Officially unveiled during the recent Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase (though coming to all platforms), Tetris Forever is a compilation title developed by retro specialists Digital Eclipse featuring “more than 15 different classic Tetris games while exploring the history of the series through over an hour of all-new documentary footage.”

No release date for the game has been given, though it is stated to arrive sometime this year – so hopefully we will hear more from it soon.

Alongside this, Nintendo also revealed that the classic NES Tetris title (arguably one of the two most iconic versions of the game) is coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service later this Winter.

Over the past 40 years there have been countless versions and variants of Tetris, yet the fundamentals always stay the same. It is not surprising to see that almost half a century later, Tetris is still as celebrated as ever.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the Nintendo Direct? What was your most hyped announcement? What’s your favourite version of Tetris? Let us know down below.

Announced during the most recent Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the 2005 PS2 game in which you as Kazuma Kiryu:

“Take the fall for a murder and emerge from prison 10 years later to yakuza clans on the brink of a war that hurtles you on an intense journey of love, humanity, and betrayal, fueled by your fists and unyielding resolve, set against a bustling red-light district in modern day Japan.”

Yakuza Kiwami ran at 1080p 60fps on the original PS4, and so it will be interesting to see whether the team at RGG studio have been able to maintain such a resolution/performance on the much more modest Nintendo Switch.

The trailer itself seems to indicate as much, but we will have to wait and see. Yakuza Kiwami comes to the Nintendo Switch on the 24th of October.

KitGuru says: What did you think of the Partner Showcase? What was your favourite announcement? Do you prefer Yakuza 1 or 0? Let us know down below.

We are looking for someone who will be able to produce reviews of a range of tech gear in video format and in the KitGuru style. Any experience in this sector is beneficial, however we are open to all applicants provided you can give us a sample of your written and video work so we can assess your abilities.

KitGuru is a great company to work with, we are all tech enthusiasts who enjoy gaming, so we all have very similar interests. Behind the scenes it is very close knit environment and many of our team have been with us for several years.

To be considered for this position you need:

• Skillset to present well on camera – and in English.
• The ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills.
• Some knowledge of video editing would be useful, but we have that capability in-house if we find the right candidate.
• Strong writing ability.
• This is a freelance position.

The successful applicant must be based in the United Kingdom, and we pay very well for this kind of work. If you are interested and feel you can meet the criteria above and want to work in this fast moving, extremely demanding sector then please send your CV along with any samples of your work to our Deputy Editor in Chief, Dominic Moass – dominic(at)kitguru.net. We would like to see samples of your work, but please note we are looking for applicants who can produce high quality videos and written articles in the in-depth KitGuru style, so your submissions should reflect that.

KitGuru says: We look forward to receiving your application. 

Starting with the Lenovo Legion Go USB-C dock, it serves as a base station for the Lenovo Legion Go, providing a range of connectivity options, including a 1 Gb RJ45 connection, a USB-C port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port supporting up to 4K at 60 Hz resolution. The Lenovo Legion Go USB-C Dock is now for €64.99.

Moving on to the Lenovo Legion Go charging connector, it combines the separate TrueStrike controllers into a single, rechargeable unit that you can play with while charging the pads. With a full charge (chargeable via USB-C), the inbuilt battery powers both the left and right TrueStrike controllers. To further enhance your gaming experience with the Legion Go, Lenovo is also launching the Lenovo Legion Go joystick and joystick caps. The textured material improves grip and comfort, preventing your hand from slipping in intense moments. All these accessories will be available beginning in October 2024, with the charging connector costing €59.99 and the pads €9.99.

For gamers on the go, the hard shell, dual-zip Lenovo Legion Go carry case protects the device, with additional space for accessories such as a power adapter, FPS Mode controller puck, and other peripherals. Including a clapboard to protect the screen and an interior zip pocket adds practicality to this carrying solution. The Lenovo Legion Go carry case is coming out in January 2025 for €29.99.

