There has been a great deal of discourse surrounding the recently-announced God of War Laufey, with one of the most vocal issues being the fact that the spin-off / side-quel will not be starring the ‘god of war’ Kratos himself. To no one’s surprise however, it has now been officially confirmed that Kratos will return in a future title coming some time after the release of Laufey.

As reported by IGN, Santa Monica Studio’s head of creative Cory Barlog (who also served as Game Director for 2018’s God of War and Creative Director for Ragnarok) confirmed during a recent Comic Con panel that a Kratos-led God of War game is in the works.

While details have of course been kept light, Barlog revealed that this new entry will connect directly to the upcoming Laufey.

For the uninitiated, God of War Laufey is set concurrently with the events of 2018’s game – or at least it starts at the same point. Where the story of Laufey will go and where it will end up taking Faye, we will have to wait and find out.

Given that Kratos has already been confirmed to feature in Laufey to some degree however, things should become clearer once the game launches in February of next year.

KitGuru says: What do you think of God of War Laufey? Are you looking forward to playing as Faye? How do you think it’ll tie into Kratos’ journey following Ragnarok / Valhalla? Let us know down below.

Ever since the launch of the Switch 2 last year, Final Fantasy producer Naoki Yoshida has expressed desires to bring the ever-popular MMO Final Fantasy XIV to Nintendo’s latest handheld-hybrid. Following its official announcement back in April, Final Fantasy XIV has now gotten a concrete Switch 2 release date.

Back in April, during their Final Fantasy XIV showcase (in which new expansion ‘Evercold’ was announced), Square Enix revealed that the MMO will officially be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime during the 8th month of 2026.

With August almost upon us, the publisher has now given a concrete release date alongside launch details – officially confirming that FFXIV will land on Switch 2 next week on the 4th of August.

As mentioned back during its initial announcement, the launch will coincide with a free ‘test period’ with the team now confirming that Switch 2 owners will be able to check out the game for its first month without the need for a subscription.

After this however, you will need to cough up the monthly subscription fee (although a discount is being offered for members coming from other platforms.)

Regardless, Final Fantasy XIV remains one of the most popular MMOs still running, and so having it on Switch 2 is an exciting prospect – even if a constant internet connection will of course be required.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to checking out FFXIV on Switch 2? What’s been your favourite expansion so far? Let us know down below.

In the age of (primarily) digital gaming, having solid download speeds is vital, especially as games continue to grow in scope and size. While there are tons of different factors which can lead to slow speeds, Microsoft is trying to alleviate issues on their end – announcing a new Xbox system update which optimises “game install and update speeds.”

As part of the latest Xbox Firmware update (available to those signed up to Xbox’s Insider program), Microsoft is introducing a new system which should make game download speeds smoother and more consistent, writing:
“Users will experience a new feature to optimize game install and update speeds by introducing a smart download client.”

Explaining how it functions, they continued, “Shortly after your game download begins, the client will check which content servers are available for the install or update. It will then test the connection speed to each server pool and select the fastest available connection for that install. The speed test will rerun periodically during the install or update to ensure that the client continues using the fastest available connection.”

Reactions to the update have been mixed so far, with some users lamenting the fact that server pool switching wasn’t already being used – while others claim to have never had any issues with downloads in the first place.

As mentioned, downloads speeds are a fickle thing, with countless factors going into the experience. That said, it is welcome to see Microsoft attempting to make the whole process a little bit easier on their end. Hopefully this change does have a notable impact.

KitGuru says: Are you part of Xbox’s Insider Program? Have you tried to download anything since the update? If so, have you noticed a difference? Let us know down below.

For quite a while now, we had been hearing various leaks and rumours pertaining to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, with insiders claiming that the console maker is planning to offer some form of ad-supported game streaming tier. Though yet to be officially announced, Microsoft has now unveiled that it is testing “an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time.”

Taking to the Xbox Wire blog to make the announcement, ‘Team XBOX’ officially unveiled their first test for this long-rumoured ad-supported game streaming tier, writing:

“Today, we’re starting to test an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time, available to XBOX Insiders. During this test period, XBOX Insiders with an XBOX account will be able to stream games they own for free with ads. Players will have one hour session limits across supported devices and regions.”

