Microsoft has updated the Xbox Game Development Kit (GDK) with a suite of new features, suggesting that the next-generation Xbox could be a hybrid device that combines console and PC gaming capabilities. This follows rumours of such a device, Microsoft's own experiments with the ROG Ally X handheld, and its push for an ‘Xbox Full Screen Experience' on Windows.
A 10-minute video (via Windows Central) on the Microsoft Game Dev YouTube channel details the October 2025 GDK update, highlighting four key features designed to help developers prepare for this potential future. Starting with GameInput, this new API standardises input across keyboards, mice, Xbox gamepads, and custom controllers. It allows developers to use a single codebase for all input methods, ensuring a consistent experience across different device types—a crucial step for a hybrid platform.
Then, there's PlayFab game saves, which enable true cross-platform saves without requiring developers to build their own bespoke systems. While some games already offer this feature between consoles and PC (via Steam), PlayFab provides a unified, platform-agnostic solution that works out of the box. There's also the Xbox Game Package Manager, a tool that has been overhauled to streamline the process of making games ‘Xbox Play Anywhere' compatible. A single interface now handles packaging for both Xbox and PC, replacing a previously multi-step process that was prone to errors. Lastly, the Cross-Platform Gaming Runtime enhances social connectivity between platforms, enabling developers to integrate Xbox social features directly into non-Xbox versions of their games, including those on Steam.
While Microsoft has not explicitly confirmed that these updates are for a next-gen hybrid console, they certainly point towards a future Xbox experience that is far more PC-like.
KitGuru says: What key features do you think the next-gen Xbox will bring?
Ookla, the company best known for its online connection testing service, is moving beyond browser tabs and mobile apps, entering the dedicated hardware segment. The newly announced Speedtest Pulse is a portable network diagnostic device designed specifically for ISPs and enterprise IT departments that need to validate connections on-site.
The Speedtest Pulse is designed to address the common support headache where the root cause of a “slow internet” complaint could be anything from the ISP entry point to poor local Wi-Fi coverage or just an aging client device. Speedtest Pulse is intended to provide a standardised, smartphone-based validation tool for technicians in the field to isolate these issues.
At launch, the hardware focuses on its Active Pulse mode. This allows technicians to run immediate, guided tests during new installations or trouble calls. The system can determine whether the issue resides in the ISP, the local Wi-Fi environment, or a client device. It can then generate a performance report that serves as a baseline for that particular installation, which can be referenced later if problems arise.
Perhaps more interesting for long-term troubleshooting is the planned Continuous Pulse feature, though this is not scheduled to arrive until 2026. This future update will enable the Speedtest Pulse to function as a “leave-behind” probe, monitoring connection performance over time to detect intermittent faults that often disappear the moment a technician arrives on site.
The hardware leverages Ookla's existing global network of over 15,000 testing servers to ensure the results match what users see on their own devices. All data collected by the Pulse integrates directly with the company's Speedtest Insights platform for centralised analysis by support teams.
KitGuru says: For mainstream users, the Speedtest Pulse is overkill. However, for professionals who manage large IT parks or frequently work with networks, it should make their job much easier.
Elgato has partnered with Discord to release a special edition of its popular six-key controller, the Stream Deck Mini: Discord Edition. This marks a shift in strategy for Elgato, as this is its first product to be sold exclusively through select retail partners worldwide, rather than directly or through all standard channels.
The Discord Edition of the Stream Deck Mini is a standard six-key Stream Deck Mini but dressed in a Discord-themed chassis featuring the Clyde logo. It's designed to give Discord users tactile, immediate control over the app's core functions without needing to alt-tab out of a game or other application. The device supports real-time feedback on its keys, displaying who is currently speaking or showing unread notifications directly on the miniature screens.
Out of the box, the unit comes pre-loaded with a default Discord profile to get users started quickly, though it remains fully customisable via the standard Stream Deck software. Like any Stream Deck, it can also be used to control countless other applications, from creative tools like Photoshop to media players and streaming software.
As a sweetener, each unit includes a code for one free month of Discord Nitro. This offer is valid for new subscribers or those who haven't had an active Nitro subscription in the past 12 months. The Stream Deck Mini: Discord Edition is available now at select retailers, including Best Buy (Americas), Currys (UK/Europe), and JB Hi-Fi (APAC). Elgato has provided an interactive store locator on its website to help users locate participating stores.