Moreover, the Lenovo Multi-Device Bluetooth mini keyboard complements the Lenovo Legion Go with its compact design and multi-device functionality. The keyboard is compatible with Windows, Android, and iPadOS so that you can use it with other devices you may own. The Lenovo Multi-Device Bluetooth Mini Keyboard is planned to be released in November 2024, priced at €39.99.

Expanding the display options for gamers, Lenovo introduces the 27-inch Lenovo Legion R27qc-30, and the 31.5-inch Lenovo Legion R32qc-30 monitors. Both monitors feature 1500R curved panels with refresh rates of up to 180 Hz and response times of 0.5 ms (MPRT). The 27-inch model covers 120% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3, while the 31.5-inch model offers 112% sRGB. Both monitors have two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, a 3.5-mm audio out, and two 3 W speakers. The Lenovo Legion R27qc-30 and R32qc-30 monitors are expected to be available starting October 2024 for €259 and £349, respectively.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you own a Lenovo Legion Go? Planning on getting any of these new accessories for your handheld?

These Geekbench entries (via Benchleaks) may have provided the first confirmation of the speculated specifications for the upcoming AMD RDNA4 architecture. While the product is not explicitly named, it is referred to as “GFX1201”, which corresponds to the architectural ID for RDNA4 GPUs. However, it's important to approach this information with caution. The current state of RDNA4 GPU development remains unclear, and the entry could be based on a qualifying or engineering sample, potentially not reflecting the final specifications or clock rates.

According to the Geekbench entries, the RX 8000 GPU could feature 28 CUs, most likely referring to WGPs (Work Group Processors). If that's the case, that would be equivalent to 56 CUs and 3,584 Stream Processors. The listed clock speed of 2,101 MHz is lower than expected, which is not surprising, considering this is likely an engineering sample. Furthermore, the performance scores seem unusually low, making it hard to compare with the alternatives that are now available. Also worth noting is the suggested 16 GB of VRAM. However, the type of memory and its speed are not specified. Previous rumours pointed to the possibility of GDDR6 memory, but it's hard to confirm.

Intriguingly, reports from board partners indicate a shift in focus towards RDNA4 development over new RDNA3 products, hinting at the advanced stage of RDNA4's development. This is supported by the testing configuration, featuring an Intel Core i7-12700F processor and an ASUS B660 motherboard—components typically preferred by board partners for testing purposes.

We previously heard AMD might skip the high-end segment with the RX 8000 series GPUs. Instead, potential options could range from the RX 8800 to the RX 8500 series, based on the Navi 48 (higher CU-count) and Navi 44 GPUs. The GFX1201 ID and core count likely correspond to the Navi 48. According to the latest reports, AMD is expected to unveil its next-gen discrete GPUs at CES 2025.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: What are your performance expectations for AMD's new generation of discrete GPUs? How do you think they'll compare to RX 7000?

After a number of leaks, Valve has decided to give up on keeping Deadlock quiet and has lifted all restrictions on talking about the game and sharing footage. However, Valve does also stress that the game is in ‘early development' so it is unlikely to see a full release this year.

As of now, there are almost 60,000 players currently playing the game and over the weekend, the total concurrent player count peaked at over 89,000. It would seem that Deadlock completely stole thunder from Sony's Concord launch, despite Valve's game being in an early alpha stage.

While Deadlock is in alpha, it is running very well and looks pretty good in its current state. Even the art used as placeholder looks pretty good, but Valve will no doubt give the game a fresh coat of paint when it comes time to launch.

While the floodgates have opened, Deadlock still requires an invite to play. Fortunately, anyone already in the test can send out invites to their friends, and the Deadlock subreddit has a thread dedicated to inviting people to the game, so if you want access at this point, it isn't hard to obtain.

For those who don't know, Deadlock is Valve's latest multiplayer shooter. This time around, we're getting a MOBA-infused hero shooter with new unique characters. It is a very different flavour to Team Fortress 2, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you gained access to Deadlock already? What do you think of the game so far?

