Featured Tech News | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 18 Mar 2024 22:54:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.11 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Featured Tech News | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Former single-player Battlefield lead has ‘nothing positive to say’ about working with EA https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/former-single-player-battlefield-lead-has-nothing-positive-to-say-about-working-with-ea/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/former-single-player-battlefield-lead-has-nothing-positive-to-say-about-working-with-ea/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:30:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651862 A few weeks ago, Halo co-creator, Marcus Lehto, announced plans to leave EA and his newly formed Battlefield studio, Ridgeline Games. Just a day later, EA confirmed it was shutting down the studio entirely and handing future single-player Battlefield development over to Critereon, alongside other studios. Now, it seems Lehto's departure wasn't as amicable as …

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A few weeks ago, Halo co-creator, Marcus Lehto, announced plans to leave EA and his newly formed Battlefield studio, Ridgeline Games. Just a day later, EA confirmed it was shutting down the studio entirely and handing future single-player Battlefield development over to Critereon, alongside other studios. Now, it seems Lehto's departure wasn't as amicable as it first seemed. 

Lehto has been quiet on social media since announcing his departure from Ridgeline Games, a studio that he founded under EA two years ago, with plans to develop a new single-player Battlefield campaign. Rather than appointing new leadership to the studio after Lehto's departure, EA decided to shut down the whole operation and move development of projects to other studios.

In a new message posted to Twitter recently, Lehto states that he doesn't have “anything positive to say about EA”. Specifically, he takes issue with the circumstances around his departure and the following layoffs that ensued, leaving his former team out of jobs.

It is still unclear exactly what went on behind the scenes and Lehto doesn't appear to be spilling any specific information right now. However, with Ridgeline Games ‘winding down', there is a good chance someone will share some details on what life was like at the studio leading up to its abrupt closure.

KitGuru Says: A lot of publishers are in tough positions right now. The desire to see constant growth on the balance sheet has led to many layoffs throughout the industry since the pandemic, impacting major publishers and platform holders like PlayStation and Xbox. The only company that seems to be getting through this unscathed is Nintendo, although Nintendo has always had a different philosophy when it comes to the gaming business, something that shines through with their consistent quality releases. 

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Sony reportedly ‘pausing’ PlayStation VR2 production due to sales decline https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/sony-reportedly-pausing-playstation-vr2-production-due-to-sales-decline/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/sony-reportedly-pausing-playstation-vr2-production-due-to-sales-decline/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:45:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651859 While Sony executives have insisted that PlayStation VR2 sales have been fine, analysts have been claiming the opposite since launch. Some new evidence of the souring situation has surfaced this week with Sony reportedly pausing production of the headset due to an overabundance of stock.  According to Bloomberg, Sony has ‘paused' PlayStation VR2 production to …

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While Sony executives have insisted that PlayStation VR2 sales have been fine, analysts have been claiming the opposite since launch. Some new evidence of the souring situation has surfaced this week with Sony reportedly pausing production of the headset due to an overabundance of stock. 

According to Bloomberg, Sony has ‘paused' PlayStation VR2 production to focus on clearing its backlog of unsold stock. The headset first launched in early 2023, with over two million units made available for the launch. However, sales have reportedly declined considerably since launch, failing to catch up to rival headsets like the Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, according to tracking data from IDC.

Part of the problem is simple, there has been a lack of blockbuster releases for the PSVR2, with Sony only releasing one first-party game so far – Horizon: Call of the Mountain. Beyond that, the headset is not backwards compatible with older PSVR titles, and carries a higher price tag than the PS5 console required to use it.

Sony may look to improve PlayStation VR2 sales in the months ahead by expanding platform support. Sony confirmed that it has been testing the headset for use with PCs recently, so it may end up being a viable PC VR headset. With Sony also bringing more of its games to multiple platforms, we may see PS VR2 exclusive content also make its way over to PC via stores like Steam.

KitGuru Says: With its $550 price tag, the PS VR2 was always going to be a tough sell, even with its fancy new 4K display and DualSense controllers. A price cut will be needed to really shift units, but it might be too soon for Sony to do that. 

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Aspyr’s Battlefront Classic Collection reportedly used modder’s work uncredited https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/aspyrs-battlefront-classic-collection-reportedly-used-modders-work-uncredited/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/aspyrs-battlefront-classic-collection-reportedly-used-modders-work-uncredited/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:00:30 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651852 Fans were already quick to notice the AI upscaling used for Aspyr's recent Battlefront: Classic Collection remasters, with this being seen as the main culprit for the game's massive 70GB+ install size. As it turns out, the launch version of the game may also contain mods without the creator's permission.  As spotted by IGN, modder …

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Fans were already quick to notice the AI upscaling used for Aspyr's recent Battlefront: Classic Collection remasters, with this being seen as the main culprit for the game's massive 70GB+ install size. As it turns out, the launch version of the game may also contain mods without the creator's permission. 

As spotted by IGN, modder ‘iamashaymin', who first brought Xbox-exclusive characters Kit Fisto and Asajj Ventress. The mod relied on swapping the character models out with two characters already in the game but it was the best solution given that these characters were previously only available on the original Xbox version of Battlefront 2. Shaymin believes his mod was used to bring these characters to Aspyr's new Battlefront Classic Collection:

The modder points out differences between the official models and the mod versions. However, Aspyr previously claimed that this re-release does “not include any code or content taken from uncredited sources”.

Aspyr has not yet commented on these claims, but the studio is busy trying to improve the release. Since launch, the Battlefront Classic Collection has been plagued with buggy servers and poor connectivity for multiplayer matches, something that the studio is specifically looking to address with future updates.

KitGuru Says: Have any of you tried the new Battlefront Classic Collection since launch? 

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Stellaris is getting a new expansion soon https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/stellaris-is-getting-a-new-expansion-soon/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/stellaris-is-getting-a-new-expansion-soon/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:15:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651799 Stellaris has stood the test of time as one of the most popular space-based 4X strategy games on PC. Development isn't slowing down in 2024 either, with the new Machine Age expansion set to launch very soon.  The update includes new Ascension Paths for Machine Empires and three new origins: Cybernetic Creed, Synthetic Fertility, and …

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Stellaris has stood the test of time as one of the most popular space-based 4X strategy games on PC. Development isn't slowing down in 2024 either, with the new Machine Age expansion set to launch very soon. 

The update includes new Ascension Paths for Machine Empires and three new origins: Cybernetic Creed, Synthetic Fertility, and Arc Welders. The Cybernetic Creed is an empire that worships the fusion of the body and cybernetics. As for Synthetic Fertility, it is an empire that is unable to reproduce biologically due to a genetic disease. Lastly, the Arc Welders are a robotic society in need of resources.