KitGuru says: If you were going to buy an Elgato Stream Deck Mini, would you go for the standard model or the Discord Edition?
The Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition has dropped for PC, PS5 and Xbox, but the update isn't being received particularly well on the PC side. Players have encountered new bugs on PC, as well as issues getting the newly-included Creation Club content working.
Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition is a package that includes the base game, all of the expansions, and a ‘Creations Bundle', containing 150 community-made mods from the Creation Club, all implemented into the game without any extra work needed. Unfortunately, the changeover to the Anniversary Edition has not gone as smoothly as Bethesda had hoped, with the ‘Creation Bundle' garnering a negative overall rating on Steam.
Some of the top-rated reviews right now say that Fallout 4 has become buggier since the update. Others have had issues getting the new creation club content at all and others are now facing crashes. A common complaint on the PC side is that the update has broken other mods, which isn't exactly uncommon for a heavily modded game after an update, but the newly included creation club content could be causing its own share of conflicts between files.
There were some initial issues with Skyrim when it received its Anniversary Edition upgrade years back but Bethesda was quick to resolve conflicts and due to the popularity of Skyrim modding, many popular mods were also updated to support the new version of the game. Time will tell if the same takes place with Fallout 4.
KitGuru Says: Have any of you upgraded to the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition yet? How are you finding it so far?
It is no secret that 2025 has been a down year for Destiny 2, but we've yet to see Bungie or Sony publicly acknowledge it. That changed this week during Sony's latest earnings report, with executives confirming that the game hasn't met the expectations set at the time of Sony's acquisition of Bungie.
In a Q&A at the end of the earnings call, Sony CFO, Lin Tao, stated that “the level of sales and user engagement have not reached the expectations we had at the time of the acquisition of Bungie”. While fans have suspected for a long while that the Bungie acquisition has not gone well for Sony, this is the first time we've seen a public acknowledgment of goals not being met.
Here is the full statement from Tao (via Eurogamer): “Regarding Destiny 2, partially due to the changes in the competitive environment, the level of sales and user engagement have not reached the expectations we had at the time of the acquisition of Bungie. While we will continue to make improvements, we downwardly revised the business projection for the time being and recorded an impairment loss against a portion of the assets at Bungie.”
While Bungie was brought in to be the kingpin of live-service games for PlayStation, Sony is actually making the most of its money in this sector elsewhere. In particular, Tao cited games like Helldivers 2 and MLB: The Show as key contributors to Sony's growing live-service revenues.
KitGuru Says: Renegades is coming up soon, which should bring a spike to Destiny 2 and if its good, Star Wars fans who have not previously played Destiny may jump on board.
While Bungie had planned on releasing Marathon this year, a stolen art fiasco put those release plans on ice for months. At this point, we still don't have a new release date for the game, but public testing did resume in October and now, Sony has reaffirmed plans to launch it before the end of March next year.
As part of a recent earnings report call, Sony CFO, Lin Tao, reaffirmed the timeline for Marathon, stating that it is “fully dedicated to launching [Marathon] to schedule”.
Previously, Sony had announced plans to release Marathon within the current fiscal year, despite the delay over this Summer. At this point in time, Sony and Bungie are “analysing the performance” of recent playtests against various key performance indicators (KPIs) and will “make corrections” as needed to give the game the best chance of success at launch.
While Marathon is still on track to release in the coming months, it isn't all good news for Bungie. During this same earnings report, Sony also confirmed that the sales and overall player numbers for Destiny 2 have been cause for concern since the acquisition.
KitGuru Says: Marathon would have been in a pretty good position if it had released in September as planned, but now, it will be contending with the Steam release of Escape from Tarkov, as well as the recent breakout hit, Arc Raiders.
CD Projekt Red has been hard at work on the next major Witcher game for a long while now, with hundreds of developers now assigned to the project. CD Projekt Red isn't quite done hiring just yet though, with the company recently bringing on board the gameplay designer behind Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.
Karel Kolmann, one of the gameplay designers for Warhorse Studios during the development of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, has now joined CD Projekt Red as a Senior Quest Designer for The Witcher 4.
