Upcoming fantasy-inspired survival game, Soulmask, has been slowly stewing in Early Access since June 2024. Now, the road to 1.0 is in sight, with the developers announcing a Spring 2026 launch date, alongside confirmation of the game's very first DLC.

Soulmask will officially leave Early Access and launch its full 1.0 version in Spring 2026, accompanied by the brand-new Shifting Sands DLC. Revealed during the PC Gaming Show, the expansion takes players into an Ancient Egypt-inspired world where mythology collides with alien technology.

The trailer highlights new biomes, combat encounters, and building systems, while showcasing customisable ships such as the Tribe Sand Boat and Falcon-Class Solar Airship. These vessels form the backbone of a new “live-on-your-ship” survival system, allowing players to construct mobile fortresses complete with anti-gravity engines, desert skids, artillery, and production bases in mid-air.

At the heart of the Shifting Sands are four god-themed masks, each granting unique powers. The Horus Mask enables aerial combat with celestial wings, while the Anubis Mask curses enemies and resurrects fallen allies. The Sobek Mask channels torrents of water to trap foes, and the Amun-Ra Mask wields sunlight and flame to incinerate opponents. Players can also expect formidable new bosses, including the Soulcall Hound, Onyx Scarab, and Savagehorn Tribe Leader, alongside harsher survival challenges shaped by dynamic day-night cycles.

Soulmask has already attracted more than 750,000 players in Early Access, earning over 80% positive reviews. Version 1.0 and the DLC will arrive in Spring 2026. Ahead of launch, Steam players can take advantage of a final promotional discount of 35% off, available from December 4th through January 5th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you are after a survival game with a very different flavour to the norm, then Soulmask looks like a very good pick-up.

For months, we have been hearing rumours that Warner Bros is seeking a buyer. Now, Netflix has emerged as the bidding war winner with the announcement of an $82.7B acquisition deal. 

Due to the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, this acquisition is a little more complicated than it initially seems. Earlier this year, WB Discovery split into two distinct groups, a Global Networks group comprising of sports and news stations like TNT and CNN, and a Streaming & Studios group made up of the likes of DC Studios, HBO, the WB Motion Pictures Group and more. Just as you would expect, it is this valuable Streaming & Studios Group that Netflix is acquiring.

The deal will also include a number of game studios to bolster the Netflix Games side of the business. This includes the likes of NetherRealm, Avalanche Studios and Rocksteady, along with their associated IPs like Mortal Kombat, Batman Arkham and Hogwarts Legacy. However, Netflix has not yet expressly laid out its plans for these studios yet, so there could be further impact in this area, as cost-cutting will inevitably follow on from a major $82.7 billion purchase.

This acquisition will also likely mean the end of the HBO Max streaming service as the content will be folded into the Netflix library. However, the global rollout of some of these shows on Netflix may be impacted by lingering deals. For instance, here in the UK, most HBO shows currently go to the Sky-owned Now TV service first and we do not know how many years are in place for that deal to continue.

As for the film side of things, Netflix has stated that it fully intends to continue supporting theatrical releases before placing movies on the streaming service. However, many film directors and producers still have questions around how long these theatrical rollouts will run for. In the past, Netflix has limited its theatrical film runs to just a week or two and many established directors want more than that.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Warner Bros. has been around for a century, so this is a seismic shift in the film and TV landscape. The deal won't be completed until next year though and there is always the chance that regulators attempt to block it, as we saw with Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which could delay things. 

Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winner today is Craig Rogers! If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have many more daily giveaways lined up this month. Today's giveaway can be found HERE.

For Day 5 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar we have teamed up with Valkyrie to offer one lucky winner a PC upgrade bundle, including a new VK02 Lite case, a set of V12 ARGB fans to kit it out with and a V360 Lite AIO liquid cooler to go with it, creating a perfect starting point for a new build. 