The upcoming expansion will also bring a new Crisis Path, which focuses on technological dominance at whatever cost, and a new End-Game Crisis centred on the resurgence of an old synthetic enemy. These will occur concurrently with the development of non-Gestalt, providing players with fresh tales and beginnings.

The Machine Age also includes new portraits, six new Civics, new species traits, and two new mid-game structures: the Arc Furnace and Dyson Swarms. The Machine Age expansion will be released in Q2 2024 alongside the free Andromeda update.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of Stellaris? Are you planning to buy the upcoming expansion?

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Dark and Darker is returning via the Epic Games Store and may come back to Steam too https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/dark-and-darker-is-returning-via-the-epic-games-store-and-may-come-back-to-steam-too/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/dark-and-darker-is-returning-via-the-epic-games-store-and-may-come-back-to-steam-too/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:30:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651800 Ironmace, the developer behind the fantasy dungeon crawler Dark and Darker, has announced that they are preparing to reintroduce the game to a wider audience after it was removed from sale on Steam in April 2023. This time around, the game will be releasing on the Epic Games Store.  Ironmace has hired many former Nexon …

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Ironmace, the developer behind the fantasy dungeon crawler Dark and Darker, has announced that they are preparing to reintroduce the game to a wider audience after it was removed from sale on Steam in April 2023. This time around, the game will be releasing on the Epic Games Store. 

Ironmace has hired many former Nexon developers, leading to Nexon accusing the company of stealing IP to create Dark and Darker. This accusation led to Valve removing the game from the Steam store last year, a decision that did stir up some controversy. Legal proceedings led to a bit of a tie between Ironmace and Nexon, but the company is pushing ahead with bringing Dark and Darker back, with plans to launch on the Epic Games Store.

There is no word on if the game will make its way back onto Steam. That decision could potentially be in Valve's hands. In the meantime, Ironmace is exploring all alternatives.

Although there is no set release date, interested players can keep updated by adding Dark and Darker to their Epic Games Store Wishlist.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried Dark and Darker? Are you planning to get the game from EGS, or would you rather wait for its possible return to Steam?

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Acer expands to higher end GPUs with its first RX 7900 series cards https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/acer-expands-to-higher-end-gpus-with-its-first-rx-7900-series-cards/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/acer-expands-to-higher-end-gpus-with-its-first-rx-7900-series-cards/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 11:15:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651801 Acer has recently entered the gaming graphics card market. First, it launched a few Intel Arc models, followed by various Radeon RX 7000 series cards. However, the brand wants to expand further in this market, specifically into the high-end segment, by launching two new graphics cards: the Radeon RX 7900 GRE Predator and Radeon RX …

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Acer has recently entered the gaming graphics card market. First, it launched a few Intel Arc models, followed by various Radeon RX 7000 series cards. However, the brand wants to expand further in this market, specifically into the high-end segment, by launching two new graphics cards: the Radeon RX 7900 GRE Predator and Radeon RX 7900 GRE Nitro.

Both cards already have their product pages online. A quick look at the images shows they look the same as their RX 7800 XT counterparts in design and cooling. That's not that surprising, seeing the similarities between the RX 7800 XT and the RX 7900 GRE (similar power requirements and package sizes, 16GB of VRAM).

The RX 7900 GRE Nitro uses two Nitro FrostBlade fans for cooling, while the Predator card uses a triple-fan cooler with FrostBlade 3.0 fans. We also learned that the Predator and Nitro cards are clocked at the same frequency and slightly higher than the reference model. They have a 2050MHz game clock and a 2395MHz boost clock, which are a 9% and 7% overclock, respectively.

Pricing and availability details are still unclear. However, we expect the Predator card to cost more than the Nitro one, with the latter probably costing similar to other entry-level RX 7900 GRE cards.

KitGuru says: Based on the information we have so far on these two cards, which would you prefer?

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Palworld studio looking to bring game to more platforms https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/mustafa-mahmoud/palworld-studio-looking-to-bring-game-to-more-platforms/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/mustafa-mahmoud/palworld-studio-looking-to-bring-game-to-more-platforms/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 10:30:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651776 Palworld quickly became one of the biggest indie success stories of all time upon its Early Access release in late January; amassing a whopping 12 million copies sold on Steam alone in just two weeks and becoming the 2nd most-concurrently played game in the platform’s history – among other broken records. In the wake of …

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Palworld quickly became one of the biggest indie success stories of all time upon its Early Access release in late January; amassing a whopping 12 million copies sold on Steam alone in just two weeks and becoming the 2nd most-concurrently played game in the platform’s history – among other broken records. In the wake of all this, the team at Pocket Pair are looking to bring Palworld to more devices.

In an interview conducted by Takashi Mochizuki via Bloomberg, Pocket Pair CEO Takuro Mizobe spoke on the overwhelming success of Palworld following its early access release.

In discussing its current set of available platforms – i.e. Steam and Game Pass – Mizobe revealed plans to bring the game to more systems, though no specifics were shared.

One of the more surprising revelations during the interview was the fact that Palworld cost ‘just’ $6.7 million to develop – meaning the game has made way more than 10x its money back in profits thanks to over 15 million copies sold on PC alone.

Despite the massive influx in funds, the team at Pocket Pair are looking to stay small, with Mizobe stating “We are and will remain a small studio. I want to make multiple small games. Big-budget triple-A games are not for us.”

While Palworld was undoubtedly a lightning-in-a-bottle type of situation, it will be interesting to see what plans the team have for the future of Palworld and beyond.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Pocket Pair’s strategy? Was Palworld a fluke? What would you like to see the studio work on next? Let us know down below.

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Valorant datamine reveals plans for multiplatform release https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/mustafa-mahmoud/valorant-datamine-reveals-plans-for-multiplatform-release/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/mustafa-mahmoud/valorant-datamine-reveals-plans-for-multiplatform-release/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:00:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651777 After spending years in the competitive PC FPS space with little to no competition, Counter Strike found an equal in the form of Valorant; the latest title from League of Legends makers Riot Games. Having grown over the course of the past few years on PC, Riot Games look set to bring Valorant to more …

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After spending years in the competitive PC FPS space with little to no competition, Counter Strike found an equal in the form of Valorant; the latest title from League of Legends makers Riot Games. Having grown over the course of the past few years on PC, Riot Games look set to bring Valorant to more PC platforms – as well as consoles.

As reported by Kingdom Laboratories, in datamining Valorant the content creator took to Twitter to reveal recently-added strings which suggest that the game could be coming to plethora of new systems.

If true, Valorant could be set to come to PlayStation; Xbox; Nintendo Switch; Linux and even iOS/Android.