In this role, Kolmann will help in the creation of new quests scenarios that further the game's overarching narrative vision. We've already seen an example of what quests in The Witcher 4 may involve thanks to the recent gameplay slice shown earlier this year.
The Witcher 4 does not yet have a release date but production is well underway. Based on previous statements from higher-ups at CDPR, we shouldn't expect the game for a few more years at least.
KitGuru Says: The Witcher 3 will be fondly remembered as one of the best RPGs. Hopefully The Witcher 4 can further that legacy when it eventually arrives. Naturally, the quests will play a huge part in whether or not that happens.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 now just days away from launch, Treyarch has begun to reveal more about the additional modes coming to the game. One of these new modes is Endgame, a new co-op experience that expands the story beyond the initial 11 campaign missions.
Endgame takes players into Avalon, a sprawling environment where JSOC squads continue their incursions against The Guild while contending with exposure zones leaking a mysterious toxin. Designed to be played in squads of up to four players, you'll take on dynamic assignments and earn rewards for completing them, all while trying to avoid other squads lurking across the map, as well as NPC enemies. It is a bit like DMZ, but expanded and improved upon and crucially, now expands on the main campaign, rather than being a standalone mode separate from the campaign.
Players begin Endgame by selecting one of up to 24 Operators and customizing a loadout that includes a main weapon, melee option, field equipment, and acquisitions carried over from previous runs. Workbenches scattered across Avalon allow weapons to be upgraded in rarity, boosting their effectiveness. Each operator can also select different major and minor abilities and unlock different skill tracks, so you'll be able to refine your loadout and playstyle as you go.
Endgame will be one of the core modes available to players on day-one when Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 releases across PC, PS5 and Xbox on the 14th of November.
KitGuru Says: This is the latest attempt at bringing an extraction-based mode to Call of Duty. It will be interesting to see how it does but as usual, I expect the majority to be playing traditional multiplayer modes, along with Warzone.
Prior to the release of the Switch 2, Nintendo confirmed that some of the OG Switch’s 15,000+ games may be unsupported on the sequel system. At the time, the console maker claimed to have tested roughly 75% of all available titles. Months on from the Switch 2’s launch, Nintendo has now published a dedicated website to check the backwards compatibility of thousands of Switch 1 games.
In going to the console maker’s new Switch 2 compatibility checker, owners of Nintendo’s latest system can search for any of the 15,000+ OG Switch titles available across the eShop in order to determine whether any issues could occur when playing on the Switch 2.
While Switch 2 owners could already find out whether a game is compatible or not through the eShop itself, this new site makes the whole process much more streamlined, saving you time and potentially money.
In using the backwards compatibility checker, some Switch 1 titles which are still unsupported in one form or another include:
NieR: Automata – “Problems with game progression have been found”
Transistor – “The game may stop functioning correctly if the console is inserted or removed from the dock during some parts of the game”
Borderlands 3 – “Problems with game progression have been found”
Based on some of the listings, it appears as though Nintendo is still doing some testing on Switch 1 games, with the likes of Transistor being updated most recently in late September with the above statement.
While a majority of Switch 1 games do work correctly on the Switch 2, it is unfortunate to see a number of high-profile games still suffering from issues. Hopefully Nintendo can do something on their end in order to improve the experience over time – but this new site is a good start at the very least.
KitGuru says: Have you encountered any backwards compatibility issues on your Switch 2? If so, which games did not work? Will Nintendo improve support over time, or will it be left up to the developers? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Following well over a decade of silence, the Silent Hill series is back and bigger than ever, with the horror franchise seeing back-to-back successes in the form of Silent Hill 2 Remake and most recently Silent Hill F. After a year of PlayStation 5 console exclusivity, it appears as though Silent Hill 2 is finally coming to Xbox platforms later this month – with Microsoft’s own store leaking the game’s release date.
Following recent reports which suggested that Silent Hill 2 Remake would be ported to Xbox (alongside a new PS5 Pro patch), the ESRB published a new listing for the game on Xbox Series X|S.
Though yet to be officially announced, Microsoft’s Xbox store has now seemingly 100% confirmed the existence of Silent Hill 2 for the platform, with the publication TrueAchievements noting that the store page lists the title as being set for release on the 21st of November 2025; a little over a year on from its initial PS5/PC launch in October 2024.
