A couple of weeks ago, two rumours surfaced, one indicating that a Nintendo Direct would be happening in early February and another claiming that a PlayStation State of Play would be happening later in the month. The Nintendo Direct rumour proved true last week when Nintendo went live with a slew of new game announcements. Now, Sony has also officially announced its State of Play plans as well.
Just as rumoured, Sony will be holding its latest State of Play stream this month. The stream will be taking place on Thursday, February 12th. Unfortunately, it will be happening quite late for those of us here in Europe, as the stream will be happening at 10PM GMT / 11PM CEST.
The stream is going to be a big one, with over an hour of game announcements planned. This one isn't ‘partner' focused either, so there is likely to be a mix of both third-party game announcements, along with new first-party games from Sony's studios.
Two titles immediately spring to mind as potential first-party reveals. The first is Bungie's Marathon, which is finally dropping in March after a couple of delays. The other is Saros, the latest game from Housemarque, the studio behind Returnal, which went on to become an early-generation hit on the PS5.
KitGuru Says: What are you hoping to see announced at the State of Play this week?
Last week, ASRock issued its first statement following reports that several users suffered no-boot scenarios while using Ryzen 9000 series processors in a number of ASRock motherboards. Today, ASRock is issuing its first beta BIOS update to address the issue.
The new BIOS is now available, labelled as V4.07.AS01, using the latest AGESA 1.3.0.0a version. This bios should improve system stability for AMD systems, as well as optimise memory compatibility and crucially, resolve a boot failure occurring with certain CPUs. That last note should fix the issues users were reporting on Reddit and get their systems back up and running.
“This update is specifically designed to address system no-boot scenarios, including cases where systems may fail to boot after being used for a period of time. Users who encounter such behavior are recommended to update to this BIOS version to help restore normal system boot functionality.”
The new BIOS update can be found HERE. If you need a guide on how to update your BIOS, ASRock has one that can be found HERE.
ASRock says it will continue to monitor the situation and aid users through its technical support team, while working with AMD to ensure product quality and platform stability.
KitGuru Says: If you've had any issues recently with an ASRock motherboard and a current-gen AMD processor, then this BIOS update should help.
Capcom has officially updated its Platinum Titles list as of February 2026. According to the latest figures, the company has over 100 titles on this list, showcasing an immense catalogue of financial successes that continue to grow.
According to data shared by Capcom (via Gematsu), total software sales for the period reached 34.64 million units, a significant jump from the previous year, with digital downloads accounting for 94% of all copies sold. The Resident Evil series remains the company's crown jewel, with the total franchise lifetime sales now reportedly surpassing 183 million units. The Resident Evil 4 remake led the charge during the quarter, moving another 1.1 million copies to reach a lifetime total of 12.2 million. Not far behind, Resident Evil Village climbed to 13.5 million, while Resident Evil 2 remake (16.8M) and Resident Evil 7 (16.4M) continue to prove the enduring appeal of the horror flagship. This surge could be linked to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, scheduled for release on February 27th.
In the fighting game segment, Street Fighter 6 has officially moved past a major historical milestone. With 600,000 units sold in the last quarter, it has reached 6.3 million lifetime copies, effectively overtaking the lifetime sales of the original Street Fighter 2. Meanwhile, the Monster Hunter franchise hit a total of 125 million units, with Monster Hunter Wilds reaching 11 million copies. While Wilds has faced some criticism for performance issues on PC, it remains a pillar of Capcom's 2026 strategy alongside Monster Hunter Rise, which currently sits at 18.2 million units.