During the most recent episode of the Game Mess Mornings Podcast, known industry insider Jeff Grubb spoke on the current state of the PS5 Pro, saying:

“Last I heard, this thing [PS5 Pro] is still coming out this year. And more recently what I've heard is there is probably going to be a State of Play, a Sony PlayStation State of Play – not a Showcase – a State of Play, at the end; by the end of September.”

As mentioned, the discussion surrounding the PS5 Pro has been heating up recently, with further evidence of its imminence including a secret PS5 Pro mode which was recently added to No Man’s Sky.

If a State of Play is indeed coming sometime next month, then hopefully we will officially hear about the PS5 Pro then. We won’t have to wait too long to find out.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you interested in the PS5 Pro? What do you expect to see at the State of Play? What one feature would sway you to get a PS5 Pro? Let us know down below.

As reported by known leaker Tom Henderson, “The PlayStation Portal was very successful and [Sony] are paying very close attention to the current handheld market.”

As mentioned by Henderson, the PlayStation Portal has been a surprise hit, with the remote play powered handheld exceeding PlayStation’s expectations – and is even the no.1 best selling gaming accessory of the year so far.

Beyond this, the overwhelming success of the Nintendo Switch as well as the positive energy surrounding PC handhelds such as the Steam Deck clearly shows that there is still a market for portable gaming. Hopefully Sony is indeed listening.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Would you want Sony to give handhelds another go? What did you think of the PS Vita? What’s your favourite gaming handheld of all time? Let us know down below.

Concord and Helldivers 2 are two multiplayer-focused titles priced at £34.99 and were released on PC and PS5. While Helldivers 2 quickly amassed over 400,000 players on Steam and achieved notable success, Concord has struggled to generate the same level of enthusiasm, as seen by the data from SteamDB.

Several factors contributed to Concord's underwhelming launch. The competitive nature of the hero shooter genre, dominated by free-to-play juggernauts like Overwatch 2 and Valorant (and possibly the upcoming Marvel Rivals), posed a significant challenge. Despite being in development for over eight years, Concord failed to offer anything innovative to set it apart in such a fiercely contested market.

Although Concord has received mostly positive Steam reviews, boasting a 73% approval rating, the limited number of reviews, approximately 500, indicates low player engagement. Furthermore, the game faced additional challenges as it debuted on the same day Valve pulled the curtain on Deadlock, the developer's upcoming MOBA shooter.

Despite the rocky start, the developers remain optimistic about Concord's prospects for recovery. However, the road ahead appears challenging with intense competition and a saturated market.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think went wrong with Concord for it to have such a low player count? Should the developers consider a pivot to a Free to Play model to keep up with similar shooters on the market? 

Olden Era is positioned as a prequel to the fantasy saga, offering players a non-linear campaign that delves into the series' origins. The game is set in the continent of Jadame, a location previously mentioned but never before explored in the franchise. Promising a vibrant and dynamic fantasy world with wonders and perils, the Olden Era invites players to construct an empire and engage in tactical battles with heroes and mythical creatures.

The game will introduce distinct factions, biomes, and creatures, all portrayed in a refreshed visual style reminiscent of the series' original art. Additionally, new combat mechanics will be introduced, including active abilities for heroes and creatures, a faction-based perk system, and more. Ubisoft has unveiled five identified factions, with a sixth yet to be disclosed. These factions include Temple (the original Knights), Necropolis (Undead and Vampires), Sylvan (representing the Forces of Nature and Fey Folks), Dungeon (Dark Elves and Underground Creatures), and Hive (insectoids corrupted by Demons).

Among the game's other features are improved AI and difficulty levels, three game modes (solo, co-op, and multiplayer), a random map generator, and in-game editing tools that enable players to share their creations. Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era is scheduled for release in Q2 2025, with an early access phase on Steam for PC.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of the series? Are you interested in the Olden Era?

In an interview conducted by IGN, Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann sat down to discuss all manner of topics, ranging from the company’s upcoming Lord of the Rings MMO to their recent acquisition of the Tomb Raider IP.