With the Silent Hill franchise in many ways being bigger than it ever has been, it will be interesting to see how sales for the remake perform on Xbox, and whether it will help push the title past 3 million copies sold.
KitGuru says: Have you been waiting for Silent Hill 2 to come to Xbox? Did you enjoy Silent Hill F? Will the upcoming Silent Hill 1 Remake also be a timed-PlayStation exclusive? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Following the success of Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Forbidden West, Sony announced that they would be partnering up with MMO specialists NCSoft in order to “broaden PlayStation's reach to a wider audience”. Though yet to be officially announced, NCSoft’s long-rumoured Horizon MMO is seemingly set to be unveiled later this week.
As part of the upcoming G-STAR 2025 event in Korea, NCSoft have announced that they are serving as this year’s primary sponsor in order to introduce “the new frontier of MMORPG” – alongside a bunch of other previously-announced titles (as reported by mmorpg.com).
Set to go live between the 13th and 16th of November, there has been no official wording on whether the rumoured Horizon MMO will be present. That said, the stars do seem to be aligning, especially with initial reports surrounding the project going as far back as 2022; with the partnership itself being made official the following year.
Of course, we will have to wait and see whether the project is finally officially announced or not – and what style of MMO it winds up being. Hopefully we’ll find out later this week.
KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to the Horizon MMO? Could it be PlayStation’s next big hit? Are you more excited for the Horizon MMO or multiplayer project? Let us know down below.
2018 was a massive year for Bethesda Game Studios, with the team not only showing off Starfield for the first time during their E3 presentation, but also giving fans their first teaser for The Elder Scrolls VI. In the 7 years since, we’ve received little-to-nothing regarding the next Elder Scrolls, with Bethesda’s Todd Howard now claiming that the much-anticipated title is “still a long way off.”
In an interview with the publication GQ, Bethesda Game Studios head Todd Howard spoke briefly on the status of the long-awaited Elder Scrolls VI, claiming that the successor to 2011’s Skyrim is “still a long way off,” while adding “I'm preaching patience. I don't want fans to feel anxious.”
Assuming the game was close to release, it seems as though Bethesda would still be keeping quiet on the matter, with Howard claiming that ”I like to just announce stuff and release it. My perfect version – and I'm not saying this is going to happen – is that it's going to be a while and then, one day, the game will just appear.”
As mentioned, The Elder Scrolls VI was first announced back during E3 2018 alongside Starfield and Fallout 76. With the live-service Fallout now 7 years into its life (and Starfield a solid 2 and a bit years on from its release), fans have been itching to hear about The Elder Scrolls VI. Unfortunately we still only have the initial teaser trailer available to digest.
Since the release of Skyrim back in 2011, Bethesda Game Studios have been on a rocky journey, starting with the somewhat mixed reception towards Fallout 4 and culminating in the disappointing release of Starfield and its Shattered Space DLC.
Given all that has occurred between 2011 and today, it will be interesting to see just how much excitement there remains for The Elder Scrolls VI – and whether Bethesda will be able to recreate the magical feeling of Skyrim.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Howard’s statement? What are your excitement levels of The Elder Scrolls VI? Will it be received better or worse than Fallout 4? Let us know down below.
Transparent display technology is not new, having been featured in various concept laptops and signage for years. However, a new company called Visual Instruments is attempting to bring the technology to the mainstream desktop with its new Phantom monitor, a display it claims is the first practical “transparent computer monitor”.
Unlike standard transparent OLEDs, the Phantom (via Tom's Hardware) uses technology akin to a vehicle's heads-up display. The image is not generated on the glass itself but is projected onto it using mirrors, as Visual Instruments claims this method is currently the most sophisticated way to achieve a see-through effect.
The monitor also features what Visual Instruments calls “dynamic opacity”, allowing users to adjust the transparency level. This feature is said to offer three distinct settings that range from completely see-through to fully opaque, mimicking a traditional monitor when standard viewing is required.
According to the company, the Phantom is a 24-inch, 16:9 display with a native 4K resolution. Most surprisingly, the marketing materials boast an “Ultra HDR” feature capable of hitting a peak brightness of 5000 nits. It also claims 100% sRGB gamut coverage and includes standard connectivity via USB-C and HDMI.