As with many competitive shooters, Valorant requires very little hardware to play, being able to run on integrated graphics – meaning a Switch and even mobile port should not be out of the realm of possibility.

That said, competitive FPS games like Valorant have historically been PC-centric with a focus on mouse and keyboard controls. Riot’s shooter is no different, with the game not supporting controllers in any official capacity.

Considering the fact that this multiplatform release will seemingly be launched with crossplay support, much work will have to be done in order to ensure matches are relatively fair and balanced. We will have to wait and see whether this ultimately pans out.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Valorant in 2024? Would the game benefit from an expanded release? Let us know down below.

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Hyper Light Breaker is now set to launch in Steam Early Access this Summer https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/hyper-light-breaker-is-now-set-to-launch-in-steam-early-access-this-summer/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/hyper-light-breaker-is-now-set-to-launch-in-steam-early-access-this-summer/#respond Sun, 17 Mar 2024 16:00:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651759 Heart Machine, the developer behind Hyper Light Drifter, has announced that their upcoming co-op rogue-lite prequel, Hyper Light Breaker, will be released in early access on PC this summer.  After delaying Hyper Light Breaker twice, Heart Machine expects to launch the game on Steam Early Access in just a few months. This phase is planned …

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Heart Machine, the developer behind Hyper Light Drifter, has announced that their upcoming co-op rogue-lite prequel, Hyper Light Breaker, will be released in early access on PC this summer. 

After delaying Hyper Light Breaker twice, Heart Machine expects to launch the game on Steam Early Access in just a few months. This phase is planned to last about a year. There is no word yet on when console versions will be available.

Hyper Light Breaker is set before the events of Hyper Light Drifter. Unlike its predecessor, a top-down, single-player game, Hyper Light Breaker is a 3D rogue-lite title with an open world and co-op support. In the game, players control Breakers, mercenaries sent out to defeat the Abyss King. To accomplish this, Breakers must first defeat the Crowns, which can be unlocked by defeating Elite creatures.

As expected from a rogue-lite, the game features various playable characters, customisable loadouts with ranged and melee weapons, and various upgrades and prizes that can be carried over from one run to another.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Did you play Hyper Light Breaker? Are you interested in its prequel?

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Deep Rock Galactic Survivor has sold 1 million copies, new biome incoming https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/deep-rock-galactic-survivor-has-sold-1-million-copies-new-biome-incoming/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/deep-rock-galactic-survivor-has-sold-1-million-copies-new-biome-incoming/#respond Sun, 17 Mar 2024 15:00:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651757 Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, the single-player survival spin-off of the popular co-op mining game, has recently reached an impressive milestone by selling over 1,000,000 copies in just one month of being released on Steam Early Access. To commemorate the achievement, the developer Funday Games and publisher Ghost Ship have released the first big update for …

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Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, the single-player survival spin-off of the popular co-op mining game, has recently reached an impressive milestone by selling over 1,000,000 copies in just one month of being released on Steam Early Access. To commemorate the achievement, the developer Funday Games and publisher Ghost Ship have released the first big update for their game, including a new biome that takes you deeper into the depths of Hoxxes IV.

The latest addition to Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is the Salt Pits biome, the fourth environment from the main game to be added to Survivor. Along with other places in the roguelike game, players must be aware of their surroundings and use them to their advantage by dumping well-placed stalactite clusters on foes' heads.

In addition to the new biome, players will encounter a new opponent type from the base game, the Q'ronar Younglings. Although they lack some of the more harmful qualities of their adult form, a swarm of them rushing towards you in a tight corner can still be challenging.

The Deep Rock Galactic Survivor Salt Pits upgrade is set to go live on Wednesday, March 20th. Funday Games has promised that this is just the first of many upgrades planned on the roadmap, which is expected to run for up to 12 months until the game's 1.0 release.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you one of the 1 million who already bought Deep Rock Galactic Survivor? Do you intend to keep playing it until the 1.0 release, or will you put it on hold until then?

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Intel expands Application Optimisation compatibility to older CPUs and more games https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/joao-silva/intel-expands-application-optimisation-compatibility-to-older-cpus-and-more-games/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/joao-silva/intel-expands-application-optimisation-compatibility-to-older-cpus-and-more-games/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:00:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651661 Intel Application Optimisation is a tool designed to optimise the performance of specific games by using intelligent thread scheduling. While this tool has proven to significantly enhance performance in specific games, its list of supported games and CPUs has been limited. That is now changing, as Intel is adding 12 new games and a new …

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Intel Application Optimisation is a tool designed to optimise the performance of specific games by using intelligent thread scheduling. While this tool has proven to significantly enhance performance in specific games, its list of supported games and CPUs has been limited. That is now changing, as Intel is adding 12 new games and a new mode that lets you enable APO on unsupported games.

Although the software initially only supported Metro Exodus and Rainbow Six Siege, it now supports 12 additional titles. The new titles include Final Fantasy XIV, Red Dead Redemption 2, World of Tanks, Dreams Three Kingdoms 2 (PRC), F1 22, Guardians of the Galaxy, Serious Sam 4 (VLK), Strange Brigade (VLK), Watch Dog Legion, World War Z, Dirt 5, and World of Warcraft.

Intel APO can be set up to automatically switch on for specific applications and you can also opt to disable it, which might be helpful if the results are unexpected. It's worth noting that Intel doesn't promise that all CPUs will produce identical results.

APO's Advanced Mode will be supported by 12th and 13th Gen Core desktop and mobile SKUs from Core i3/i5/i7 and i9 series. However, such CPUs will have to be explicitly activated using Advanced Mode. Additionally, the tool requires users to install Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology software and make modifications in the BIOS. Moreover, the Advanced Mode allows users to enable APO on untested games. Intel notes that on these games, results may vary, including possibly reducing performance.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you have a CPU that supports Intel APO? Have you already tested the tool? What about Advanced Mode?

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Helldivers 2 may have surpassed 8 million copies sold https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/helldivers-2-may-have-surpassed-8-million-copies-sold/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/helldivers-2-may-have-surpassed-8-million-copies-sold/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:30:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651751 We already knew that Helldivers 2 has been a huge success so far. One look at the game's high concurrent player counts on Steam proves that. The story got more impressive when we learned that sales of the game were growing week to week, avoiding the usual decline many other titles see. Now, analysts are …

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We already knew that Helldivers 2 has been a huge success so far. One look at the game's high concurrent player counts on Steam proves that. The story got more impressive when we learned that sales of the game were growing week to week, avoiding the usual decline many other titles see. Now, analysts are predicting high sales numbers for the game.

