Following weeks of leaks, rumours and speculation, Microsoft finally confirmed that they will be making some big changes at Xbox, including the cutting of thousands of employees, parting ways with up-to 5 different studios and more. One aspect of the company which appears to not be changing however is Game Pass, with sources claiming that Microsoft will “still sign new deals.”

As reported by Stephen Totilo of Game File, in amongst the many changes set to take place at Xbox over the coming months, one strategy which appears to be staying mostly the same is Game Pass and their next-gen Project Helix console, with Totilo stating:

“Microsoft is still planning to release the Project Helix console, still planning to operate Game Pass—a nearly $5 billion a year recurring revenue business, for which it’ll still sign new deals, the source privy to Microsoft’s plans told Game File.”

Of course, Game Pass has been one of Xbox’s more contentious efforts, with the game subscription service going from being viewed as the best deal in gaming to being perceived as one of the core pillars behind Xbox’s current flailing state.

That’s not to say that Game Pass hasn’t seen any alterations, with the company recently confirming that new Call of Duty entries will no longer be day-and-date on the service.

Either way, we are currently in a major and pivotal moment for Xbox, and so it will be interesting to see how the company evolves from here on.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft’s latest announcement? Should Game Pass be revised? Will removing Call of Duty do enough to win people back? Let us know down below.

2026 is a year of great change at Xbox, with the appointment of CEO Asha Sharma ushering in new strategies, a change in direction and a ‘reset’ of sorts. Unfortunately, part of this plan seems to include the closure of many different first party studios. While officially, we still do not know exactly what’s in store, insiders have claimed that Microsoft is hoping to still release all of its previously-announced games in one form or another.

The recent reports that Microsoft is looking to shut down / sell-off a bunch of its studios has led to a ton of chaos in the video games industry, with rumours ranging from claims that the console maker is hoping to sell off some of its studios, to statements suggesting that the likes of Double Fine; Arkane; Compulsion Games; Ninja Theory and more could be wholly shut down – despite some of them literally just announcing a new game.

While we will have to wait and see what becomes of these studios, insiders are now claiming that Microsoft could be giving the teams one last hurrah, with Jez Corden of Windows Central claiming: “The best-case scenario is some of these studios do find a buyer, but there are some of the studios that could either go there, could be independent, they could be bought out by the individuals who sold the company originally.”

Corden continued, “We're going to see it from next week. We're going to see a combination of studios going independent, studios being sold to the publishers, and then potentially some smaller studios potentially being closed. But then I would expect also head counts across the board. I think every studio is going to have layoffs, at least some layoffs.”

According to Corden, the one silver lining in all this is the fact that these potentially-shuttered studios could still receive an opportunity to get their games past the finish line, stating: “So from what I've heard, the plan is if they can't find a buyer, they'll try and see those studios through to complete in what has already been announced.”

Of course, Asha Sharma herself once said “the plan’s the plan until it’s not the plan” and so we will simply have to wait and see.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest report? Would it be better or worse if Microsoft were to let these teams finish their projects only to then be shut down regardless? Let us know down below.

Intel is reportedly preparing two mid-range 22-core “Nova Lake-S” desktop processors, each with a massive 108MB of “bLLC” cache to boost gaming performance. These upcoming models are claimed to be part of the Core Ultra 5 400S processor family.

According to Jaykhin (via VideoCardz), both configurations use a single compute die design for mid-range gaming systems. The 22-core architecture features 6 “Coyote Cove” performance cores, 12 “Arctic Wolf” efficiency cores, and 4 low-power efficiency (LPE) cores. Intel aims to combine updated core microarchitectures with its new Last Level Cache layer to mitigate latency-sensitive workloads like gaming, mimicking AMD's Ryzen X3D.

The report indicates power limits and multiplier support separate the two models, meaning they aren't completely identical. One variant lands as an unlocked 125W TDP processor under the overclockable “K” series banner, while the second model operates with a locked 65W base TDP.