The full list includes 125 titles that have sold over 1 million copies. You can find all of these titles below:
Monster Hunter: World – 22.00 million (Total with Iceborne Master Edition: 29.40M)
Monster Hunter Rise – 18.20 million
Resident Evil 2 (2019) – 16.80 million
Resident Evil 7 biohazard – 16.40 million
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne – 15.90 million
Resident Evil Village – 13.50 million
Resident Evil 4 (2023) – 12.20 million
Monster Hunter Wilds – 11.00 million
Devil May Cry 5 – 11.00 million
Resident Evil 3 (2020) – 10.90 million
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak – 10.90 million
Resident Evil 6 – 10.10 million
Resident Evil 5 – 10.00 million
Street Fighter V – 7.90 million
Street Fighter 6 – 6.30 million
Street Fighter II (SNES) – 6.30 million
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate – 5.20 million
Resident Evil (Remaster/HD) – 5.10 million
Resident Evil 2 (Original) – 4.96 million
Resident Evil 0: HD Remaster – 4.90 million
Monster Hunter Freedom 3 – 4.90 million
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy – 4.60 million
Resident Evil 6 (PS4/XB1) – 4.30 million
Monster Hunter Generations – 4.30 million
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – 4.20 million
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen (PS3/360) – 4.20 million
Dead Rising 3 – 4.10 million
Monster Hunter 4 – 4.10 million
Dragon's Dogma 2 – 4.10 million
Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES) – 4.10 million
Resident Evil Revelations 2 – 4.00 million
Resident Evil 5 (PS4/XB1) – 3.90 million
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite – 3.80 million
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection – 3.80 million
Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition – 3.70 million
Street Fighter IV – 3.70 million
Resident Evil 4 (PS4/XB1) – 3.50 million
Resident Evil 3 Nemesis (Original) – 3.50 million
Resident Evil 4: Ultimate HD Edition (PC) – 3.30 million
DmC Devil May Cry – 3.30 million
Dead Rising 2 – 3.20 million
Okami HD – 3.10 million
Devil May Cry 4 – 3.00 million
Devil May Cry HD Collection (PS4/XB1) – 3.00 million
Resident Evil Revelations (Multi) – 2.90 million
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City – 2.80 million
Resident Evil (Original) – 2.75 million
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (3DS) – 2.60 million
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen (PS4/XB1) – 2.60 million
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – 2.50 million
Ultra Street Fighter IV – 2.40 million
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 – 2.40 million
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin – 2.40 million
Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition – 2.40 million
Dino Crisis – 2.40 million
Resident Evil 4 (PS2) – 2.30 million
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS4/XB1) – 2.30 million
Lost Planet 2 – 2.20 million
Mega Man 11 – 2.20 million
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds – 2.20 million
Devil May Cry – 2.16 million
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny – 2.10 million
Onimusha: Warlords – 2.02 million
Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition – 2.00 million
Super Street Fighter II (SNES) – 2.00 million
Monster Hunter Tri – 1.90 million
Super Street Fighter IV – 1.90 million
Street Fighter X Tekken – 1.90 million
Dead Rising (Original 360) – 1.80 million
DuckTales: Remastered – 1.80 million
Mega Man Legacy Collection – 1.80 million
Lost Planet Extreme Condition – 1.70 million
Dead Rising 4 – 1.70 million
Devil May Cry 2 – 1.70 million
Street Fighter II' Special Champion Edition (MD) – 1.65 million
Ghosts'n Goblins (NES) – 1.64 million
Dead Rising (PS4/XB1) – 1.60 million
Mega Man X Legacy Collection – 1.60 million
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition – 1.60 million
Resident Evil Revelations Collection (Switch) – 1.60 million
Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition (PC) – 1.60 million
Resident Evil 4 (GC) – 1.60 million
Remember Me – 1.60 million
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege – 1.52 million
Mega Man 2 (NES) – 1.51 million
Strider (2014) – 1.50 million
DmC Devil May Cry Definitive Edition – 1.50 million
Dead Rising 2 Off The Record – 1.50 million
Final Fight (SNES) – 1.48 million
Resident Evil Outbreak – 1.45 million
Dead Rising 2 Off The Record (PS4/XB1) – 1.40 million
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X (PS2/DC) – 1.40 million
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (Digital PS3/360) – 1.40 million
Resident Evil Revelations (PS4/XB1) – 1.40 million
Bionic Commando (2009) – 1.40 million
Resident Evil (GC Original) – 1.35 million
Mega Man Battle Network 4 – 1.35 million
Dragon’s Dogma (Original PS3/360) – 1.30 million
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition – 1.30 million
Monster Hunter Freedom – 1.30 million
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen (Switch) – 1.30 million
Resident Evil 4 (Digital PS3/360) – 1.30 million
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles – 1.30 million
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles – 1.30 million
Devil May Cry 3 – 1.30 million
Resident Evil 0 (GC Original) – 1.25 million
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition – 1.20 million
Dino Crisis 2 – 1.20 million
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS3/360) – 1.20 million
Devil May Cry HD Collection (PS3/360) – 1.20 million
Resident Evil 6 (Switch) – 1.20 million
Mega Man X Anniversary Collection 2 – 1.20 million
Resident Evil Director's Cut Dual Shock – 1.20 million
Mega Man X (SNES) – 1.16 million
Resident Evil Code: Veronica (DC) – 1.14 million
Commando (NES) – 1.14 million
Resident Evil Director's Cut (Original) – 1.13 million
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics – 1.10 million
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 – 1.10 million
Resident Evil 4 (Switch) – 1.10 million
Super Ghouls'n Ghosts (SNES) – 1.09 million
Mega Man 3 (NES) – 1.08 million
Final Fight 2 (SNES) – 1.03 million
Street Fighter Alpha 3 (PS) – 1.00 million
Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition (PS2) – 1.00 million
KitGuru says: Capcom's current run is a masterclass in managing a legacy library while launching high-quality modern hits. By leveraging transmedia efforts and an aggressive “Switch 2” porting strategy for titles like Street Fighter 6, Capcom has ensured that its IPs stay relevant and profitable long after their initial launch window. With Resident Evil Requiem just weeks away, the company looks set to end its fiscal year on a high note.
The normal rule of thumb is, if you want smooth, low latency gaming, you're better off with a wired network. But Intel reckons its Killer NIC technology can deliver the throughput and response for any kind of online entertainment – particularly when combined with WiFi 7. We explored what Intel Killer NIC has to offer, using an MSI laptop equipped with the technology and an ASUS router.