Neither publisher Sony, nor Arrowhead Games have confirmed Helldivers 2's sales, but the game has been a top seller on both Steam and PS5. The game has also swiftly garnered a very loyal audience, as shown by the amount of clips and memes being shared, some of which has been spurred on by Arrowhead's CEO on social media, with his talk of flying bug propaganda.

As reported by Bloomberg, TD Cowen analyst Doug Creutz estimated that Helldivers 2 has sold more than 8 million copies, which is in part based on the game's strong sales momentum so far.

That momentum will likely keep up, as in recent weeks, the Helldivers team has been pushing out new missions and objectives and have begun introducing new weapons and enemy types, with much more to come throughout the year.

KitGuru Says: Helldivers 2 is my favourite game right now and I'm looking forward to seeing new updates in the months ahead.

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Aspyr responds in wake of rocky Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection launch https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/aspyr-responds-in-wake-of-rocky-star-wars-battlefront-classic-collection-launch/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/aspyr-responds-in-wake-of-rocky-star-wars-battlefront-classic-collection-launch/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:00:08 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651745 Yesterday, the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection had a very disappointing launch. Players logged into the game to find a low number of available servers, bugs, and an unreasonably large 70GB+ install size. Now, Aspyr has spoken out about some of the game's problems, promising fixes. Aspyr addressed the situation on its website, saying: “At …

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Yesterday, the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection had a very disappointing launch. Players logged into the game to find a low number of available servers, bugs, and an unreasonably large 70GB+ install size. Now, Aspyr has spoken out about some of the game's problems, promising fixes.

Aspyr addressed the situation on its website, saying: “At launch, we experienced critical errors with our network infrastructure. The result was incredibly high ping, matchmaking errors, crashes, and servers not appearing in the browser. Since launch, we’ve been working to address these issues and increase network stability, and we will continue our efforts until our network infrastructure is stabilized to prevent further outages.”

There is no timeline for fixes just yet but more players have had success getting into multiplayer matches. Unfortunately, the connection is often poor, but hopefully that can be ironed out over the next few days.

Aspyr did not address the game's sheer install size, which comes in at over 70GB on PC, something that many attribute to the game's use of AI upscaling. For comparison, the original games take up less than 25GB combined.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Were any of you considering the new Battlefront collection before the launch issues came to light? Will you be picking it up when it eventually goes on sale instead to allow time for fixes?

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Cherry unveils its first XTRFY gaming keyboard with MX2A switches https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/keyboards/matthew-wilson/cherry-unveils-its-first-xtrfy-gaming-keyboard-with-mx2a-switches/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/keyboards/matthew-wilson/cherry-unveils-its-first-xtrfy-gaming-keyboard-with-mx2a-switches/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:00:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651739 Cherry is launching its first gaming keyboard to feature its new MX2A switches. The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 is a compact 65% keyboard, equipped with Red MX2A switches, the latest version of Cherry's renowned mechanical switches with some key design tweaks. The MX2A switches ship with a new spring design, changing from cylindrical to barrel geometry …

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Cherry is launching its first gaming keyboard to feature its new MX2A switches. The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 is a compact 65% keyboard, equipped with Red MX2A switches, the latest version of Cherry's renowned mechanical switches with some key design tweaks.

The MX2A switches ship with a new spring design, changing from cylindrical to barrel geometry for near-contactless linear movement, reducing spring deformation and scratching. All MX2A switches also use a Gold Crosspoint contact system, enabling a debounce time of less than 1ms.

The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 ups the ante for RGB lighting with advanced per-key illumination alongside LED strips to enhance colours and effects further. With its compact dimensions and linear Red switches, users will reclaim some desk space and have a quieter and more responsive typing experience with durable long-lasting switches.

The keyboard comes with a solid metal plate construction and double layers of sound absorbing foam. Users will also benefit anti-ghosting, 1000Hz polling and Super Scan technology, which scans all keys every half a milisecond for increased response times for gaming. The keyboard has a detachable USB cable, so you can easily unplug it for transporting.

The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 will be available in black and Transparent White versions, and if you go through the Cherry XTRFY store, you can customise the keyboard further, including switches, key caps, logo plates and more. Prices start at $139 for the Black version and $149 for the Transparent White version.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It looks to be a very nice keyboard, and it is great to see more availability for the new MX2A switches.

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Gameloft is creating a new survival Dungeons and Dragons game for consoles and PC https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/gameloft-is-creating-a-new-survival-dungeons-and-dragons-game-for-consoles-and-pc/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/joao-silva/gameloft-is-creating-a-new-survival-dungeons-and-dragons-game-for-consoles-and-pc/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:00:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651662 Gameloft, known for the development of various popular mobile games and Disney Dreamlight Valley, has recently announced a partnership with Hasbro to create a new Dungeons & Dragons game set in the Forgotten Realms universe. The game promises to be a combination of survival, life simulation, and action role-playing, focusing on an immersive, story-driven campaign …

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Gameloft, known for the development of various popular mobile games and Disney Dreamlight Valley, has recently announced a partnership with Hasbro to create a new Dungeons & Dragons game set in the Forgotten Realms universe.

The game promises to be a combination of survival, life simulation, and action role-playing, focusing on an immersive, story-driven campaign packed with adventure, camaraderie, and danger. The game's first promotional image depicts a group of adventurers gazing at a distant castle from a hilltop, setting the tone for the journey that awaits.

According to the developer, the game will feature unique cooperative gameplay that blends real-time survival mechanics with the rich narrative elements of the Dungeons & Dragons series. Players can expect a campaign that challenges them to persevere through difficult encounters, relying on their companions for support and assistance at every turn.

Developed by Gameloft Montreal, the studio behind Disney Dreamlight Valley and LEGO Star Wars: Castaways, the new game is currently being developed for PC and consoles. A release date has not been announced yet.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of Gameloft Montreal's previous work? Do you think they will be capable of delivering a good D&D video game?

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Latest Humble Bundle includes Saints Row and Red Faction https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/latest-humble-bundle-includes-saints-row-and-red-faction/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/latest-humble-bundle-includes-saints-row-and-red-faction/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:15:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651635 Humble Bundles offer a strong selection of thematically linked titles on a regular basis for a heavily discounted cost. The latest bundle offers a collection of the now-unfortunately-shuttered Volition Studios’ best work, including Saints Row and Red Faction. Available to purchase for the next 3 weeks, the ironically-named Plaion: The Hits bundle (the new owners …

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Humble Bundles offer a strong selection of thematically linked titles on a regular basis for a heavily discounted cost. The latest bundle offers a collection of the now-unfortunately-shuttered Volition Studios’ best work, including Saints Row and Red Faction.

