness and a 120 Hz refresh rate.

AOC is also emphasising ergonomics and sustainability. All models feature highly adjustable stands, a 5-year warranty, and are TCO Certified generation 10. The first models of the AOC E4 series are rolling out this month. The 24E4U, 27E4U, and Q27E4U are available now for £119.00, £139.00, and £169.00, respectively. They will be followed by the USB-C variants in August and September, with the remaining models arriving in the autumn.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Of all the new AOC E4 monitors, which one would you want on your desk?

Atlus took a big swing last year with a brand new IP, Metaphor: ReFantazio. The game borrows some elements from the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, and fans were quick to shower the game with praise for its fantasy setting and characters.

Metaphor: ReFantazio hit one million copies sold last October, becoming the fastest-selling Atlus game at launch. Since then, the game has gone on to sell another million copies, just ahead of the game's one year anniversary.

Metaphor: ReFantazio has officially sold 2 million units worldwide!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us.

Shigenori Soejima, Character Designer pic.twitter.com/2708dZik1b

— Official ATLUS West (@Atlus_West) July 16, 2025

In Metaphor: ReFantazio, players are transported into a fantasy world, where you and your fairy companion must lift a curse and save the kingdom. It is a very different flavour to the likes of Persona or Shin Megami Tensei. The Persona games are primarily set in real-world Japan, with trips into another dimension. Meanwhile, SMT is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Japan.

The game ended up being one of the highest-rated releases of 2024, earning high scores from numerous gaming outlets, as well as a GOTY nomination at The Game Awards. It is unclear if Atlus has more plans for this IP, but considering its sales success, it could end up being Atlus's ‘third pillar', joining Persona and SMT as one of the studio's key franchises.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I ended up enjoying Metaphor: ReFantazio more than both Persona 5 and SMT 5, so I'm hoping Atlus has more on the way at some point. In the meantime though, we really need to find out what is happening with Persona 6.

Founded back in 2021 and subsequently closed down just 3 years later, Deviation Games was a brand new studio created by PlayStation and headed by COD Zombies alumni Jason Blundell. Prior to its closure, the team were said to be working on a brand new IP – likely a first-person shooter. Though nothing official was shared at the time, concept art for the ill-fated game has now surfaced.

As discovered by the publication mp1st, one ex-Deviation Games developer published a number of pieces of concept art from their time at the studio. Dated as having been made back in 2020, these pieces clearly show the game in its earliest stages – with little in the way of a unique visual style outside of a couple weapons and concepts of space; indicating that it was likely sci-fi in nature.

For the uninitiated, Deviation Games was created back in June of 2021. Formed primarily of ex Call of Duty developers and headed by Jason Blundell, little was shared on the game. That said, things seemed to be going well, with a second studio being opened in January of 2022.

Unfortunately, later that same year Jason Blundell announced his departure from the studio – with Deviation Games ultimately shutting down in March of 2024.

Luckily, the story doesn’t end here however, with Blundell continuing to partner with PlayStation; announcing another new studio in the form of Dark Outlaw Games just a couple months ago. As with Deviation Games, basically nothing else has been shared at this time.

Hopefully Sony/Blundell are able to get things right the second time round. It will be interesting to see how different this project winds up being to Deviation Games’.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the concept art? Could there have been something compelling if it was given the time to cook? How much faith do you have in Dark Outlaw Games? Let us know down below.

The Life is Strange series is part of a dying breed of story-focused, choice-based adventure titles which took the reins over from the likes of many classic PC adventure games. First released in 2015, the series has seen a couple sequels, a prequel and spin-offs. If you’ve yet to give the series a go, Square Enix has now announced the Life is Strange Collection – featuring all 5 games in the franchise.

So far only announced for the PS5, the Life is Strange Collection combines all 5 of DONTNOD’s and Deck Nine’s entries in the Life is Strange series into one pretty affordable package.

Set to release on the 2nd of October and costing $59.99, the list of games included are as follows:

• Life is Strange Remastered
• Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered
• Life is Strange 2
• Life is Strange: True Colors Deluxe Edition
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure Ultimate Edition
• All downloadable content released for each game, including pre-order bonuses

Unfortunately, there is one downside to this collection. Though being made available physically, Square Enix notes that just Life is Strange: True Colors and Double Exposure are loaded onto the disc, with the first 3 entries in the series being reduced to mere digital codes in the box.

Regardless, the Life is Strange series is one which is definitely worth giving a go if you enjoy emotional stories, impactful decisions and a nostalgic soundtrack.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Life is Strange series? Which entry is your favourite? Are you bothered by the codes in the box? Let us know down below.

While Nintendo aren’t typically ones to go back on decisions which they’ve made, it appears as though the console maker is being somewhat more receptive to feedback in the wake of its Switch 2 launch. Even so, it is interesting to see Nintendo now asking fans what they think of the highly controversial Game-Key Card system which was introduced with the Switch’s successor.