You probably won't be buying Intel Killer NIC WiFi technology on its own. You can purchase M.2 cards to upgrade your laptop, but the more likely approach will be obtaining the capabilities built into hardware from third parties. In our case, we based our review on an MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XWIG laptop, equipped with Intel Killer BE WiFi 7 networking, and an ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 wireless gaming router. The latter has the the ability to prioritise traffic from client systems with the Intel Killer Prioritization Engine, of which more later in this review.
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 is an extremely high-end WiFi 7 router. This has a BE25000 rating, implying an aggregate 25,000Mbps bandwidth. This is split between four WiFi radios. The 2.4GHz one delivers up to 1,376Mbps, then there are two 5GHz radios offering 5,764Mbps apiece, and finally a single 6GHz radio providing 11,529Mbps. With the right WiFi 7 client, extremely high bandwidths will be available.
The main benefits of Intel Killer NIC technology come from configurations that optimise for different use cases, particularly gaming. The Intel Killer Prioritization Engine lets you give certain websites and apps precedence. The Intelligence Engine lets you analyse WiFi performance. DoubleShot Pro enables aggregation of wired LAN and WiFi for increased bandwidth. Read on to find out how this all works in practice.
The MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XWIGis available from Scan UK for £2,699.99 inc VAT.
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98is available from Scan UK for £599.99 inc VAT.
Specification (ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98):
Wireless protocols: MU-MIMO with 802.11b/g/n/be 2.4GHz, 802.11a/n/ac/ax/be 5GHz and 6GHz
In a historic move for the French video game industry, the Ministry of Culture has officially appointed the development team at Sandfall Interactive as Chevaliers (Knights) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters). The ceremony, held in Paris on February 6th, recognised the studio for its contribution to national culture following the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
This honour is rarely bestowed upon an entire studio, typically reserved for an individual. Some of those include Shigeru Miyamoto and Michel Ancel. Founders Guillaume Broche, Tom Guillermin, and François Meurisse, along with other team members, received the Order's medals. The studio later shared a statement on LinkedIn, noting that they hoped their journey would inspire other creators to take the plunge into ambitious narrative work. Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, who presided over the knighthood ceremony, emphasised that the decoration serves to validate video games as an “essential cultural industry” and a legitimate art form.
Set in a world inspired by the French Belle Époque, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has reportedly sold over 5 million copies since its April 2025 release, praised for its unique blend of traditional turn-based RPG mechanics and reactive, rhythm-based gameplay.
The award comes just months after Sandfall Interactive achieved a record-breaking sweep at The Game Awards 2025, where Expedition 33 took home nine trophies, including the prestigious Game of the Year. It was the first time a French-developed title won the top prize at the ceremony, prompting public congratulations from President Emmanuel Macron, who described the Montpellier-based studio as a “source of great pride”.
KitGuru says: The “knighting” of Sandfall Interactive is more than just a ceremonial pat on the back. While the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres has recognised gaming legends in the past, awarding the title of Chevalier to an entire team is unheard of. It effectively cements Expedition 33 as more than a commercial success but also as a permanent fixture of French cultural heritage.
The tale of Overwatch is one that begins with great success and was seemingly ending in relative failure, with the rebranding to Overwatch 2 ultimately doing more harm than good – especially as many of the ‘sequel’s promised features never came to be. Following the surprise announcement that the game is now dropping the 2 (among other welcome changes) Overwatch’s popularity has already seen a resurgence on Steam.
Despite the upcoming Season of Overwatch not yet going live, it appears as though many of the changes announced to be arriving with the relaunch have led to a great deal of excitement.
Though we only have one platform to go off of, in anticipation of the new Season 1, Overwatch has seen a major influx of players, with Steam concurrent numbers putting the title at 69,881 players – the highest figure since the game’s launch all the way back in 2023 (where it achieved a peak CCU of 75K).
Of course, of all platforms, Steam is likely one of the smallest for Overwatch, especially as Blizzard/Activision’s own Battle Net launcher takes priority on PC. That said, we will likely see a similar rise in interest across the board, especially once Season 1 actually launches. In case you missed it, full details on what to expect from this rebrand / overhaul can be found HERE.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the changes coming? Was the removal of the 2 necessary? Will this latest overhaul help them compete with Marvel Rivals? Let us know down below.
While many expect the next-generation PlayStation 6 to be somewhat inline with Sony’s current console strategy, Microsoft’s next console is set to take things in quite the different direction. While details surrounding Xbox’s next-gen plans have leaked out in the past, we’ve now gotten newly updated specifics.
As reported by known Xbox insider Jez Corden (via Windows Central), the next-gen Microsoft console will seemingly function somewhat similarly to the ROG Xbox Ally – meaning “the Xbox interface will sit on top of Windows, disabling unnecessary processes to create a gaming-first environment.” As with the Ally, you will also be able to “exit out to full Windows.”