Perhaps most interesting however was Hartmann’s opinions on the rise of generative AI as a replacement for various aspects of game development, saying in response to a question on the current SAG-AFTRA voice actors strike relating to AI:

“When we talk about AI, first of all, hopefully it will help us to have new gameplay ideas, which has nothing to do with taking work away from anyone. And especially for games, we don't really have acting… The majority of the team sits in programming and that's not going to go away because that's all about innovation. If it takes something, it will be really the boring parts.”

Hartmann continued, “I think what could be super helpful is localization. Right now, we're localizing our game into a certain set of languages. Basically, does it commercially make sense to have it in a language, yes or no? Having AI actually will help us.”

Beyond the baffling statement that games “don’t really have acting,” Hartmann’s claimed benefits for AI would still take away a whole sector of the game development industry – that being localisation – while likely doing a terrible job at it. The full, and lengthy, interview can be found HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this statement? Will Hartmann be compelled to respond? Does generative AI belong in game development? Let us know down below.

In response to the success of the most recent multiplatform title to miss launching on Xbox due to the Series S – Black Myth: Wukong – Del Walker, a video game artist who has worked across the industry (including at Naughty Dog; Rocksteady and Respawn Entertainment) had this to say:

“I wish the Series S never existed, man. So annoying to optimize for that console – I expect we'll unfortunately see more game launches get skipped by Xbox in the future,” adding that “I just DO NOT like having to optimize current gen games for that console and I wish it never existed. Xbox Series X is an amazing piece of hardware though; fantastic console.”

Offering a bit more on the specifics, Walker added, “I wish people understood it's NOT about the game. It's just annoying to make a high end game with complex Ai, VFX, Advanced Physics, Multi-threading Optimization, Particle Systems, Dynamic Memory Demands, etc etc then chop all that out so it also plays the SAME on an Xbox S.”

As mentioned, quite a few games now have either skipped the Xbox or arrived later due to the Series S, with the most notable being Baldur’s Gate 3 and the aforementioned Black Myth: Wukong.

While the Xbox Series S may have seemed like a good idea at the time, it appears as though the system has run into quite a few unintended issues.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Series S? Is it holding the generation back? Let us know down below.

According to Wccftech, many separate parties claimed during Gamescom that the PlayStation 5 Pro is indeed real and will likely be unveiled soon, with the Italian website ‘Multiplayer’ revealing claims from one dev that their team had delayed their game due to the upcoming launch of the PS5 Pro – a sentiment echoed by another separate dev team.

In total, it seems a bunch of different developers of different sizes all confirmed to different publications that they were either aware of or are currently working with the PS5 Pro – all-but-confirming its imminent announcement.

Of course, the existence of the PS5 Pro was evident, with the likes of Hello Games’ No Man’s Sky having already gotten a secret PS5 Pro graphics setting.

With so much talk surrounding the PS5 Pro, its announcement has to be mere months – if not weeks – away. We will have to wait and see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of all the PS5 Pro talk? Are you at all interested in the console? When do you think it’ll be officially unveiled? Let us know down below.

Back in March, Steam reached a new record of current users, with over 36.3 million players online all at once. As has been the case for a while now, the total number of concurrents has continued to steadily rise – reaching yet another record of 36.9 million back in June.

Once again, the service has now outdone itself, reaching a total of 37 million concurrent users for the first time ever (37,266,324 to be specific according to SteamDB).

Of course, peak concurrents is just one way to observe Steam’s success. That said, when looking at average monthly player counts, the service is no slouch either, with nearly 27 million players on average over the past 30 days.

Being able to publicly see just how much Steam is continuing to grow more than a decade on from its launch is interesting for multiple reasons – including pure curiosity. It likely won’t be long before the platform hits 40 million concurrents.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Were you using Steam during its peak yesterday? What game were you playing? How long do you think it’ll take to hit 40 million? Let us know down below.

The Tower 600 features a vertical design with an octagonal prism form. Its distinctive horizontal layout gives it a different look than you usually see in the market. Supporting both regular motherboards and the latest hidden-connector motherboards like the Asus BTF series, MSI Project Zero series, and gigabyte Project Stealth series, the Tower 600 simplifies cable routing and building your system.