In a very un-Nintendo move, the console maker recently sent out a customer survey in Japan directly addressing its new Game-Key Card system and asking for fans’ opinions on its implementation and more. Though a short survey, it seems to say quite a lot, with the questions (as translated by VGC) being as follows:

• Did you know that Nintendo Switch 2 packaged software includes a game card called a ‘Game Key Card'?
• Do you know anything about the characteristics of the Game Key Cards? Please select all that you know.
• After reading the above explanation, if you wanted to buy a piece of software and there was a Game Key Card or a download version available, which would you choose? Please choose the answer that applies.

The response options made available for the last question is of particular note, with there being no way to express preference for proper physical game cards.

That said, it is quite clear that Nintendo has heard the outcries regarding its Game-Key Card system. Whether they will do anything about it beyond this survey, we will have to wait and find out.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Game-Key Cards? Are they preferable to digital-only? Will Nintendo change their tune given enough discourse? Let us know your thoughts down below.

While the studio may be known best in recent years for having created the highly popular Dragon Ball FighterZ game, Arc System works has been working on various fighting game franchises for decades. Easily the team’s seminal IP is its Guilty Gear series. Unfortunately, while the studio was said to be working on a follow-up to 2021’s Guilty Gear Strive, insiders are now claiming that the in-development title has been cancelled.

As reported by known industry leakers Insider-Gaming, “a new Guilty Gear game that had been in development has recently been canceled at developer ARC System Works.”

According to the report, the cancellation was issued just a “couple weeks” ago – with no reasons being given as to why.

It is worth noting that Arc System Works is currently deep in development on the fighting game Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Being created in partnership with PlayStation, the 2026 title represents by far the most ambitious project for the studio yet.

Regardless of whether the ongoing development of Marvel Tokon is to blame for Guilty Gear’s cancellation, it appears as though the franchise is far from dead, with one source telling Insider-Gaming that while the series would be going “back to the drawing board,” it isn’t finished.

Given the scope of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, hopefully Arc System Works are simply busy working on the upcoming fighter – and will get back to Guilty Gear following its release next year. We will have to wait and see.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this report? Are you more excited for Marvel Tokon or a new Guilty Gear? When do you think the next entry could be released? Let us know down below.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is just around the corner, and as such, the developer Weta Workshop shared the PC system requirements to run it. As it seems, the barrier to entry for a life in Bywater is very low.

If you're aiming for a baseline experience at 1080p with 30 FPS on Very Low settings, you can dust off some old hardware. The minimum graphics card requirements point to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or an AMD Radeon R9 270X. That's right, GPUs that are now well over a decade old will be enough to get you in the game, alongside a modest processor like an Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200.

Of course, for a much smoother and prettier experience at 1080p and 60 FPS on High settings, you'll need to step up to more modern kit. The recommended specs call for a significant jump to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or an AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT. On the CPU front, you'll be looking at an Intel Core i5-10600 or an AMD Ryzen 5 8400F.

Both the minimum and recommended configurations call for 16GB of system RAM, which is pretty standard for modern gaming. This contrasts sharply with the game's tiny storage footprint, requiring just 3 GB of free space. This suggests the game's assets are highly compressed or that the world itself is not overwhelmingly large. Below you can see the detailed system requirements:

MINIMUM

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, 4 GB or AMD Radeon R9 270X, 4 GB or Intel Arc A580, 8 GB
• Storage: 3 GB available space
• Additional Notes / Details: 1080p Very Low @ 30 FPS

RECOMMENDED

• OS: Windows 11
• Processor: Intel Core i5-10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 8400F
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, 12 GB
• Storage: 3 GB available space
• Additional Notes / Details: 1080p High @ 60 FPS

Despite a reportedly challenging development cycle with several delays, Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is set to launch on July 29th for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, offering a peaceful escape into Tolkien's beloved world.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on trying Tales of the Shire? 

Despite the success of the films, John Wick Hex is a game that flew completely under the radar after its release in 2019. The game started off as an Epic Games Store exclusive but eventually came to Steam and consoles in 2020. Now six years on, the game is being delisted. 

Mike Bithell, a developer best known behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume was the creative visionary behind John Wick Hex. The game is a strategy game rather than a shooter, with levels based around carefully plotting Wick's movements to take out targets and avoid fire.

Unfortunately, as with any game based on a film property, the rights don't last forever. As a result, John Wick Hex will be removed from sale on all platforms on the 17th of July. Unfortunately, the developers left fans with very short notice and now, the game is no longer on sale at a discounted price, which it was just weeks ago during the Summer Sale. A lot of potential buyers likely would have pulled the trigger had this announcement been made just a bit sooner.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: John Wick Hex is a fun little strategy game and it is a shame to see it being delisted. Perhaps it will return one day but given the success of the films, those franchise rights are not going to be cheap.