Broader details regarding the supporting Z9x0 desktop platform reveal that the new LGA-1954 socket can accommodate up to 52 cores. Early rumours suggest that high-end dual-tile configurations could draw up to 474W in PL2 mode.

KitGuru says: Will these new high-cache Intel CPUs take the gaming performance crown back from AMD's Ryzen X3D CPUs? 

2026 has been an important year for Xbox, with the console maker seeing a new suite of higher-ups in the form of CEO Asha Sharma – who has quickly brought with her sweeping changes across the board. While some of these rapid decisions have proven to be a success for now, insiders have claimed that internally Xbox employees are divided on the current strategy, suggesting that Microsoft / Sharma are “listening to Twitter” too much.

Releasing the latest edition of their newsletter, Christopher Dring of The Game Business spoke on the current division which seems to be growing inside Xbox. While the appointment of new CEO Asha Sharma has come with lots of rapid and sweeping changes (including a rebranding of Xbox, changes to exclusivity, reducing Game Pass prices and more), some fear that the console maker might be moving too quickly.

According to Dring, “There is frustration, and even division, within the Xbox ranks” with Sharma bringing in “a start-up mentality into Xbox” where “speed is a priority.”

One such example comes with the recent console price increase, where-in Xbox reportedly pushed out its announcement earlier than planned in response to iPhone maker Apple’s own pricing changes.

All of this and more has seemingly led to issues internally, with Dring reporting that “numerous people I’ve spoken to at Xbox feel there’s too much ‘listening to Twitter’” including one studio boss who stated “we’re chasing a declining market with franchises that are past their prime.”

Xbox is a volatile company in a market which is perhaps more volatile than it has ever been before, and so while changes are likely necessary, this still represents quite a concerning time for the brand. The full newsletter can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Xbox’s current strategy? Is it working, or are they simply trying to placate a dwindling core audience? Let us know down below.

Intel's Nova Lake flagship may temporarily consume up to 474W under heavy boost workloads. Intel's Nova Lake Flagship 52-Core Chip Could Push PL2 Power to a Massive 474W as Intel Sends Revised Z990 Power Design Instructions With 3x 8-pin EPS Connectors More leaks are surfacing regarding Intel's upcoming Nova Lake lineup. As of today, we expect Intel's top-of-the-line Nova Lake S desktop lineup to feature up to a 52-core configuration, which is a massive jump over the current 24-core/24-thread configuration from Intel Arrow Lake S series. Intel did offer up to 32 threads in the Raptor Lake/Refresh lineup, but with […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/intel-nova-lake-dual-tile-cpus-reportedly-feature-up-to-474w-pl2-power-limit/

Halo: Campaign Evolved marks the grand return of Master Chief and co. following the less-than-stellar release of Halo Infinite back in 2021. Of course, CE is set to be a campaign-only affair, with no PvP multiplayer in sight. That said, there have been plenty of rumours discussing Halo’s next mainline release. One such title is ‘Project Ekur’ – a Battle Royale which was later turned into an extraction shooter. Thanks to new reports, we have gotten a clearer picture on what to expect.

As shared by known Halo leaker Rebs Gaming (who accurately detailed Halo Campaign Evolved prior to its announcement), Project Ekur has undergone some pretty big changes since it was last reported. For the uninitiated, Project Ekur was initially known as Project Tatanka and was set to be a Battle Royale experience. Since then, the game evolved and shifted into an extraction shooter of sorts, being developed by Certain Affinity.

According to Rebs, the game has once again changed, with Ekur now switching out Infinite’s SlipSpace Engine for the much more ubiquitous Unreal Engine 5 – with this transfer being completed as of September 2023.

Beyond this, Ekur is now no longer an Extraction Shooter, with the project said to be taking the form of a “super big-team-battle idea” instead. Players will spawn in, “explore the map, find resources and battle other teams”. Though it does still feature some extraction elements, the game will feel more closer to that of Halo 5’s Warzone mode.