The Tower 600 doesn't disappoint in terms of cooling, with support for up to a 420 mm AIO radiator on the right side and a 360 mm AIO radiator on the left. Additionally, it comes with two pre-installed CT140 fans on top and the capacity to accommodate up to thirteen 120 mm fans or nine 140 mm fans, ensuring cooling for high-end systems. The detachable fan brackets also simplify fan installation.

Designed for convenience and flexibility, the Tower 600 has two additional GPU mounts and rotating PCI-E slots, offering various mounting options for graphics cards. Its detachable panel design, featuring three 3 mm tempered glass panels on the front and two perforated panels on each side, allows easy access and maintenance. The chassis also offers ample cable management solutions, including two cable clamps in the rear chamber, velcro straps, and cable ties.

For users looking to enhance the visual appeal of the Tower 600, Thermaltake offers the separately available chassis stand Kit and 3.9-inch LCD kit. The stand kit, comprising a bottom cover and a display stand, enables a distinctive horizontal case arrangement. Meanwhile, using the TT RGB Plus software, the 3.9-inch LCD screen can display GIFs, images, and real-time information about components, time, and weather.

KitGuru says: Do you like The Tower case series design? Which Tower model do you like the most?

The AOC Agon Pro AG326UD‘s QD-OLED panel has a 165 Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time (G2G), and a 10-bit colour depth. According to AOC, it can cover the entire sRGB space and 99.3% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. With a typical SDR brightness of 250 nits (100% APL), a maximum SDR brightness of 450 nits, and a peak HDR brightness of 1000 nits, this monitor fulfils the VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification requirements. The monitor also comes pre-calibrated with a ΔE<2 (sRGB).

Regarding ergonomics, the AOC Agon Pro has a fully adjustable stand, offering a wide range of motion, including swivel, tilt, height adjustment, and bidirectional pivot. Connectivity options are pretty good, with one DisplayPort 1.4 input, two HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB 3.2 ports, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Additionally, the monitor houses two 8W speakers and supports Adaptive-Sync technology.

Furthermore, the AOC Agon Pro boasts various features for gamers, including AOC G-Menu, Game Colour, Shadow Control, Low Input Lag, PiP, PbP, and dynamic crosshairs. To top it off, the monitor comes with Light FX RGB lighting on the back shell, adding a touch of flair to any gaming setup. According to TFTCentral, the display is backed by a 3-year warranty (including brun-in) and is expected to become available in September for around €850.

KitGuru says: Seeing its specs, the new AOC Agon Pro monitor rivals the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2 and the MSI MAG 321UP. However, it seems it will come cheaper than both, which might be enough to make most prefer the AOC monitor over the other two.

The news landed in the form of a blog post from AMD and it is peculiar in a number of different ways. The first is that it focuses on gaming, the second that it refers to Ryzen 9 9950X which is NOT primarily a gaming CPU, and thirdly AMD employs a suite of games that are generally considered rather elderly and beyond their sell-by date. The response at KitGuru was to download a copy of Windows 11 24H2, line up a stack of CPUs and a smaller stack of SSDs and to get busy on the test bench…

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:56 AMD’s blog earlier this week…
03:20 Memory and VBS details…
04:43 Admin mode?
05:26 AMD’s recommendations
06:41 Leo’s test setup
08:31 Far Cry 6
09:55 Cyberpunk 2077
11:36 Total War: Pharaoh
14:37 What have we learned?

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: It is clear the 24H2 update for Windows has an impact on gaming performance for AMD Zen 5 but quite how it achieves these results is a bit of a mystery.

According to ComputerBase, many motherboard manufacturers said the B850 and B840 series will be available next year. These new AM5-based motherboards will support three Ryzen CPU generations: 7000, 8000, and the newly released 9000 series.

The cost for the new X870 and X870E motherboards has yet to be announced, although that should happen shortly. However, the new boards are expected to be more expensive than the existing 600-series boards, which were released two years ago. The B650(E) models have been especially popular among AMD users since they provide enough PCIe 5.0 lanes for the graphics at a lower price tag than the X670E boards.