Available to purchase for the next 3 weeks, the ironically-named Plaion: The Hits bundle (the new owners of Volition’s IP) is available in 3 forms. Paying a mere 78p will net you:

  • Saints Row 2
  • Red Faction
  • Red Faction II

Upping your pledge to £3.92 adds the following:

  • Saints Row: The Third
  • Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell
  • Red Faction: Armageddon
  • Red Faction: Armageddon Path to War

Finally, paying the full £7.84 gets you:

  • Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
  • Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
  • Saints Row: The Third Remastered

As always, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity, with this bundle supporting Active Minds: “The nation's leading nonprofit promoting mental health for young adults ages 14-24.”

While it does feel a bit icky considering the fact that the creator of all these games isn’t even being acknowledged, this bundle is an excellent way to get your hands on some of Volition’s best work.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Humble Bundle? Did you enjoy Volition’s titles? Which studio can help fill that void? Let us know down below.

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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is free on the Epic Games Store https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/deus-ex-mankind-divided-is-free-on-the-epic-games-store/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/deus-ex-mankind-divided-is-free-on-the-epic-games-store/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:30:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651636 Each week, Epic Games offers a title or two for free to all those with an EGS account. Though not always the most exciting offerings, this week’s release includes the most recent entry in the dormant Deus Ex series. Available to add to your library right now (and will remain so until the 21st of …

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Each week, Epic Games offers a title or two for free to all those with an EGS account. Though not always the most exciting offerings, this week’s release includes the most recent entry in the dormant Deus Ex series.

Available to add to your library right now (and will remain so until the 21st of March at 3pm), Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and indie puzzler The Bridge are free to claim on the Epic Games Store.

Though perhaps not as beloved as the PC classic, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is still a great game in its own right, offering a dense explorable world alongside light RPG mechanics and heavy stealth elements. We don’t get many big budget immersive sims, and Deus Ex Mankind Divided is one of the few to release in recent years.

As mentioned, both Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and The Bridge will be available to claim until the 21st of March, at which point they will be replaced by Call of the Wild: The Angler and Invincible Presents: Atom Eve.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offerings? Have you played Mankind Divided? Would you like to see more immersive sims released? Let us know down below.

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Valve reveals top 100 most-played Steam Deck games https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/valve-reveals-top-100-most-played-steam-deck-games/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/valve-reveals-top-100-most-played-steam-deck-games/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:45:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651638 With the release of the Steam Deck back in 2022, Valve has been keeping track of exactly what kind of games owners have been playing on its portable handheld. With us having entered the Steam Deck’s 3rd year on the market, Valve has revealed the top 100 most played games on Deck over the past …

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With the release of the Steam Deck back in 2022, Valve has been keeping track of exactly what kind of games owners have been playing on its portable handheld. With us having entered the Steam Deck’s 3rd year on the market, Valve has revealed the top 100 most played games on Deck over the past year.

Releasing the charts via the Steam store, Valve published its top 100 games played on Steam Deck, saying “It's been roughly two years since we launched Steam Deck, and we thought we'd take a look at the games being played on it the most in its second year!”

It is worth noting that the list is ranked by highest daily active player counts between March 2023 and now, and does not disquality non-Steam Deck verified titles. With that, the top 10 most played titles were:

  1. Baldur’s Gate 3
  2. Vampire Survivors
  3. Dave the Diver
  4. Hogwarts Legacy
  5. Elden Ring
  6. Palworld
  7. Cyberpunk 2077
  8. GTA V
  9. Stardew Valley
  10. Red Dead Redemption 2

The full list of the top 100 titles can be found HERE, but it is interesting to see the range of titles played on Valve’s handheld device – in particular when it comes to hardware demands. We have easy-to-hop-in-and-out titles like Vampire Survivors and Stardew Valley alongside graphics-chewing monsters like Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk and RDR2.

Despite its relatively modest hardware, it is impressive to see just how much use owners have been getting out of the handheld.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you own a Steam Deck? What kind of games do you play on it? Are you surprised by any of the entries? Let us know down below.

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Diablo IV, Naraka: Bladepoint and more to get RTX upgrades https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/diablo-iv-naraka-bladepoint-and-more-to-get-rtx-upgrades/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/diablo-iv-naraka-bladepoint-and-more-to-get-rtx-upgrades/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:00:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651637 Ahead of the annual Game Developers Conference, Nvidia has announced a lengthy list of games – both old and upcoming – which are set to be further enhanced by its RTX capabilities; with the likes of Diablo IV set to get ray-traced reflections and shadows in just a few short weeks. Making the announcement on …

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Ahead of the annual Game Developers Conference, Nvidia has announced a lengthy list of games – both old and upcoming – which are set to be further enhanced by its RTX capabilities; with the likes of Diablo IV set to get ray-traced reflections and shadows in just a few short weeks.

Making the announcement on their blog, the Nvidia team announced its latest set of RTX updates, saying “Over 500 RTX games and applications have revolutionized how people game and create with ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS and AI-powered technologies. Today, we’re unveiling even more RTX games that will deliver the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX gamers.”

With that, they revealed that the much-anticipated UE5-powered Black Myth: Wukong will launch with full path tracing alongside the company’s latest DLSS 3.5 upon the game’s release this August.

Interestingly, it won’t just be new games which will take advantage of DLSS 3.5, as the melee-focused multiplayer Battle Royale Naraka: Bladepoint is set to be updated with path-tracing support alongside DLSS 3.5 ray reconstruction for maximal visual quality at a heavily reduced performance cost.

As mentioned above, Diablo IV is surprisingly being updated to support ray tracing. While not quite the full path-traced experience, the update – arriving on the 26th of March – will add ray-traced reflections; ray-traced transparent reflections and ray-traced shadows.

Though perhaps not quite as transformative as full path tracing, the update should enhance Diablo IV’s moody aesthetic even further.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Nvidia’s recent AI efforts? Do you feel the unique benefits of owning an Nvidia GPU? What already-available title would you like to see get an RTX upgrade? Let us know down below.

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Alphacool Apex Stealth Featured Build w/ Custom Loop Cooling https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/alphacool-apex-stealth-featured-build-w-custom-loop-cooling/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/alphacool-apex-stealth-featured-build-w-custom-loop-cooling/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:37:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651244 Metal fans and custom cooling works well!

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As well as hardware reviews, it's always great to put together featured builds on the KitGuru channel every once in a while. Alphacool is a company that we have not looked at so far this year, so we thought this featured build video would be a good opportunity to create a fully custom water-cooled system to check out what’s on offer from Alphacool in 2024.