The Valkyrie VK02 Lite is a mid‑tower ATX case built for airflow and flexibility, supporting up to 13 fans or triple 360/420mm radiators with tempered glass and ARGB lighting. The Valkyrie V12 ARGB fans are 120mm fluid dynamic bearing units, running up to 1850RPM with 75CFM airflow and customizable RGB illumination. The Valkyrie V360 Lite AIO is a 360mm liquid cooler featuring a patented 2800RPM pump, high‑pressure B12 radiator fans, a rotatable pump top and strong thermal performance backed by a 5‑year warranty.

How to Enter:

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What was your first PC case?

This competition is open Worldwide with the exception of Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Pakistan and Turkey due to shipping restrictions outside of our control.

The winners will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 6th, and a new competition will be announced for Day 6. The chosen winners have 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide except for Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Pakistan and Turkey due to shipping restrictions outside of our control, starting at 11AM GMT on December 5th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 6th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 6!

Nvidia is ending the year off strong with the announcement that 30 more titles will be joining the GeForce Now library this month. On top of that, a new Game Ready driver has rolled out for Nvidia graphics card owners.

The new Game Ready driver is available to download now and includes some new optimisations for the upcoming Battlefield 6: Winter Offensive update. This driver update is also recommended for players of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as it contains improved fidelity for DLSS Ray Reconstruction.

On top of that, Nvidia is also adding support for the top played classic, 32-bit GPU-accelerated PhysX games on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs launched at the beginning of the year, alongside the phasing out of 32-bit support for CUDA. This meant that PhysX effects in a number of older, yet beloved games were not GPU-accelerated on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. With the launch of NVIDIA’s new driver today, that problem is solved for a number of top-played titles including the likes of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Batman Arkham City, Borderlands 2, Metro 2033 & Last Light, Mirror's Edge and more.

As for this week's GeForce Now updates, there are ten new games joining the service today, including:

• MARVEL Cosmic Invasion (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 1)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2)
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2)
• XOCIETY (New release on Epic Games Store, Dec. 2)
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy (New release on Ubisoft, Dec. 2)
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 2)
• OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 (New release on Steam, available Dec. 4)
• ROUTINE (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Dec. 4)
  MIMESIS (Steam)

There will be 20 other titles joining the library over the next few weeks, although some of these are repeats, with the new support coming in the form of an additional storefront. For instance, Arc Raiders is already available on GeForce Now if you own it on Steam, but soon those who own the title on Epic Games Store will also be able to access it via Nvidia's cloud gaming service.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are there any additional PhysX titles you would like to see Nvidia add custom support for on RTX 50 GPUs? 

ENERMAX has introduced its new flagship power supply, the PlatimaxII 1200DF, a 1200W ATX 3.1 unit that emphasises high efficiency with its 80 PLUS Platinum and Cybenetics Platinum certifications. 

The PlatimaxII 1200DF is fully compliant with Intel’s ATX 3.1 specification and includes a native 12V-2×6 cable capable of delivering up to 600W to the GPU. This ensures compatibility with current and future high-end graphics cards. Designed to withstand up to 235% power excursion, the unit maintains stability during sudden spikes and relies on 100% Japanese capacitors for long-term reliability and precise voltage regulation under heavy workloads.

Cooling is handled by a 135mm fan equipped with ENERMAX’s patented Dust-Free Rotation technology, which helps reduce dust buildup and extend lifespan. The fan profile is tuned for quiet operation, earning a Cybenetics LAMBDA A acoustic rating, which means it operates at less than 25dB. Thermal management is balanced to keep noise levels low while maintaining efficient cooling.

Additional features include certification for operation at altitudes up to 5,000 meters, highlighting its durability in varied environments. The PlatimaxII 1200DF is available in black and white finishes and comes backed by a 13-year warranty, underscoring its positioning as a long-term solution for enthusiasts, gamers, and professionals building high-performance systems.

The Enermax PlatimaxII 1200DF will be available in both black and white colour options, priced at $229.99 and $239.99 respectively.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What sort of efficiency rating do you typically go for when choosing a new power supply? 

Black Friday has come and gone but there are still some good tech deals floating around for DIY PC builders. This week, MSI launched a new bundle, offering up a free 360mm AIO liquid cooler to those buying an eligible Intel Core Ultra CPU.