Perhaps the biggest piece of news however came in the revelation that Certain Affinity is no longer the team behind Project Ekur, with Halo Studios themselves now taking over responsibilities following the prototype shared by Certain Affinity.

All in all, it seems as though Project Ekur has gone through a ton of testing and prototyping. What the final product will wind up looking like, we will have to wait and see. Regardless, here’s to hoping that the team in charge have settled on a formula which works for both old-school Halo fans as well as new players.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Project Ekur so far? Which iteration of the game sounded the most fun to you? Will Ekur be released on PlayStation? Let us know your thoughts down below.

While Sony had been increasingly dipping its toes into the PC gaming space, recent reports claimed that the console maker would be pulling back from the sector, with its first-party single player titles no longer being ported to the PC platform. Though yet to be officially announced, known insider Jason Schreier has now ‘confirmed’ that PlayStation’s Hermen Hulst informed staff of this strategy change during a recent Town Hall meeting.

As reported by Schreier: “PlayStation studio business CEO Hermen Hulst told staff in a town hall Monday morning that the company's narrative single-player games will now be PlayStation exclusive, confirming Bloomberg's reporting from earlier this year.”

Reports about this first started popping up back in March. Shortly following its publication, Sony themselves added fuel to the fire when they began removing most mentions of PC from its website.

Of course, this should all be taken with a pinch of salt for now, but considering that Sony’s single-player titles have not been performing too well on the PC platform (especially compared to their live-service efforts) alongside the fact that the next Xbox could run Steam natively, it perhaps makes sense that PlayStation would want to reprioritise its releases.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of this u-turn? Does it make sense? Why do you think Sony are changing course? Let us know down below.

Images and technical details of two unannounced Xbox controllers have leaked through Anatel, Brazil's telecommunications regulatory agency. The filings reveal a next-generation flagship gamepad, presumably the Xbox Elite Series 3, as well as a compact controller designed specifically for Xbox Cloud Gaming. 

First reported by the Tecnoblog, the leaked Xbox Elite Series 3 represents Microsoft's first major refresh of its premium controller line since 2019. The most notable design change is the addition of two physical scroll wheels on the bottom edge of the controller, flanking the 3.5mm headphone jack. While early speculation points to potential implementation for simulation titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator or on-the-fly hardware adjustments, their exact in-game functionality remains unconfirmed.

The Elite Series 3 also marks a shift in power design, transitioning to a removable, rechargeable 1,528mAh battery pack, down from the non-removable 2,050mAh battery found in the Elite Series 2. The front layout retains swappable thumbsticks and a refined dish-style D-pad but adds a new dedicated pairing toggle underneath the Xbox button.

The second leaked peripheral is a pocket-sized, rectangular gamepad designed for the cloud and mobile ecosystems. Drawing immediate design comparisons to third-party retro controllers like the 8BitDo SN30 Pro, the device features short grips and a streamlined chassis. According to regulatory documentation, it is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 Realtek chipset and includes a built-in 500mAh battery.

Both the Elite Series 3 and the compact cloud controller feature integrated dual-band Wi-Fi capabilities. This architecture allows peripherals to bypass a phone, tablet, or PC and connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers over a home network, similar to Google's defunct Stadia controller. Switching between standard and low-latency cloud mode is done via the button below the Xbox button.

Microsoft has not commented on the leaks, though a formal reveal is widely anticipated for the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7th.

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KitGuru says: Even though pricing isn't known, an Elite Series 3 controller will never be priced accessibly. As for the unnamed compact Xbox controller, it might be more affordable for most gamers.

While Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced remake marks the next entry in Ubisoft’s AC series to be released, the publisher is currently working on a number of different offerings slated to arrive over the next few years. One of the most anticipated is Assassin’s Creed Hexe – a more linear entry which will take players to 16th Century Europe. While official details remain light, insiders have now offered a ton of leaked information on what to expect from this upcoming release.