Watch the video via our VIMEO Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE


Timestamps:

00:00 Start
01:33 Apex Stealth Metal Fans
04:40 Alphacool hardware
08:28 Other Hardware in the system
10:30 Timelapse build
18:50 Build is complete!
20:31 James' thoughts on the build

Alphacool Apex Stealth Fan Features:

  • With Apex Stealth the entire fan is completely decoupled from the full metal frame to reduce vibration and noise.
  • The fan impeller features a closed frame design with blades optimised for maximum airflow and high static pressure.
  • Apex stealth fans are equipped with a 6-pole motor and a PWM Speed range of 400 – 2000 RPM, a zero RPM mode and up to 3000 RPM as a power fan variant.

APEX Stealth Specifications:

  • Dimensions (L x W x H): 120 x 120 x 25mm
  • Material (Frame): Die-cast zinc
  • Material (Impeller): Plastic
  • Weight: 320g
  • Speed: 400~2000±10% rpm
  • Bearing: Hydro Dynamic Bearing
  • Connection: 4-Pin PWM
  • Cable length PWM: 40±8 mm (+ 50cm extension cable)
  • Cable length (daisy chain): 110±10 mm
  • Start-up Voltage: 6V DC
  • Rated Volt: 12V DC
  • Power Consumption: 2.64 Watt
  • Air Flow: 47 CFM
  • Static Air Pressure: 2.09mmH2O
  • Noise Level: 24.6dBA
  • MTBF: 100,000h
  • PWM control: Yes
  • Zero RPM control: Yes
  • Tacho Signal: Yes
  • Auto-restart: Yes

Test System Specification

Alphacool Cooling System Specification:

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Alphacool has some interesting new products on offer this year so if you are thinking of building a custom-cooled system anytime soon then it might be worth checking them out.

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Zalman’s latest case provides maximum airflow in a compact package https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/zalmans-latest-case-provides-maximum-airflow-in-a-compact-package/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/zalmans-latest-case-provides-maximum-airflow-in-a-compact-package/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 17:00:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651496 Zalman has recently launched the P30 Air Micro-ATX cases designed for maximum airflow. The case is available in two colours, black and white, and features panel perforations throughout the front panel and along the sides of the bottom half. The left panel covers only the top compartment, while the right side panel allows access to …

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Zalman has recently launched the P30 Air Micro-ATX cases designed for maximum airflow. The case is available in two colours, black and white, and features panel perforations throughout the front panel and along the sides of the bottom half. The left panel covers only the top compartment, while the right side panel allows access to both compartments.

The ZALMAN P30 Air is equipped with three 140mm ARGB-illuminated fans, of which two are mounted on the front panel, and the other is on the rear. The motherboard tray is spacious enough to accommodate 392mm-long graphics cards, 226mm-long PSUs, and 181mm-tall CPU coolers. Additionally, the motherboard tray (supporting mATX and mini-ITX) has cut-outs for motherboards that have rear-facing connections, such as the recently revealed ‘Project Zero' motherboards from MSI, which aim to hide all cable connections at the back of the PC.

The case has a 2.5/3.5-inch drive tray in the bottom compartment that supports up to two drives and three additional 2.5-inch-only drive bays. In addition to the fans included, the case supports up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans on top and bottom. As for radiators, it's limited to a 280/360mm on top and a 120/140mm on the rear.

Besides the fans, the case includes a pre-installed VGA support bracket, an ARGB controller, and top and bottom magnetic dust filters. Available in black and white, the P30 Air measures 235mm x 452mm x 420mm (WxDxH) and weighs 7.6kg.

KitGuru says: Aesthetically clean and simple, the P30 Air looks like a mid-range mATX case that should fulfil most users' needs. 

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Nvidia’s upcoming GB202 GPU could feature a multi-chip package with 192 SMs and a 512-bit memory bus https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/nvidias-upcoming-gb202-gpu-could-feature-a-multi-chip-package-with-192-sms-and-a-512-bit-memory-bus/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/nvidias-upcoming-gb202-gpu-could-feature-a-multi-chip-package-with-192-sms-and-a-512-bit-memory-bus/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:30:56 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651283 Although Nvidia's Blackwell GPU line-up should be mostly similar to Ada in terms of memory specifications, the flagship seems to be the exception. Instead of a 384-bit memory bus like the one used on the AD102 GPU, the successor, the GB202, is expected to feature a 512-bit memory bus. Not long ago, kopite7kimi stated that …

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Although Nvidia's Blackwell GPU line-up should be mostly similar to Ada in terms of memory specifications, the flagship seems to be the exception. Instead of a 384-bit memory bus like the one used on the AD102 GPU, the successor, the GB202, is expected to feature a 512-bit memory bus.

Not long ago, kopite7kimi stated that the Blackwell GPU lineup would have the same memory buses as the Ada lineup. However, the leaker didn't clarify that the GB202 flagship GPU would be an exception. According to kopite7kimi, the GB202 will feature a 512-bit memory bus instead.

Moreover, the same leaker added that the second-tiered GPU, codenamed GB203, might have half as many cores as GB202, rumoured to pack 192 SMs in a multi-chip package. As such, the GB203 would pack 96 SMs (likely a monolithic design), and for the memory, it will stick to a 256-bit memory bus, which is also half of what the GB202 packs. As such, there might not be any GB20x GPU with a 384-bit bus.

These are all rumours for now, as no concrete evidence of Nvidia's Blackwell GPU plans has been presented, nor has Nvidia made any official announcements.

KitGuru says: If these rumours are proven correct, we'll see an even bigger difference in CUDA cores between the x02 and x03 Blackwell GPUs than in the Ada line-up. How do you think this will translate into the RTX 50 series graphics cards?

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Intel officially launches Core i9-14900KS with 6.2GHz boost speed https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/intel-officially-launches-core-i9-14900ks-with-6-2ghz-boost-speed/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/intel-officially-launches-core-i9-14900ks-with-6-2ghz-boost-speed/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:20:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651630 Intel first debuted a ‘KS' version of its flagship chip with the Core i9-9900KS back in October 2019, and the tradition has carried on each generation since. Today, Intel unveils its latest ‘KS' chip, the Core i9-14900KS, reaching 6.2GHz speeds out of the box.  While most enthusiasts will be happy with the regular K or …

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Intel first debuted a ‘KS' version of its flagship chip with the Core i9-9900KS back in October 2019, and the tradition has carried on each generation since. Today, Intel unveils its latest ‘KS' chip, the Core i9-14900KS, reaching 6.2GHz speeds out of the box. 

While most enthusiasts will be happy with the regular K or KF versions of Intel's 14th Gen Core i9 processor, those who value overclocking potential will likely want the KS variant. These are pre-binned Core i9 processors, meaning they have been tested to achieve higher speeds than the average chip. In the case of the Core i9-14900KS, we're looking at a 6.2GHz clock speed out of the box, but extreme overclockers may be able to push it further with more powerful cooling solutions.