Of course, plans are subject to change, with Corden noting that Microsoft’s work on Windows 11 is still ongoing, writing: “Microsoft hasn't fully internally committed to a hard 2027 launch window for the next-gen Xbox platform, since so much of it hinges on improvements to Windows 11 and other factors. Microsoft's Windows and Xbox teams are collaborating harder than ever to get the OS into shape for a polished, console-like experience on Xbox.”
Beyond the mainline console, Microsoft is reportedly planning to continue their relationship with hardware manufacturers in the development of partnered consoles like the aforementioned ASUS ROG Ally – though they are also apparently still interested in making their own first-party handheld.
Of course, all of this is subject to change, especially as Microsoft has been pretty fickle in recent months/years. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what the console maker’s plans are for Xbox in this post-exclusive era.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Xbox’s leaked plans? Will this strategy succeed? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Team Ninja’s Nioh series has served as a solid take on FromSoftware’s Souls-like genre, with the first entry in 2017 doing enough to separate itself from other titles – though ultimately was not received as well as FromSoft’s soulsborne entries. While Nioh 2 was also received in a similar manner, it appears as though 3rd time was the charm, with the recently-released Nioh 3 achieving high praise and even higher player numbers.
Regardless, Nioh 3 seems to be the step up that the series needed in order for it to be placed on almost-equal footing with FromSoftware’s own output. It will be interesting to see where Team Ninja goes from here.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Nioh 3? Is it a step up compared to the previous two entries? Does Team Ninja have the potential to go toe-to-toe with FromSoftware? Let us know down below.
Following leaks and rumours, Guerrilla Games officially announced and unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering: a co-op focused title in the vein of Monster Hunter. In the wake of its announcement, known insider Jason Schreier confirmed that the project is being developed by the core Horizon team – and so don’t expect a proper Horizon 3 any time soon.
Following the official announcement for Horizon Hunters Gathering, fans of the franchise took to BlueSky to ask known industry insider Jason Schreier as to whether this spin-off is “being made by a separate team from Horizon 3?”
According to Schreier, “most of the studio” is working on Hunters Gathering. When asked for clarification as to whether this means the next mainline entry is a “long time” away from release, Schreier simply responded: “yup.”
Given the fact that Horizon Forbidden West launched back in 2022 (and that games are taking longer and longer to develop) there was little expectation that a 3rd entry was right around the corner.
That said, with a majority of devs working on Hunters Gathering, it appears as though the focus right now is on ensuring the co-op title proves to be a success.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Hunters Gathering? Will it fill your Horizon itch? Are you more interested in it or the NCSOFT-developed Steel Frontiers? Let us know down below.
It appears that both Halo and Gears of War could be returning earlier than expected. According to one proven insider, both Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: E-Day are targeting a summer 2026 release window.
Tom Warren of The Verge, a Microsoft reporter with proven sources within the company, Microsoft wants all of its games to release well ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November. As a result, Fable will be targeting a September-October launch, while Halo: Campaign Evolved is targeting an earlier release over the summer. Gears of War E-Day is also expected to launch in this timeframe, assuming it does not get delayed to 2027.
We may also be finally due for a Starfield update soon. While the game's first expansion, Shattered Space, performed disappointingly, Bethesda has supposedly been working on a massive 2.0 update for the game, as well as a second expansion and a PS5 port.
The report also claims that a new version of Fallout 3 is now in development, with the goal of hitting a similar quality bar to last year's Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. It is unclear if Fallout 3 Remastered will use similar tech to the Oblivion remaster, which used all the same code from the original game, but used Unreal Engine 5 graphics layered on top, keeping the entire original game and its features in-tact.
KitGuru Says: If everything here is accurate, then Xbox is going to have a very busy time over the summer and autumn months. If any games need more time, they are more likely to be pushed into 2027, than released around the GTA 6 launch in November.
For years, it has been rumoured that a third Wolfenstein game would be coming from Machine Games. Ultimately, those plans were pushed back a bit due to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, as Machine Games confirmed several months ago. Now though, it appears that the studio is ready to start talking about the next Wolfenstein game for real.
In an interview with GI.biz, Machine Games studio director, Jerk Gustafsson, said: “Our intention has always been to go back to Wolfenstein. We wanted to finish the trilogy. And when we do that, that is something that I don't want to comment on. It can be now, it can be later, but we're not done with it. That's what I can say.”
There is no word on when Wolfenstein 3 will surface but it appears that Machine Games is going to be returning to it soon to wrap up its trilogy. The comments come at an unusual time, as just a few weeks ago, multiple insider sources claimed that Wolfenstein 3 is indeed in development.
Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus were both incredibly well received, but both arrived during the last console generation. So far during the Xbox Series X / PS5 life cycle, Machine Games has only produced Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which was a fantastic game in its own right.
Gustafsson expects Machine Games to release a new game “every four years”. Considering that Indiana Jones arrived in late 2024, that means we may not see Wolfenstein 3 for another couple of years.