Targeted at the mainstream market, the B850 will succeed the B650, allowing CPU and memory overclocking and featuring PCIe 4.0 lanes for graphics (PCIe 5.0 is optional), PCI 5.0 for NVMe storage, and USB 3.2 support (20 Gbps). That puts it on par with the previous X670. As for the B840, it's a new series with restricted PCIe support up to Gen3, USB 3.2 (10 Gbps), and memory overclock capabilities. This will be aimed at the commercial and entry-level sectors, replacing the existing A620.

Because the 800-series boards were not ready for the Ryzen 9000 introduction, all major motherboards have updated their 600-series board to support the new Zen5-based series.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: If you were to upgrade to a Ryzen 9000 or 9000X3D CPU, which motherboard chipset would you go for?

Making the announcement on their blog, the team at Asobo Studios unveiled the latest World Update, saying:

“Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, collectively known as DACH (Deutschland, Austria, Confoederatio Helvetica), offer an incredibly diverse array of landscapes and architecture to explore. Highlights include the Swiss Alps, mountain lakes, expansive forests, historic castles and cathedrals, and modern architectural feats. The Microsoft Flight Simulator team partnered with Bing Maps, Vexcel Imaging, Maxar Technologies, Gaya Simulations, and Orbx Simulation Systems to bring these countries to the Microsoft Flight Simulator world in all-new ways.”

The update is a rather meaty one, bringing with it a revamp of 10 cities (Linz, Salzburg, and Vienna in Austria; Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hanau, Karow, and Potsdam in Germany as well as Bern and Zurich in Switzerland) – with the remainder of region also getting a welcome albeit smaller boost in visuals.

Beyond this, the update includes 116 new points of interest (42 in Germany, 38 in Austria, and 36 in Switzerland) as well as 3 new handcrafted airports: Austria’s Salzburg Airport (LOWS), Germany’s Munich Airport (EDDM), and Bern Airport (LSZB) in Switzerland.

Last but not least, the update brings with it 9 additional activities in the form of three discovery flights, three landing challenges, and three bush trips. Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XVII is available right now.

KitGuru says: What do you think of MSFS’ post-launch support? Are you excited for MSFS 2024? What cities/countries are still needing an overhaul? Let us know your thoughts down below.

In going to Steamdb, it can be seen that Tales of Kenzera: ZAU recently received a small update which “Removed 3rd-Party DRM – Denuvo Anti-tamper.”

Considering the fact that the game just released a few months ago back in April, EA removing DENUVO from Tales of Kenzera: ZAU relatively early is a welcome move.

For the uninitiated, major video game releases are typically front loaded sales-wise, with a large portion of the game’s revenue being amassed from pre-orders and day-one sales – leading publishers to feel as though they need to protect these early sales through DRM such as DENUVO.

DENUVO in particular has historically been the cause of many issues, both performance and graphics related and so its removal only serves to benefit the gaming experience overall.

That said, despite being published by EA, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a small project from a small team, and so the inclusion of DENUVO at all was a curious one. Still, its removal is more than welcome.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU? Why do you think EA bothered with DRM? Does DRM in games affect you? Let us know down below.

Making the announcement via an official reveal trailer, the team at Striking Distance Studios officially unveiled project Birdseye as [REDACTED]: “A fast-action isometric roguelike [in which] a shadowy agent watches Black Iron Prison spiral into chaos. As one of the last guards, fight through monsters, rivals, and reanimated corpses of your fellow guards to escape the penitentiary alive.”

For the uninitiated, Black Iron is described as “a state-of-the-art penitentiary located on Jupiter’s icy moon Callisto” which has been overrun by infected inmates. Of course, fans of the studio’s prior work will be familiar with the setting, as [REDACTED] appears to be set in the same world as The Callisto Protocol.

There is still much to learn about the game, but luckily, those waiting won’t have to do so for long, as the game is set to launch on the 31st of October – just in time for Halloween.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the trailer? Are you interested in [REDACTED]? Did Striking Distance Studios punch too far above their weight with the first game? Let us know down below.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the official Steam Deck page shared the following:

“Good morning! We’ve just shipped a new feature on Steam that shows when a customer review was written by someone who played primarily on Steam Deck. Keep an eye out for the Deck icon to see how these players reviewed the game, and let us know what you think!”