Of course, getting this speed did require a TDP bump, so the Core i9-14900KS draws an extra 25W of power compared to the K or KF variants. 6.2GHz is also the max boost clock, which applies to P-cores and not E-cores. It might be possible to push all of your cores to higher speeds, but you will need to tinker around in the BIOS overclocking menus to see what results you can get.

The Intel i9-14900KS is available starting today in the US, priced at $699. Here in the UK, we're looking at a £689.99 price tag.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever owned one of Intel's KS series processors? Will you be looking to get the 14900KS? 

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Crypto miners are buying up all the Ryzen 9 7950X stock https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/joao-silva/crypto-miners-are-buying-up-all-the-ryzen-9-7950x-stock/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/joao-silva/crypto-miners-are-buying-up-all-the-ryzen-9-7950x-stock/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:44:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651495 We've seen plenty of PC hardware supply issues in recent years, in part due to crypto mining farms buying up large portions of available stock. This problem has resurfaced in 2024, but miners aren't buying up all the GPUs this time, instead their attention has turned to the Ryzen 9 7950X, which is currently flying …

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We've seen plenty of PC hardware supply issues in recent years, in part due to crypto mining farms buying up large portions of available stock. This problem has resurfaced in 2024, but miners aren't buying up all the GPUs this time, instead their attention has turned to the Ryzen 9 7950X, which is currently flying off of shelves. 

As spotted by MEGAsizeGPU (via VideoCardz), crypto enthusiasts mining up the Qubic coin have discovered that the Ryzen 9 7950X is exceptionally good at it, all while consuming less than 100W of power. Compared to high-end GPUs, the Ryzen 9 7950X is more accessible in terms of pricing and as a result, is viewed as the ‘right' purchase for those looking to quickly generate profits.

Mining Qubic, the Ryzen 9 7950X generates around $3 of profit daily. As such, it would only need around half a year to pay for itself (CPU only). This is more than triple the revenue from GPU-based mining, making CPU-based rigs more attractive.

If you're wondering what makes the Ryzen 9 7950X so special, it's pretty simple — AVX512 support. Unlike Intel's mainstream processors, which have not supported the instruction set since Alder Lake, AMD hasn't removed support for the latest AVX instruction set from its consumer-grade CPUs. It's believed that Zen 5 CPUs will also support AVX512, meaning the next generation of AMD CPUs could be even better than the Ryzen 7950X for mining.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Even if AMD doesn't remove AVX512 support from Zen 5 CPUs, miners will likely prefer the non-X3D CPUs, as AMD's 3D V-Cache equipped chips are more expensive and likely won't bring much benefit for crypto mining. So if all goes well and AMD has enough stock of both, we may see both the gaming and mining sides of the market satisfied. 

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Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection launches with broken multiplayer and minimal servers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-classic-collection-launches-with-broken-multiplayer-and-minimal-servers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-classic-collection-launches-with-broken-multiplayer-and-minimal-servers/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:10:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651616 There was plenty of buzz when Aspyr announced plans to launch the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, bringing back the original two games with full online multiplayer. Unfortunately, the game's launch today has not gone as planned, swiftly garnering negative reviews due to major issues.  The Battlefront Classic Collection packages together remasters for the original …

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There was plenty of buzz when Aspyr announced plans to launch the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, bringing back the original two games with full online multiplayer. Unfortunately, the game's launch today has not gone as planned, swiftly garnering negative reviews due to major issues. 

The Battlefront Classic Collection packages together remasters for the original Battlefront and Battlefront 2 games, promising a revival of the 64-player multiplayer servers and classic game modes, as well as some new map and character additions. The game also carries a £30 price tag.

At launch, roughly 10,000 PC players attempted to get into multiplayer matches, only to be met with a measly three available 64-player servers. Players also quickly ran into issues connecting to multiplayer sessions at all and when they could get in, bugs would soil the gameplay experience.

As a result of this, the game currently sits with a ‘mostly negative' overall review score on Steam, with many questioning how the game was allowed to release at all with its non-functional multiplayer. Aspyr has yet to comment on the backlash.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully Aspyr can quickly put out some fixes but the idea of only having three 64-player servers sounds insane to me. This is a Star Wars game, there was always going to be more than 200 players looking to play in large-scale matches. 

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PS5 update brings major DualSense enhancements https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/ps5-update-brings-major-dualsense-enhancements/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/ps5-update-brings-major-dualsense-enhancements/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:45:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651523 Last month, Sony released a PS5 firmware update via their beta branch, bringing with it a notable set of improvements across the board – including DualSense enhancements. Now, the firmware has graduated out of beta and is available for all. Available right now to download and install, the latest PS5 firmware update brings with it …

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Last month, Sony released a PS5 firmware update via their beta branch, bringing with it a notable set of improvements across the board – including DualSense enhancements. Now, the firmware has graduated out of beta and is available for all.

Available right now to download and install, the latest PS5 firmware update brings with it a bunch of quality-of-life improvements, including:

  • DualSense controller speaker volume enhancements
  • Improved DualSense mic noise cancellation
  • Additional interactions during Share Screen gameplay
  • You can now adjust the brightness of your PS5 console’s power indicator.

The full breakdown on all the changes can be found HERE. While many of these features are not necessary, such small changes to the likes of the DualSense (and console hardware features) are very welcome to see.

Hopefully Sony continues to refine the PS5 experience over time as they have been doing.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the update? Do you enable the DualSense’s speaker? What other QoL fixes would you like to see? Let us know down below.

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Nvidia unveils huge wave of RTX game upgrades and software updates https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/nvidia-unveils-huge-wave-of-rtx-game-upgrades-and-software-updates/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/nvidia-unveils-huge-wave-of-rtx-game-upgrades-and-software-updates/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:01:23 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651610 The annual Game Developers Conference is kicking off on Monday but Nvidia has a few new RTX related announcements going live ahead of the event. This month, even more games are getting RTX features. Diablo 4 will soon get ray-traced graphics, Star Wars Outlaws has been confirmed for ray-tracing and DLSS 3 at launch, while …

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The annual Game Developers Conference is kicking off on Monday but Nvidia has a few new RTX related announcements going live ahead of the event. This month, even more games are getting RTX features. Diablo 4 will soon get ray-traced graphics, Star Wars Outlaws has been confirmed for ray-tracing and DLSS 3 at launch, while other previously released titles are getting upgrades to their Nvidia-specific features as well.