KitGuru Says: Wolfenstein 3 has been rumoured for a long time. While not directly confirmed yet, it does sound like Machine Games is now finally working on it in earnest.
Build a Rocket Boy didn't have the best debut when MindsEye launched last year. The game launched to a flurry of negative reviews due to various technical issues. Shortly after the launch, one of the studio's CEOs alleged that the game had been subjected to a smear campaign online. Now, they are claiming to have ‘caught' those who sabotaged the project.
Insider Gaming managed to get a copy of an internal call at Build a Rocket Boy, in which it is claimed that co-CEO, Mark Gerhard, said that a “very big American company” had spent as much as €1 million to tarnish the game's reputation online. It is also alleged that a UK-based YouTuber & influencer management firm, Ritual Network, and several influencers were also part of the sabotage effort.
In a statement given to Insider Gaming, Ritual Network denied that it had anything to do with the allegations, adding that they are “not aware of any legitimate legal action” at this time.
The report says that those involved are soon to be served with lawsuits and that employees at the studio itself may have also been involved, leading to a rollout of new employee monitoring software across their PCs.
No direct evidence has been provided yet, but should lawsuits go ahead, then eventually some of the evidence will be made public. In the meantime, Build a Rocket Boy may make some of the details public via an upcoming Spy-themed mission within MindsEye.
MindsEye has had a number of updates since its launch to address technical issues with the game and will continue to be updated with new content over 2026. As of right now, the ‘recent reviews' for the game on Steam are positive, although the game's overall user score still sits at mixed.
Nvidia announced at CES that it would upgrade its DLSS Multi Frame Generation with two new modes: 6x and Dynamic. The specific release dates for these modes weren't announced when they were revealed; only a vague “spring 2026” was mentioned. However, a new report points to an April 2026 launch.
According to a report from HardwareLuxx (via VideoCardz), both Dynamic Multi Frame Generation (MFG) and the Multi Frame Generation 6x mode are expected to be released publicly within the next two months. However, soon after the information started to spread, VideoCardz was contacted by Nvidia, which stated that the “spring” release remains. Given that April is part of spring, the release date shared by HardwareLuxx remains a possibility.
The Dynamic MFG system represents a shift in how Nvidia approaches frame pacing and overhead. Rather than applying a fixed multiplier, the technology dynamically scales the number of interpolated frames based on real-time scene complexity and current performance overhead. This means the system can scale down to 2x or 3x during combat scenes to preserve input latency, then ramp up to the full 6x multiplier during slower, more cinematic moments. The primary goal is to provide a more fluid experience on high-refresh-rate displays without forcing the GPU to work at maximum capacity when the scene doesn't demand it.
KitGuru says: There's some potential for increased latency when generating five frames for every one rendered, but the existence of this “Dynamic” mode suggests Nvidia is aware of the trade-offs. If the system can truly scale on the fly to match the “feel” of the gameplay, it could make those 500Hz esports monitors a lot easier to drive.
Fractal Design has unveiled the North Momentum Edition, a mid-cycle refresh of its widely acclaimed chassis. While the original North was praised for its aesthetics, there was room for improvement on the stock fans. The new Momentum Edition aims to address this directly by swapping out the standard Aspect 140 mm fans for the company's new Momentum 12 series.
The new fans are the key upgrade of the new Momentum Edition series. They feature a modernised impeller geometry, LCP blades, and fluid-dynamic bearings, which Fractal claims reduce noise by 4 dBA while lowering average GPU temperatures by roughly 2º Celsius.
Visually, the Momentum Edition cases adopt an all-black aesthetic. While the signature wood slats remain, they have been blackened to blend into the dark alloy chassis. The internal layout for the standard mid-tower remains largely unchanged, but the North Momentum XL has received some tweaks. Unlike the original XL, which comes in standard or RC (rear connector) versions, the Momentum Edition comes in a single version that falls between the two in terms of cable routing clearance, with 37 mm, while retaining the “back-connector” motherboard support from the RC variant.
Despite the internal and thermal upgrades, the front I/O remains the same, offering a single USB-C port alongside two USB-A ports. The standard North Momentum Edition is expected to retail for $179, while the larger XL model is positioned at $209.
KitGuru says: The original North was arguably the most influential case of the last few years. By integrating the new Momentum fans as standard, the Momentum Edition looks like the definitive version of an already iconic chassis.
Noctua has achieved a major logistical and environmental milestone, announcing that it has now shipped its 500,000th mounting upgrade kit to customers globally.
This long-standing programme, which first launched in 2006 alongside the introduction of AMD's AM2 socket, is claimed to be a cornerstone of the brand's “compatibility-by-design” philosophy. The initiative allows users to continue using their existing heatsinks, such as the NH-D15 or NH-U12P, across multiple generations of Intel and AMD platforms without needing to purchase a new cooling solution.