Over at Scan, if you buy an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ultra Core 7 265K processor, you will also get a free MSI MAG CoreLiquid I360 AIO liquid cooler to go with it. That means you'll instantly have high-performance cooling to go with your new CPU upgrade.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor is Intel's current consumer flagship model, offering up 24 cores and 24 threads, along with a 5.7GHz turbo boost speed. You'll have a much better chance of maintaining those higher clock speeds when pairing the CPU with a 360mm AIO liquid cooler. The Core Ultra 7 265K is one step down, offering 20 cores and 20 threads and a 5.5GHz max boost speed.

You can take advantage of the offer via SCAN for the Core Ultra 9 HERE and for the Core Ultra 7 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Both of these CPUs fall into the high-performance category so pairing them with a 360mm AIO makes perfect sense. Getting to do that for free is a very good bargain. 

Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winners today are Ian Burns, Stan Gonzales and Daniel Francis! If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have a new giveaway each day through December. You can find today's giveaway HERE.

For Day 4 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar we have teamed up with PowerColor to offer up THREE bundles. Each winner today will get a brand-new PowerColor Alphyn AH10 gaming headset and AM10 gaming mouse. 

The PowerColor Alphyn gaming peripherals became available in the UK earlier this year. The Alphyn AH10 headset is a great option, offering DTS-tuned audio profiles, low-latency wireless and up to 30 hours of continuous battery life with quick-charge capability so you can avoid downtime. The Alphyn AM10 mouse perfectly complements the headset with wired and wireless modes, a precise PAW3395 sensor and RGB lighting.

How to Enter:

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What was your first gaming mouse?

This competition is open Worldwide.

The winners will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 5th, and a new competition will be announced for Day 5. The chosen winners have 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide, starting at 11AM GMT on December 4th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 5th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 5!

Earlier this year, following a publicly playable alpha test, Bungie was forced to delay Marathon after an artist noticed that their work had been included in the game uncredited. Now months later and seemingly ahead of Marathon's re-reveal, the artist has confirmed that the dispute has been resolved.

In an update shared on social media, the artist, who goes by the online handle @4nt1r34l, confirmed that “the Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction”. The statement doesn't reveal any more than that, but we would assume that the artist got paid.

Bungie spent several months over the summer removing the offending assets from Marathon and only just recently resumed playtesting. With this dispute now resolved and the new assets implemented in the game, Bungie should be free to finally show Marathon publicly again.

Marathon is expected to launch in early 2026, though an exact date is not yet known. Bungie could make some announcements before the end of the month, perhaps around The Game Awards on December 11th.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Bungie can now move on from this fiasco. Chances are, the agreement between the artist and Bungie included an NDA and likely included a clause to announce publicly that the dispute is resolved, so we'll never know the true details of what was discussed behind closed doors, or how the stolen assets made their way into the game. 

Helldivers 2 has always had a significantly higher install size on PC compared to the console versions. At launch, players needed around 70GB of free space to install the game but after more than a year of updates, the PC version has ballooned to a 150GB file size. Now, thanks to some intricate optimisation work, the PC version has been dramatically reduced by over 130GB.

Helldivers 2 fans can rejoice and reclaim some SSD space. In a recent update, Arrowhead revealed that with some help from Sony's PC-focused studio, Nixxes, they have managed to reduce the PC install size of the game all the way down to just 23GB.

This is a massive 85 percent reduction in file size. It turns out that the PC version of the game was so big because it had a ton of duplicated assets within the game files. This duplication was originally implemented to improve load times for players using mechanical hard drives, but in practice most of the loading delays came from level generation rather than asset streaming. As a result, the duplicated data wasn’t providing meaningful benefits, yet it caused the install footprint to balloon far beyond the console versions.

After coming to this conclusion, Arrowhead and Nixxes worked together to create a ‘slim' build of the game. The end result was SSD users experiencing no difference in load times, while HDD users should only experience a few extra seconds of delay. This change not only makes the game more manageable to install and update, but also ensures parity with console versions, which were much smaller all along.