Currently, the monitor appears to be in an extremely limited “early access” phase. Only ten units are being produced initially, with three already reserved. Each one is also being made-to-order, meaning certain specs will vary, along with pricing.
ID-Cooling is refreshing its cooling portfolio with new product lines, heavily embracing the trend of integrated displays in its cooling solutions. These releases include standard tower air cooling, low-profile ITX solutions, and a new series of 360mm AIOs.
Starting with the Frozn A410 TD is a new compact single-tower air cooler designed for mainstream users who want at-a-glance system monitoring. It features a top-mounted digital display that provides real-time CPU temperature readings. The cooler uses a 50mm thick black-coated fin stack connected via four direct-touch heat pipes. Despite its small stature, ID-Cooling rates it for a 220W TDP. It ships with the updated X25 mounting kit and pre-applied Frost X45 thermal paste, carrying a price tag of $34.99.
For SFF builds, the company has introduced the IS-53-XT. This is an ultra-low-profile top-flow cooler standing just 53mm tall and 94mm wide, specifically designed to avoid interference with tall RAM or GPU backplates in tight Mini-ITX motherboards. Unlike the Frozn model, this uses a CNC-machined pure copper base soldered directly to the heat pipes for improved thermal transfer. It is equipped with a slim 92mm PWM fan that can spin up to 3000 RPM, rated to handle thermal loads up to 120W. It is also priced at $34.99.
Rounding out the launch is the new FX360 series of all-in-one liquid coolers, which introduces three new 360mm models powered by the company's Gen 7 Pro pump. The CPU block design and fan choices differentiate the lineup.
The FX360 LCD (also available with a 240mm radiator) features a 1.48-inch screen on the pump block, which is fully customisable to display system statistics or custom images. The “Performance Edition” named FX360 LCD PE upgrades the standard AS-120 V2 ARGB fans to higher-performance AP-120-K fans. For those who prefer utility over customisation, the FX360 TD variant replaces the LCD with a simpler, dedicated digital temperature display that requires only an open USB 2.0 header to function.
Last month, Sony held a State of Play stream, bringing us new PS5 game announcements, along with the latest trailer for Insomniac's long-awaited Wolverine game. This month, another State of Play will take place, this time focusing on games made in Japan and other regions of Asia.
State of Play returns tomorrow at 10PM GMT, or 7AM for Japanese viewers, an odd time considering that this is a Japanese-focused State of Play. The stream will be roughly 40 minutes long, making it similar in length to last month's showcase.
There is not much to know about the stream so far, outside of the fact that it will focus on games made in Asia. That likely means we'll see appearances from the likes of Capcom, Konami and Square Enix, alongside smaller studios.
Arc Raiders got off to a great start earlier this month, achieving around 300K concurrent players over its launch weekend. Since then, the numbers have only grown, with the game now surpassing Helldivers 2's all-time concurrent player record.
Helldivers 2 and Arc Raiders are both extraction shooters, but each handles the genre differently. Helldivers 2 is more PvE focused, while Arc Raiders has a huge PvP element to its matches. Helldivers 2 topped out at just under 459,000 peak concurrent players on Steam, but Arc Raiders has managed to surpass this with a peak concurrent player count of 462,000 players, as measured over the weekend.
Arc Raiders has continued to do very well in the weeks since launch. However, Embark Studios will have to keep it going in the months ahead. The Finals, the previous game from Embark, also had a great launch, but things tapered off afterwards. Fortunately, it does look like there is a solid plan in place for Arc Raiders in the coming months, with a full roadmap already available to players.
Unlike The Finals, Arc Raiders is not a free-to-play game, instead opting for a $40 price point. Other extraction shooters over the years have been priced similarly. It is expected that Bungie's take on the genre, Marathon, will also launch with a $40 price tag.
Samsung is gearing up for a major showing at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, with plans to unveil advancements in memory technology tailored for the AI era. The company has confirmed it will showcase its next-generation LPDDR6 RAM and a compact, AI-optimised PCIe Gen5 SSD, the PM9E1.
The new LPDDR6 memory, based on Samsung's 12nm process, is rated for speeds of up to 10.7Gbps. This represents an 11% speed increase over current LPDDR5X chips. More importantly for mobile and edge devices, it also boasts a 21% improvement in power efficiency thanks to a new dynamic power management system.