As reported by known Ubisoft insider ‘Rogue’ (and collated by Reddit user ZamnBoii) a number of voice lines pertaining to Assassin’s Creed Hexe have leaked, confirming a number of story and gameplay details.

Those more spoiler conscious might want to refrain from reading any further, but as revealed by the leaked dialogue, none other than Ezio Auditore himself will make an appearance in Hexe.

While unexpected, according to the leaks Hexe’s main protagonist Anika (previously known as Elsa) is a descendent of Claudia Auditore – Ezio’s sister.

In terms of gameplay, fewer details were shared. That said, according to Rogue there will be an unlockable skill allowing for “tree-to-tree branch jumping”. Additionally, though not contextualised, there will also be a mechanic in which NPCs will be able to report minor suspicious activities, requiring players to be a bit more careful.

Full details on the leaked dialogue (including additional lines from Ezio) can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for Assassin’s Creed Hexe? How do you think it’ll compare to the likes of Shadows and Mirage? Let us know down below.

In an unexpected announcement last week, Nintendo officially unveiled Star Fox: A remake of the 1997 N64 classic coming to Switch 2 in just over a month’s time. While a surprise to many, the title was technically leaked prior to its official announcement. According to the same insider, half a dozen other secret titles are currently in the works, including a new 3D Mario game scheduled for 2027.

Prior to its official announcement by Nintendo, leaker malo932 shared a list of roughly half a dozen Switch 2 titles which were said to be in the works. One of these games was reportedly a ‘classic’ Star Fox title set to arrive in June.

With Nintendo now officially announcing the remake, it stands to reason that the remainder of the leaks are also true. Of course, the list should still be taken with a pinch of salt. That said, according to the insider Nintendo has at least half a dozen other games in the works:

• A Star Fox Adventure game (sometime after 2026)
• The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake (2026)
• New Switch Sports game (Summer 2026)
• New 3D Mario game (2027)
• Wario Land revival (possibly 2027)
• Super Metroid Remake (said to be “close” to announcement)

A number of these leaked titles were also later shared by known insider NateTheHate, lending further credence to their existence.

Nintendo’s strategy for the Switch 2 so far has been somewhat unusual, with the console maker focusing heavily on releasing Switch 2 Editions of past titles. That said, assuming these leaks to be true, Nintendo could have a pretty big 2027 – especially with a new 3D Mario reportedly on its way.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of this leaked line-up? What franchises would you like to see represented? Could a new 3D Mario arrive as early as next year? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Following an extended period of continuous leaks regarding Call of Duty’s past, present and future, Activision finally put their foot down – with one of the most notable insiders confirming earlier this month that they would be ceasing operations. It appears as though this was just the start however, with known dataminer RealityUK now also stepping away permanently.

In response to the tweet published by COD leaker TheGhostofHope earlier this month revealing how they had been “legally demanded” by Activision to cease “disseminating confidential information related to Call of Duty/Activision,” known dataminer RealityUK revealed that they have suffered a similar fate, writing:

“I am too, ceasing all datamining and leaking from here on out, permanently. No go around this time. Completely serious, it's over. No leaking any Activision titles in any capacity.”

While not explicitly stated, it appears as though RealityUK was also contacted by Activision and told to stop leaking information related to Call of Duty.

Back when TheGhostofHope first made the announcement, COD’s official page actually commented on the matter, stating at the time that “even when leaks are wrong, they still hurt the people building the game and mess with player expectations.”

Of course, Call of Duty has been home to leakers for years now, and so the sudden and relatively harsh nature of this 180 degree turn is interesting to note. Here’s to hoping that the higher-ups don’t extend the reach of their influence too much further however.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Activision’s actions? Why are they mobilising now of all times? Let us know your thoughts down below.