Arrowhead is still testing the slim version of the game, but PC players can opt in via Steam and get immediate access to the smaller version of the game, all without giving up access to the usual matchmaking queues and game content. If you do encounter an issue, you can quickly revert to the ‘legacy' build by going into the Steam menu and changing your beta participation status to ‘none'.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I would like to see more game developers focusing their efforts on reducing file sizes. Many titles nowadays have large 100GB+ install requirements, despite the game content not necessarily justifying the install size. 

Obsidian has been patching up Avowed with major updates every few months. Unfortunately, the Winter update, which contains new features like NewGame+ has been delayed at the last minute.

The Avowed Winter update was supposed to drop before the end of 2025, but the release date has now shifted to February 18th 2026 to coincide with the game's 1-year anniversary. It's not all bad news though, with the Winter update now transforming into an Anniversary update, Obsidian has also expanded the scope.

“If you've been following our Update Roadmap, you'll know we planned to release an update this fall. To break the bad news first: Avowed will not be receiving a fall update. The good news is that we're shifting our efforts toward a larger update coming next February, timed with the anniversary of the game's release.”

The new update will still include all of the features originally planned, like NG+ and Photo Mode, but with some added bonuses including more character customisation options, the ability to change appearance in the game world, a new weapon type and more.

We will learn more about the new additions to Avowed closer to the February 18th anniversary.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Out of the two games Obsidian released this year, Avowed edges out The Outer Worlds 2 for me, in large part thanks to the excellent combat. When it comes to dual-wielding and first-person spell casting, Avowed is in a class of its own.

Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winners today are Bobby Hing, Alex Royle, Maria Asfalidou, Arnas Klimavicius & Charlie Parton! If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have a new giveaway lined up each day through December. Today's giveaway can be found HERE. 

For Day 3 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with Sudokoo to give FIVE lucky winners a cooling upgrade. The winners for this one will each get a Proteus 360 AIO liquid cooler and some extra Mach120 fans to go with it.

We reviewed the Sudokoo Proteus 360 AIO liquid cooler earlier this year and came away impressed by the cooler's thermal performance and the digital LCD display on the CPU block. With an extra Mach120 triple pack, you'll be able to pack your case with extra fans for more airflow.

How to Enter:

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is head over to our competition announcement post on Facebook, HERE. In the comments, leave an answer to the following question – What CPU cooler are you currently running?

This competition is open Worldwide.

The winners will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 4th, and a new competition will be announced for Day 4. The chosen winners have 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide, starting at 11AM GMT on December 3rd and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 4th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual, and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to all who enter, we'll be back tomorrow morning to announce a winner and turn the calendar over to Day 4!

As part of CD Projekt Red's earnings report recently, we learned that the teams behind both The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 have continued to grow. Now, the company has revealed a few more interesting details about its upcoming plans as part of a call with shareholders.

During CD Projekt Red's recent financial call, co-CEO, Michał Nowakowski, reaffirmed the idea that The Witcher 4 will not be coming out in 2026. However, he also noted that the studio plans to release the entirety of its new Witcher trilogy within a pretty short time span.

Here is the full quote via Eurogamer: “As we had stated before, our plan still is to launch the whole trilogy within a six-year period, so yes, that would mean we would plan to have a shorter development time between TW5 and TW6 and so on.”

There is still no word on when the first game in this new trilogy, The Witcher 4, will release. CD Projekt Red has spent the last couple of years rebuilding itself into a true multi-game studio and re-training its developers to use Unreal Engine 5 rather than its own in-house tools, in part due to the delays managing the internal engine caused during Cyberpunk 2077's development.

If CDPR is intended to release The Witcher 5 just 2 years or so after The Witcher 4, then it is highly unlikely we see any grand expansions, which was previously a hallmark of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. However, the lack of DLC won't be too painful if the turnaround time is really that quick.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Few developers would be able to complete a whole trilogy in six years nowadays. The last successful series I can think of would be Mass Effect, where the first game released in late 2007, and wrapped up in March 2012 with the release of Mass Effect 3.