Alongside the new RAM, Samsung will introduce the PM9E1, a compact M.2 2242 NVMe SSD. The new 2242 SSD is claimed to be the “world's first AI-optimised PCIe Gen5 SSD”, offering read speeds as high as 14.8GB/s and write speeds of up to 13.4GB/s. The drive uses Samsung's own Presto controller and V8 TLC V-NAND, offering capacities of up to 4TB and a reported 50% improvement in power efficiency over its predecessor.
Both products have already been recognised as CES 2026 Innovation Award honorees. Samsung is expected to provide full details on pricing and availability during the event in early January.
KitGuru says: Samsung's move to LPDDR6 appears to be in line with SK Hynix's roadmap, which also includes LPDDR6 starting in 2026. Of the two, which one do you think will be the first to reach consumer devices?
While BioWare didn't reveal much about the next Mass Effect game during N7 Day, the company did leave a series of hints in its blogpost for fans to decode. Now, those fans have succeeded, uncovering a link to a new piece of Mass Effect 5 concept art.
The art, titled “Civil War” shows a group of Krogan in the middle of a shootout, with the main focus being on this obviously older looking Krogan member in the centre:
There isn't a ton to derive from this artwork but the older looking Krogan, combined with our earlier look at an older version of Liara, suggests that the next Mass Effect game will take place many, many years after the events of the original trilogy. In the Mass Effect universe, both Krogan and Asari beings have incredibly long lifespans, so while the next game could take place centuries after the original trilogy, some characters, like Liara, could return.
As part of its N7 Day blog post, BioWare confirmed that it is still committed to Mass Effect 5, alongside publisher EA. Unfortunately, there is still no word on when we might see the game properly announced, let alone released.
When Halo Infinite was first planned, 343 Industries had ambitions of keeping the game going for a decade. When the game ultimately failed to win over a significant number of fans at launch, those plans changed. Now, 343 Industries has been broken down and rebuilt as Halo Studios, and the team is looking to move on to other projects. As a result, support for Halo Infinite is coming to an end.
Announced during the November Community Livestream, Operation Infinite is scheduled to launch on November 18th. It will arrive with a 100-tier Operation Pass and a separate 100-tier Premium Pass, offering a range of new weapon models and armor sets. To help players finish their remaining progression, the update will also permanently increase the earn rates for both Career Rank and Spartan Points.
While internal content creation is winding down, the update will introduce new community-created maps. These include Yuletide, a holiday-themed map joining the Husky Raid queues, and Vacancy, an urban map for ranked play.
Following this update, Halo Infinite will effectively enter maintenance mode. Halo Studios has pledged to keep the servers running and will continue to rotate daily and weekly challenges, as well as the ranked playlists, throughout 2026 and beyond. However, players should no longer expect new seasons or substantial content drops.
The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro laptop is aiming to come in cheaper than any other laptop on the market with a GeForce RTX 5080. Coming in at around $2200, it’s certainly priced very competitively. Accompanying that RTX 5080 is an Intel Core 7 240H, 32GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 5600MT/s and a 16” IPS 2560×1600 165Hz display. Can the A16 Pro deliver a solid experience while aiming to keep its price tag as low as possible?