According to the Austrian cooling specialist, the primary goal of the service is to treat a CPU cooler as a long-term investment rather than a disposable component. This requires a significant engineering commitment to maintain modularity and standardised mechanical parameters, such as mounting hole spacing and Z-heights, across decades of hardware evolution. The current programme reportedly covers a vast range of modern and legacy sockets. This essentially means that a Noctua owner who bought a premium tower 15 or 20 years ago could still find themselves using the same piece of nickel-plated copper on a high-performance 2026 processor.
The upgrade kits are available free of charge on the official Noctua website, and the company even covers shipping costs from its facilities in Austria and Taiwan. Users must provide proof of purchase for both their cooler and their new motherboard or CPU. For those who might have lost their receipts over the last two decades, Noctua accepts a simple photo of the cooler next to a piece of paper with the user's name as valid verification. For those who require a faster turnaround, the kits are also available from retailers.
KitGuru says: Noctua's commitment to supporting hardware from 2005 is nothing short of exemplary. Reaching half a million kits shipped is a win for consumers' wallets and sustainability, preventing hundreds of thousands of perfectly functional heatsinks from ending up in landfills. It is a rare example of a company standing behind the “buy it for life” mantra, and it's a major reason the brand remains a fan favourite among enthusiasts.
This week during a Nintendo Direct stream, Square Enix officially confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be launching on the Switch 2 later this year. As expected, the publisher has also confirmed that the game will be releasing on Xbox too.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be coming to Xbox in June this year, so it should be available right alongside the newly announced Switch 2 port. While the Switch 2 version of the game is likely to make some sacrifices in the visual and performance department, the Xbox Series X version of the game should closely match the PS5 version.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second part in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. While the games initially started out as PlayStation exclusives, Square Enix has been bringing them to more platforms, starting with PC, followed by other consoles a year or so later.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is currently deep into development and may even be revealed this year, ahead of a 2027 launch. It is expected that the third and final game in the trilogy will be available on multiple platforms from day-one.
HBO found success with its adaptation of The Last of Us and with the recent news that the show may wrap up with its third season, the network has now found its next big adaptation to focus on – Baldur's Gate.
There is a Baldur's Gate TV adaptation coming, as reported by Deadline. Apparently, Craig Mazin, one of the co-creators of The Last of Us series, is also heavily involved with the Baldur's Gate series and will take on writing, producing and showrunner duties. Specifically, the show will take inspiration from Larian's Baldur's Gate 3, rather than the much older games in the series.
While there are a number of acclaimed creatives behind the Baldur's Gate show, it appears that the company responsible for the series recent success, Larian Studios, will have no involvement, despite the fact that the show is going to take direct inspiration from Larian's work. Geoff Keighley revealed this in a tweet last night, saying: “Larian, the creators of Baldur’s Gate 3, tell me they have no involvement in the series”.
That may change a little bit though, as Larian CEO, Swen Vincke, has also confirmed on social media today that showrunner Craig Mazin has “reached out for a chat”, so there may be some light consulting going on, even if Larian isn't directly attached.
Ubisoft has cancelled a number of games in recent weeks, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia remake. Now according to new reports, a multiplayer Assassin's Creed spin-off has also been scrapped.
According to reports from both Origami and Insider Gaming, a new Assassin's Creed multiplayer spin-off, titled Assassin's Creed League, has been cancelled. The game was apparently set to feature up to four assassins playing in co-op, taking on missions across feudal Japan to align with last year's mainline game, Assassin's Creed Shadows.
The game was apparently set to use parts of the game world from Assassin's Creed Shadows, offering a smaller, standalone co-op experience. It isn't entirely clear why the project was scrapped, but there were plans to playtest it later this year, so it may have been somewhat playable already.
While Assassin's Creed League may no longer see the light of day, the work put into the project won't go to waste. Apparently, some of the features will be incorporated into the Anvil engine to aid in the development of future co-op games.
KitGuru Says: It sounds kind of like the team had planned an Elden Ring Nightreign style spin-off, borrowing assets from Assassin's Creed Shadows to help speed up development and reduce costs.
The ASRock X870E Taichi OCF is all about the Over Clocking Formula name and features. This forms a large part of our video as we dig into the function of the mysterious buttons that ASRock has positioned near the two memory slots and the main power connector.
Key features
22+2+1 Power Phase, 110A SPS for VCore+SOC Dr.MOS design features the latest SPS (Smart Power Stage) technology. It’s optimised for monitoring current and temperature of each phase, thus delivering smoother and neater power to the CPU with enhanced performance and OC capability.
Extreme Memory Overclocking. Derived from the “built for stable and reliable” designing concept, ASRock does not compromise any detail. This motherboard is built with high quality materials and more importantly 1 DIMM per channel design, ASRock provides an excellent foundation for enthusiasts to utilised and enjoy the boost of DDR5 memory overclocking performance, satisfying and absolutely no sweat at all.
Enhanced USB4 Type-C. USB4 technology brings speed and versatility to the most advanced USB Type-C, offering a fast and simple level of connection for work or home. It enables lightning-fast 40Gbps data transfer bitrate.