With the increase in adoption of the Steam Deck it makes a great deal of sense for Deck users to be highlighted as such in reviews – especially as it allows for a more informed purchase. Hopefully Valve continues to cook at this current pace.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest feature? Will you find it useful? What’s been your favourite new change to Steam this year so far? Let us know down below.

Mafia: The Old Country is a prequel, set years before the events of the first game. This is essentially an origin story, exploring the earliest days of organised crime mobs in Italy.

While the announcement trailer is very short, it is accompanied by a written description that teases the game a bit further:

“Uncover the origins of organized crime in Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era, with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for.”

Mafia: The Old Country will return in December 2024, likely as part of The Game Awards, for a ‘closer look'. Developed with Unreal Engine 5, the game is currently planned to be released in 2025.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While I didn't enjoy Mafia 3 much, I am very excited to see a new game in the series with a fresh setting. Are you looking forward to this prequel, or are you holding off for a true Mafia 4?

After titles like Halo Infinite and Starfield failed to move the needle for Xbox hardware sales this generation, Microsoft has been exploring a new multi-platform strategy. This kicked off earlier this year, with the release of Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded and Pentiment on PS5. Now, the strategy is extending to some of Microsoft's bigger titles, starting with Indiana Jones.

During the Xbox @ Gamescom broadcast this week, Phil Spencer brought up the multiplatform situation, saying: “We run a business, and that's definitely true inside of Microsoft. The bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company, because we get a level of support from the company”.

Reading between the lines, it seems that at this stage, Microsoft has invested so much money into Xbox through studio acquisitions, that it needs to begin delivering on that investment. As Xbox consoles aren't exactly booming, they need to find those customers elsewhere, which means we will see more Xbox games on PS5.

This is very in-line with the policies put into place by Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, back when he first took over the company. Microsoft doubled down on software and ditched hardware projects like Windows Phone, instead choosing to supply software and services on platforms like Android and iOS to ‘meet customers where they are'. A similar trend is now happening with Xbox. Tens of billions of dollars have been funnelled into Microsoft's gaming division over the past five years, and that comes with the expectation of sales growth, even if it means sacrifices.

Phil Spencer added that “there's a lot of pressure on the industry” right now, so he expects other publishers to begin changing up  “some of the traditional ways that games are built and distributed”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Do you think Xbox consoles have much of a future, or do you think Xbox will transition into being a games publishing force after this current generation? 

Dying Light: The Beast will bring about the return of Kyle Crane, the protagonist from the first game. Techland claims the game is around 20 hours long, with an all-new setting. Taking inspiration from Dying Light: The Following, this new game will feature co-op elements and vehicles.

The surprise twist here is that Dying Light: The Beast is replacing the planned second DLC for Dying Light 2. Those who bought the Dying Light 2: Ultimate Edition will get a code for the new game free of charge.

While Dying Light 2 received plenty of praise, there is a large group of fans that preferred the first game. Techland looks to be capitalising on that with the return of the first game's main character. The new setting should be a breath of fresh air too, moving away from dense urban environments to a more rural setting.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you going to pick up Dying Light: The Beast when it drops? There is no release date yet but hopefully Techland will shed some light on that before the end of the year. 

This unique graphics card showcases a striking gold and dark blue colour scheme, with magnetically attachable half backplate covers as its standout feature. The default backplate sports a dark blue colour, but users can select from 10 distinct half-backplates, each adorned with artwork from one of the World of Warcraft expansions. These can be combined to the user's liking. It's important to note that these custom backplates cover the exposed part of the heatsink, possibly impacting the card's airflow.

Based on the Gaming Slim model (non-X), the card comes with Nvidia reference clocks as standard: 2475MHz, which can be further boosted to 2490MHz by applying factory overclock settings using MSI Gaming software. MSI has confirmed a retail release for the RTX 4070 Super World of Warcraft Edition for August 26th.