Black Myth: Wukong and Naraka: Bladepoint are both upgrading with full ray tracing and DLSS 3.5, which includes ray-reconstruction technology for better ray-traced visuals with upscaling turned on. Diablo 4, a game that already supports DLSS 3, will be getting a graphics upgrade on March 26th with ray-traced effects, although Blizzard has yet to confirm if it is only implementing shadows/reflections, or if it is going bigger with GI effects.

Star Wars Outlaws, touted as the very first true open-world Star Wars game, is set to be one of the biggest releases of the year. The game will launch with DLSS 3 for super-charged performance on RTX 40 series graphics cards, and it will include ray-traced graphics.

Portal with RTX, the fully path-traced remake of Valve's classic puzzle shooter, is now available for free, with an upgrade to DLSS 3.5 with Ray Reconstruction. Unfortunately, there is no update on the Half-Life 2 RTX project but hopefully we'll hear about that again later in the year.

Portal with RTX now also benefits from RTX IO, enabling faster GPU-based loading and asset decompression, so textures should load faster and some of the load will be taken off of your storage drive.

Some other tidbits being announced today include:

  • Sengoku Dynasty – in early access now with DLSS 3. At 4K, max settings, DLSS 3 multiplies frame rates by an average of 2X, enabling the GeForce RTX 4070 to comfortably exceed 60FPS. And on faster GPUs performance surpasses 100FPS, topping out at 160FPS on the GeForce RTX 4090.
  • Outcast – A New Beginning – launches March 15th With DLSS 2 & DLAA.
  • The First Berserker: Khazan – launches soon with NVIDIA DLSS 3 and Reflex.
  • NVIDIA RTX Remix Open Beta – DLSS 3.5 with Ray Reconstruction is coming soon, enabling all modders to upgrade their work.
  • The Finals – Season 2 launches today March 14 and includes DLSS 3, RTXGI, and Reflex.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of Nvidia's gaming-related GDC announcements this year? The RTX Remix going into open beta is a pretty big addition here, as it will enable more RTX mods for classic games that don't support ray-tracing. 

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Ryzen 7800X3D hailed as a ‘game changer’ for esports https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ryzen-7800x3d-hailed-as-a-game-changer-for-esports/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/ryzen-7800x3d-hailed-as-a-game-changer-for-esports/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:37:05 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651607 One of Counter-Strike 2's first major esports tournaments is set to kick off soon. For each esports tournament, a lot of thought is put together into the setups the players will be using to ensure that all competitors can play the game at the highest frame rates and fidelity settings available. For CS2's first major, …

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One of Counter-Strike 2's first major esports tournaments is set to kick off soon. For each esports tournament, a lot of thought is put together into the setups the players will be using to ensure that all competitors can play the game at the highest frame rates and fidelity settings available. For CS2's first major, players will be utilising PCs powered by AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor. 

As announced by tournament host, PGL, this week, the systems powering the event will include a Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor and a GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card. PGL specifically praises the CPU, calling it a ‘game changer' in the esports arena for its consistent gaming performance.

Obviously, the monitor is also an equally important part of the equation here. For this tournament, players will be using the ZOWIE ZL2566K, a 24.5-inch 1080p monitor with a 360Hz refresh rate, so players will get the fastest frames and lowest latency possible for the competition.

The PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen kicks off on the 17th of March and ends on the 31st. 24 teams will be competing during the event, with four final teams then heading to the Royal Arena to compete live, for a prize pool of $1.25 million.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Counter-Strike 2's esports debut is upon us. Valve has been consistently updating the game for months to get it in shape for competitive play, so hopefully there are no major upsets or issues during this inaugural major tournament. 

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Resident Evil 4 Remake celebrates 7 million copies sold https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/resident-evil-4-remake-celebrates-7-million-copies-sold/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/resident-evil-4-remake-celebrates-7-million-copies-sold/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:30:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651524 One of the biggest games of 2023 was the long-awaited remake for Resident Evil 4. Released in March, the title is nearing its 1 year anniversary. Ahead of this, Capcom have revealed that RE4 Remake has already sold 7 million copies. Making the announcement via a press release, publisher Capcom revealed that “the multiplatform title …

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One of the biggest games of 2023 was the long-awaited remake for Resident Evil 4. Released in March, the title is nearing its 1 year anniversary. Ahead of this, Capcom have revealed that RE4 Remake has already sold 7 million copies.

Making the announcement via a press release, publisher Capcom revealed that “the multiplatform title Resident Evil 4 has sold over 7 million units worldwide approximately one year after its release” – helping to push total franchise sales beyond 154 million.

Since its release, RE4 Remake has seen quite a bit of support from Capcom, with the game getting the Separate Ways DLC, a PSVR2 update, Mercenaries mode and even an iOS mobile port.

All-in-all, it’s safe to say that Resident Evil 4 Remake has been a success in all avenues – both critically and commercially. It’ll be interesting to see which entry the team chooses to reimagine next.

KitGuru says: What do you think of RE4 Remake? Will it surpass RE2 Remake’s sales? What Resident Evil game would you like to see Capcom work on next? Let us know down below.

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Sea of Stars to get 3-player couch co-op update https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/sea-of-stars-to-get-3-player-couch-co-op-update/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/mustafa-mahmoud/sea-of-stars-to-get-3-player-couch-co-op-update/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:45:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=651526 Sea of Stars is an indie RPG from Sabotage Studio – the team that brought you 2018’s excellent retro action-platformer The Messenger. Launching to near-universal acclaim last year, Sea of Stars ultimately went on to win ‘Best Indie Game’ at the 2023 Game Awards. That said, the title looks set to get even better with …

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Sea of Stars is an indie RPG from Sabotage Studio – the team that brought you 2018’s excellent retro action-platformer The Messenger. Launching to near-universal acclaim last year, Sea of Stars ultimately went on to win ‘Best Indie Game’ at the 2023 Game Awards. That said, the title looks set to get even better with a surprise couch co-op update.

Sharing an 8-second teaser, Sabotage Studio officially announced ‘Single Player+’ – a new upcoming mode which “allows for three players to journey together in Sea of Stars.”

This update will switch up the gameplay quite a bit, with the team explaining: “Staying true to the game’s core turn-based roots, each player will engage in traversal and combat with a new ‘Co-op timed hits’ mechanic as they embark with friends on Sea of Stars’ grand adventure.”

Given the complexity of this update, the team have not shared a release date, simply stating that “The new mode is currently in development and more details are set to be released soon.”

In other news, the team also revealed that Sea of Stars has officially surpassed 5 million players; an impressive increase of 1 million since December last year.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to this update? What was your favourite indie game from 2023? Will you be hopping back in for some jolly couch co-op? Let us know down below.

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