Server-Grade Ultra-Low Loss PCB. The server-grade ultra-low loss PCB improves signal integrity and enhances memory overclocking potential, delivering the most extreme memory performance.
Beyond Deluxe 6 x M.2 Sockets. X870E Taichi OCF equipped with six M.2 slots for SSD and two of which even support PCIe 5.0 x4, delivering high performance and brilliant expandability, a perfect example of a flagship product.
Watch our video on YouTube at 2160p HERE Time stamps
00:00 Intro
01:19 Taichi vs Taichi OCF
02:48 Why an AM5 OC Board is Weird
03:55 ASRock Reputation and CPU Safety Concerns
04:27 ASRock Claims: Memory, BCLK, Voltage
06:40 BIOS and OC Buttons: What Actually Works
09:46 Full Board Tour and Specs
12:55 Test System Overview
13:21 Results vs Regular Taichi
14:05 Closing Thoughts and Verdict
Specification: CPU: AMD Socket AM5 support for AMD Ryzen 9000/8000/7000 Series Processors Chipset: AMD X870E VRMs:
Renesas RAA 229628 VRM controller
22+2+1 x110A Renesas R2209004 SPS VRMs
Memory: Support for DDR5 10400(O.C), 2x DDR5 DIMM sockets up to 128GB
Dual channel memory architecture, non-ECC Unbuffered DIMMs
Expansion Slots
2x PCIe 5.0 x16 (running at 1 x16 or 2 x8)
1x PCIe 4.0 x14 slot
Storage
1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 from CPU
1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 from CPU (shared with USB4)
2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 from Chipset
1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x2 from Chipset
1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 from Chipset
2x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
USB
2x USB4 40Gbps Type-C ports rear panel
2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps (1x 36W, 1x 15W) front panel
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C port rear panel
7x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A ports rear panel
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps Type-A ports front panel
8x USB 2.0 Type-A ports (2x rear, 6x front panel
Audio: Realtek ALC4082 Audio Codec Ethernet: Realtek RTL8126 5Gbit Wireless: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
7x PWM Fan headers
3x ARGB headers and 1x RGB header
BIOS chip 64MB flash Form Factor: ATX 305mm x 244mm
Performance and Overclocking
Test system Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Memory: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo DDR5-8000 CPU Cooler: Phanteks Glacier One 360MPH Graphics card: MSI GeForce 4090 Ventus 3X 24GB Power supply: Seasonic Focus GX-1000 SSD: 1TB Crucial T700 M.2 NVMe OS: Windows 11
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
In Geekbench 6 Multi Core we see the blue bar for ASRock Taichi X870E OCF is effectively tied with the green bar for the regular X870E Taichi. In other words performance is perfectly decent and exactly what we expect.
Far Cry 6 at 1080p
Playing Far Cry 6 at 1080p again shows the OCF does a good job but there is no secret sauce delivering extra performance on Auto settings.
Far Cry 6 at 1440p
Finally we have Far Cry 6 at 1440p where we see the closest of ties between the regular X870E Taichi and the Taichi OCF.
Closing Thoughts
Our video about the ASRock X870E Taichi OCF is unlike most of our motherboard reviews as the single biggest question revolves around the extras that make this motherboard an Over Clocking Formula. As we demonstrate in some detail, we had a number of issues with the hardware overclocking buttons but the peculiar thing is that we weren't especially annoyed as we don't much like the idea of messing with the base clock speed of a Ryzen 9000 CPU.
Instead we prefer to think of the OCF as a variant of the regular X870E Taichi and in that sense it is perfectly OK. The addition of the overclocking buttons is an irrelevance to us and we are fine with only having two DDR5 memory slots, however we positively welcome the move from E-ATX to ATX. Also, we like the black and yellow styling and consider it a small improvement over the regular X870E Taichi.
MSRP for the ASRock X870E Taichi OCF is $500
Pros:
The hardware seems bullet proof
Good looks and smart styling
Excellent set of micro buttons and a debug display
Manual switch to select BIOS A or B
Cons:
There are concerns about ASRock motherboards damaging Ryzen CPUs
The hardware overclocking buttons don’t seem to work!
We cannot find this motherboard on sale
KitGuru says: The ASRock X870E Taichi OCF is an oddball with a number of points of interest.
Ghost of Yotei was one of PlayStation’s biggest first-party exclusives to release in 2025, with the sequel to 2020’s Tsushima receiving equally as high praise as the first entry. When it comes to sales however, despite being on a console with a smaller total userbase, Ghost of Yotei has outsold Tsushima when launch-aligned.
As part of the company’s latest fiscal earnings report, Sony offered some updated sales data for its first-party releases. Unfortunately, the console maker is rather selective when it comes to sharing official sales.
That said, we have gotten confirmation that 2025’s Ghost of Yotei is performing well so far, with Sony CFO Lin Tao revealing (as transcribed by Gamesindustry.biz) that Yotei has “exceeded the sales of Ghost of Tsushima in the same period of time.”