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:52 Pricing
01:44 Hardware Specs
03:01 Memory Speeds
03:22 Drive setup
04:04 Drive speeds / slots
05:02 The Display
05:53 The Keyboard
06:34 The Trackpad
06:52 Ports and I/O / Connectivity
08:14 The Battery / Longevity
09:18 Webcam
09:30 Audio / Speakers
09:59 The Design / Appearance
10:50 Build Quality
11:17 Cooling System
11:38 Testing Methodology
12:02 GI Mate Software
13:25 Power Mode setup for Gaming
14:03 Cyberpunk 2077
14:33 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
15:07 A Plague Tale Requiem
15:32 Counter Strike 2
15:51 Forza Horizon 5
16:32 Hogwarts Legacy
17:06 Marvel Rivals
18:01 CPU Real World Operation
20:38 Thermal Camera Footage / Noise output
21:15 Closing Thoughts
Specifications:
CPU – Intel® Core 7 processor 240H
GPU – NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
Display – 16″ 16:10 – IPS WQXGA (2560×1600) 165Hz
RAM – 32GB LPDDR5x 5600MHz
SSD – 2 x Kingston 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Keyboard – 1-zone RGB Backlit Keyboard, Up to 1.7mm Key-travel
I/O
Left Side:
1 x DC-in
1 x RJ-45
1 x HDMI 2.1
1 x Type-A support USB3.2 Gen1
1 x Type-C USB3.2 Gen1 support DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0
Right Side:
1 x Type-A support USB3.2 Gen1
1 x Type-A support USB2.0
1 x 3.5mm Audio Jack support mic / headphone combo
Audio – 2x 2W speakers
Wireless Networking – WIFI 6E (802.11ax 2×2)
Wired Networking – LAN: 1G
Bluetooth v5.2
FHD (1080p) IR Webcam
Li Polymer 76Wh
240W AC Adapter
358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45~22.99 mm
Weight – ~2.3kg
Colour – Titanium Black
The core specs are confirmed in the following CPU-Z and GPU-Z screenshots:
We put the A16 Pro through a series of varying gaming tests, some of which are detailed in the screenshots below. All titles were tested at the laptop's native resolution of 2560×1600 using maximum graphics settings. Overall, the machine showed capable gaming performance in most titles, managing to maintain 60+ FPS most of the time, with occasional dips in the mid 50s. We also tested the gains on offer when enabling both DLSS at the performance preset and frame generation where possible. For full details and a more in-depth look at the gaming performance of the A16 Pro Laptop head over to YouTube and watch the video review in full.
Hogwarts Legacy (2560×1600 – Max Settings)
Hogwarts Legacy (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance, 4X Multi Frame Generation)
Forza Horizon 5 (2560×1600 – Max Settings)
Forza Horizon 5 (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance, Frame Generation On)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2560×1600 – Max Settings)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2560×1600 – Max Settings, DLSS Performance)
Closing Thoughts
The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro is overall a decent laptop. The combination of Intel’s Core 7 240H and an RTX 5080 produce mostly good gaming results and the 32GB of LPDDR5x memory keeps everything running smoothly, though is sadly not upgradeable due to being soldered. The dual 1TB SSDs offer plenty of space, but one of the M.2 slots runs at slower speeds, which feels like a missed opportunity in an otherwise solid setup.
The 16-inch, 2560×1600 IPS panel display is decent. It offers good sharpness and smooth motion, though it lacks the contrast of pricier OLED alternatives. The keyboard and trackpad are serviceable: comfortable enough for daily use but nothing exceptional, with cramped arrow keys and a slightly hollow trackpad click. Connectivity is practical, though the left-side charging port can get in the way and an SD card reader would’ve been a welcome inclusion.
Build quality is solid but unremarkable, and battery life is respectable when used sensibly, though heavy gaming quickly drains the 76Wh battery. The cooling system does its best to keep thermals in check, but like many other high-power laptops, CPU temperatures can get to concerning levels when putting the processor under heavy load.
Overall, the A16 Pro offers genuine RTX 5080 mobile performance at a lower price than most competitors. It's not without its quirks, but is a strong contender for those who want flagship power without a flagship price.
We don't currently have information regarding UK stock for the A16 Pro Laptop, we will update the page when we know more. The US RRP is $2199.99.
Pros:
One of the most affordable gaming laptops equipped with an RTX 5080 GPU.
2TB SSD storage in the reviewed specification.
Good battery life for general use (non-gaming).
Decent native gaming performance.
Doesn’t overdo the ‘gamer’ aesthetic.
Cons:
One M.2 slot runs at roughly half speed with no way to adjust settings.
Soldered memory means no upgrade path.
High CPU temperatures when under intense workloads.
Cramped keyboard design.
Side DC in port can get in the way when not using the laptop on a desk.
KitGuru says: The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro delivers genuine RTX 5080 mobile performance at a lower price than some of its rivals. However, it does trade a few quality-of-life features and premium touches to keep that price down.
While the delay for Grand Theft Auto VI has undoubtedly disappointed many, this presents another opportunity for fans to play the now 12-year old GTA V for the umpteenth time. Fortunately, for those in such a situation, Sony is set to add GTA V to its PlayStation Plus Extra library for the 3rd time in two years.
Given this, it is highly likely that you’ll have around 6 months to enjoy the current-gen version of GTA V and Online before it is taken away once again.