The company will also give away a sample of this special graphics card as part of the “World of Warcraft Memories” event, running from August 26th to September 17th. Players are encouraged to share their favourite WoW experiences and tag relevant MSI social media accounts for a chance to receive this unique edition graphics card at no cost.

Besides the graphics card, participants can also get a copy of the World of Warcraft Collector's Edition. If the event reaches 60,000 participants (which most likely will since it has already crossed the 40,000 participants mark), MSi will also give away a World of Warcraft modded PC.

KitGuru says: Are you planning to participate in the giveaway, or would you prefer to buy the WoW-themed RTX 4070 Super Gaming Slim card directly from a retailer?

Available for the next 3 weeks, the Resident Evil Decades of Horror Humble Bundle is available in 4 tiers. Paying just £2.35 will net you:

• Resident Evil (HD Remaster/Remake)
• Resident Evil Revelations
• Resident Evil Revelations 2 – Episode 1: Penal Colony

Upping your contribution to £7.85 will get you the above, plus:

• Resident Evil Revelations 2 Deluxe Edition 
• Resident Evil 0 
• Resident Evil 4 (2005) 
• Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition 
• Resident Evil 6 Complete

The 3rd tier costs quite a bit more at £15.70, but adds most of the modern RE entries:

• Resident Evil 7 Biohazard 
• Resident Evil 2 (Remake)
• Resident Evil 3 (Remake)

Finally, the full 11 item bundle costs £23.55 and adds everything above plus:

• Resident Evil Village Gold Edition

As always, a small portion of the money will be going towards charity, with this bundle supporting the ‘Children's Miracle Network Hospitals’ as well as ‘Breakthrough T1D [Type 1 Diabetes]’.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the bundle? Will you pick it up? What’s your favourite era of Resident Evil? Let us know down below.

Sea of Thieves arrived on PS5 in late April 2024, seeing a strong reception from Sony players – with the title reaching the top spot on the PSN Store in May.

While no official sales figures have been shared, according to Windows Central, trusted sources have indicated to the publication that “Sea of Thieves has crossed a million sales on PlayStation since its launch over there, and is most likely higher still since this information came to me.”

With Microsoft focusing on Game Pass for many years now, we don’t actually have official sales figures for Sea of Thieves on other platforms (though it was revealed to have been played by over 40 million people). That said, 1 million copies for a game which is now over 6 years old is certainly an achievement – and is likely why Microsoft is choosing to bring more Xbox games over.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the report? How many copies do you think it sold on Xbox? What about PC? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Launching the 27th of August, Risk of Rain 2 is getting a bespoke PS5 / Xbox Series X release, bringing a ton of welcome and exciting upgrades. Alongside the expected additions – such as 4K60fps – Risk of Rain 2 on current-gen systems will also add local split-screen co-op for the friendly vibes.

The update also brings a few system specific enhancements, with progressive achievements/Trophies on Xbox and PlayStation respectively.

PS5 also gets a few more bonus additions, including the use of the system’s Activities feature as well as lightbar/speaker functionality for the DualSense. It is currently unknown whether the PS5 version will use the controller’s advanced haptics or adaptive triggers – though it seems unlikely.

Regardless, with how hectic Risk of Rain 2 can get in later biomes, having a bespoke 4K60fps version of the game alone is a big upgrade – and so the rest is a pure bonus, especially for free.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Risk of Rain 2? Did you prefer the first game? Should they try and add a 120fps mode? Let us know down below.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the official Game Awards page announced this year’s showcase, saying:

“Save the Date. THE GAME AWARDS 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration. Thursday, December 12. Streaming Live Everywhere from Peacock Theater in L.A. Public tickets on sale November 1.”

As mentioned above, 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of The Game Awards and so it will be interesting to see what Keighley and the team have planned for the special occasion; hopefully more of a focus on the actual awards.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to The Game Awards? Which of Keighley’s shows do you enjoy watching the most? What do you think they’ll do to mark the anniversary? Let us know down below.