As mentioned, exact apples-to-apples comparisons can’t be made due to Sony’s inconsistent sharing of sales data, however based on what we do know the original Ghost of Tsushima sold 2.4 million copies within its first 3 days on the market. It then took until 128 days post-launch for the title to reach 5 million.
Yotei on the other hand was revealed to have sold a total of 3.3 million copies within its first 32 days on sale. Considering the fact that Yotei has supposedly outpaced Tsushima it will be interesting to see how many copies it will have sold by the time it reaches its 128th day on the market.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Ghost of Yotei? How does it compare to Tsushima? Will the sequel eventually outsell the original? Let us know your thoughts down below.
While Starfield is in many people’s eyes one of Bethesda Game Studios’ most disappointing products, the space-faring RPG sandbox did find a dedicated audience of players. Following on from previous rumours claiming that the Xbox console exclusive is planned to be ported to the PlayStation 5, insiders are now stating that the PS5 release is scheduled to go live this April.
While little else was shared, it has been all-but-confirmed that Bethesda is currently working on a mini-overhaul of sorts for Starfield, with focus being put on improving space traversal; though details are relatively light so far.
Regardless, assuming this release date is true, then Starfield could finally be getting its long-awaited update in a couple months’ time. It will be interesting to see how the game performs on PS5 given Starfield’s less-than-stellar reputation.
KitGuru says: What did you think of Starfield at launch? Have the updates improved the experience? Will this supposed overhaul fix the game in your eyes? Let us know down below.
Microsoft has all-but-abandoned the Xbox console in recent years, with many of its first-party releases – past, present and future – being ported over to the likes of the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. This move away from exclusivity is set to be further entrenched with the next generation of Xbox consoles, with Epic Games now officially confirming that their Games Store will arrive on the next Xbox on day-one.
“We definitely plan to be on the new hardware for Xbox, because, unless their policy or stance on it changes, they are telling us they’re going to welcome that. And we’re going [to] be there, like, on day one. That will probably require us to build in whatever their requirements are, some sort of software to support that.”
Still, assuming Epic does wind up launching its Games Store on the next gen Xbox, it will be highly interesting to see how this will impact the use of Microsoft’s own storefront on the system.
KitGuru says: Are you at all interested in the next-gen Xbox? What are your expectations towards the system? Will this be good or bad for Xbox in the long-term? Let us know your thoughts down below.
Releasing a lengthy 10-minute announcement trailer, the team at Guerrilla Games officially unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering – a 3-player co-op experience in which you “Choose from a roster of uniquely skilled Hunters…and rally for the hunt as you face off against a deadly machine threat in action-packed combat and high-stake missions.”
Launching simultaneously on PS5 and PC, Hunters Gathering will include support for both cross-play and cross-progression alongside online matchmaking (though the game can also be played solo with two AI companions).
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the game is its art style, with Horizon Hunters Gathering featuring a much more cartoony aesthetic when compared to the mainline Horizon entries.
So far, no release date nor a release window has been provided, however those interested in the title can sign up for future playtests right now (the details of which can be found HERE).
While the Horizon games are known for their narratives, both Zero Dawn and Forbidden West feature fun and satisfying combat. With Hunters Gathering looking to further evolve its gameplay, here’s to hoping that the co-op title winds up being a success on all fronts.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Horizon Hunters Gathering so far? Are you more interested in it or the NCSOFT MMO? Let us know down below.
When Overwatch 2 was announced, it was a very controversial move as many fans didn't believe a sequel was needed. Now a couple of years later, Blizzard has come to that realisation as well, dropping the ‘2' from the name and introducing a soft reboot of Overwatch.
As part of this soft reboot, fans can expect ten new heroes to join the roster, with five of them becoming available alongside the next major seasonal update. In the video below, you can get a closer look at all of the new changes coming to Overwatch in the coming weeks.
In addition to the new characters, Blizzard is overhauling the game's core balance by introducing sub-roles and unique passive buffs. This change further specialises the tank, damage, and support classes into categories:
TANK
Bruiser (Mauga / Orisa / Roadhog / Zarya): Reduces critical damage received. While at critical health, gain movement speed.
Sharpshooter (Ashe / Cassidy / Hanzo / Sojourn / Widowmaker): Critical hits reduce your movement ability cooldowns.
Flanker (Anran / Genji / Reaper / Tracer / Vendetta / Venture): Health packs restore more health.
Specialist (Bastion / Emre / Junkrat / Mei / Soldier: 76 / Symmetra / Torbjorn): Eliminating an enemy briefly increases your reload speed.
Recon (Echo / Freja / Pharah / Sombra): You detect enemies below half health through walls after damaging them.
SUPPORT
Tactician (Ana / Baptiste / Jetpack Cat / Lucio / Zenyatta): You can gain excess ultimate charge, which carries over after using your ultimate ability.
Medic (Kiriko / Lifeweaver / Mercy / Moira): Healing allies with your weapon also heals you.
Survivor (Brigitte / Illari / Juno / Mizuki / Wuyang): Using a movement ability activates passive health regeneration.
Connexion