While there is an understanding that game subscription services add and remove titles on a regular basis, it is far less common to see a game removed, brought back; taken away and then added again. That said, it is GTA V and so Rockstar will likely always make its inclusion a limited-time affair.
KitGuru says: Will you be hopping back into GTA V now that the sequel has been delayed? How many times have you completed the main story at this point? Let us know down below.
Dragon Ball is undeniably one of the most popular anime/manga franchises of all time, with the series having a long and successful library of video games released over the past many decades. One of the franchise’s most anticipated games in recent years was Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – a successor to the much-loved Budokai series. Following strong initial sales, the game has continued to perform well for Bandai Namco.
As part of Bandai Namco’s most recent financial report, the publisher revealed that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero had sold 5.4 million copies as of the 31st of March 2025 – roughly 5 and a half months following its launch in early October 2024.
As such, while it is unlikely that Sparking! Zero has hit any major sales milestones since the 31st of March, it will be interesting to see how the game performs in the wake of its Nintendo Switch launch in just a few days’ time.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Sparking! Zero one year on? Is it the Budokai successor you were hoping for? Could the game reach 10 million sales given enough time, as many other Dragon Ball games have managed? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Black Friday has come early at a lot of of places here in the UK. Today, PCSpecialist unveiled its round of deals for the rest of the month, discounting three pre-built gaming PCs and a custom gaming laptop, with options for Intel or AMD based systems, as well as GeForce RTX or Radeon graphics cards.
The Vortex is built around AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and paired with an ASUS PRIME B850 motherboard. It comes with 32GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5 running at 6000MHz, an NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, and a 2TB Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD. Originally priced at £2,098 (depending on current stock pricing on PCSpecialist's configurator), it’s discounted to £1,799.
The Fusion also uses an ASUS PRIME B850 board but swaps in the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU. It has the same 32GB of Corsair DDR5 memory, but graphics are handled by AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 XT. Storage is again a 2TB Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD. Its price drops from £1,882 to £1,599.
The Ignite is an Intel-based option, powered by the Core i7-12700F and an ASUS PRIME B760 motherboard. It includes 32GB of PCS PRO DDR5 memory, an NVIDIA RTX 5060 GPU, and a 1TB Crucial P310 Gen 4 SSD. The system is reduced from £1,123 to £999.
Finally, the Ionico Ultra is a laptop with a 16-inch matte QHD+ 180Hz display. It runs on Intel’s Core Ultra 9 275HX, with 32GB of Crucial DDR5 memory, an NVIDIA RTX 5060 GPU, and a 1TB Crucial P310 SSD. Its price is cut from £1,503 to £1,399.
Each PCSpecialist system also comes with a 1-month subscription to PC Game Pass, granting access to a library of hundreds of games through the Xbox PC app. This also includes day-one titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, so you'll be able to get right into a number of games as soon as your system arrives.
You can find all of the PCSpecialist Black Friday deals, HERE.
Ever since the arrival of Demon’s Souls, FromSoftware have gone from strength-to-strength, with each new release seemingly not only being better than the last (with few exceptions) but seeing an ever-increasing rise in popularity – culminating with the juggernaut that was Elden Ring. Even so, the original Dark Souls Trilogy has continued to find new fans, with the series having now surpassed 40 million copies sold.
As part of Bandai Namco’s latest fiscal report, the publisher revealed updated sales stats for many of its most popular franchises. Alongside confirmation that their Tekken franchise had passed 60 million total sales, Bandai confirmed (as reported by Tech4Gamers) that the Dark Souls Trilogy has reached a total of 39.71 million copies sold as of the end of March 2025.
Given that the Souls series has been self-published by FromSoftware in Japan (with Bandai handling the rest of the world), the trilogy has in total easily surpassed the 40 million mark.
Of course, Elden Ring would not have been nearly as successful had it not been for the ever-growing rise of the Dark Souls series (as well as Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne) putting FromSoftware on the map. It will be interesting to see if FromSoft ever returns to the Dark Souls series in particular – or whether 2016’s DS3 marked the definitive conclusion to this beloved franchise.
KitGuru says: When did you get into FromSoftware games? What’s your favourite Dark Souls entry in the trilogy? What about your least favourite? Let us know down below.
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