Speaking on their mentality behind this decision, Microsoft continued, “Advertising has existed in gaming for decades, from in-game placements to free-to-play models. But it hasn’t always been built with the player in mind. When done well, advertising can help lower the cost of access. It creates another way for players to get into games without an upfront streaming purchase and expands audiences through new ways to play. For brands, this only works if showing up here adds to the experience, not takes away from it.”

Seemingly built as an alternative to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft promises that ads will only appear ‘before’ the session itself begins, meaning players shouldn’t encounter any distractions mid-game. That said, with the 1 hour time limit currently in place, sessions will wind up being interrupted regardless.

Of course, cloud streaming isn’t free for Microsoft, and so it seems they believe having an ad-supported version could bring in additional revenue in its own right, while also hopefully drawing players into the full fat Game Pass experience.

As with other insider programs, Microsoft will be monitoring feedback, and so it will be interesting to see what the final form of this ‘Ad-supported Game Streaming Test’ winds up looking like.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest announcement? Does it entice you in any way? Would you rather stream your games using remote play without ads, or cloud streaming with ads? Let us know down below.

One of the biggest news stories of the year is easily the announcement by Sony that they will no longer be printing any physical PlayStation discs after 2028. While this was met with immediate backlash from fans and general consumers, some game publishers are painting a rather different picture – with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot claiming that “we think it will not disturb the industry too much.”

During the company’s most recent quarterly investor call, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot was asked for his take on Sony’s recent announcement that they will be getting rid of physical disc printing come 2028. Offering a somewhat unpopular position on the matter, Guillemot claimed (as transcribed by PCGamer):

“What we saw on the PC is that it helped to grow the market […] There's also some pressure for the future on the cost of machines, and being able to be only digital will help to have more accessible machines, I would say. There are pluses and minuses, but we think it will not disturb the industry too much.”

Ubisoft’s relationship with digital media is an interesting one. Unlike many publishers, Ubisoft is more than willing to offer deep discounts on many of its games on a regular basis, making one aspect of digital-only releases perhaps a bit less concerning.

At the same time, the discounting of these physical games at retailers also likely contributes to their decision to offer similar sales on its digital titles – and so it’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation.

Either way, no matter what Ubisoft thinks, moving away entirely from physical discs will likely have far more reaching consequences than most expect.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Guillemot’s comment? Is it tone deaf? Will consumers benefit at all from this massive impending industry shift? Let us know down below.

2026 has been a year of great change at Xbox, with the console maker engaging in a major restructure leading to the parting of ways with 5 different studios and thousands of employees. One notable move made by Xbox was the appointment of Jared Palmer as the new vice-president of engineering. Joining the brand this past May, Palmer has already announced that he is leaving Xbox.

Taking to Twitter, the recently-appointed VP of Engineering at Xbox – Jared Palmer – announced his departure from the company, writing:

“Personal update: I’ve joined @Cognition to lead engineering. I’m grateful to [Asha Sharma] and everyone at Xbox for an amazing year. Excited for this next chapter with [Scott Wu] and team.”

As mentioned, Palmer was a relatively recent addition to the Xbox team, with the announcement happening just a couple months ago in early May. At the time, Palmer was said to be joining “as a member of technical staff to work on product, engineering, developer tools and infrastructure” while also serving as a”taste” maker of sorts.

As with Sharma herself, Palmer came from an AI background, previously serving as the ‘CoreAI vice president of product’ and a ‘senior vice president of Microsoft's GitHub subsidiary.’

Whether his short stint at Xbox was always part of the plan or not, we will have to wait and find out. Either way, this latest change does not lend a great deal of confidence to the new Xbox regime.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest move? Is it an indicator of deeper issues? Or did Palmer simply receive an offer he couldn’t refuse? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Following the success of Stellar Blade on the PlayStation 5 back in 2024, studio SHIFT UP announced that they would be bringing the action-RPG to more platforms – eventually porting it over to PC to equal levels of success. Finally, following its official announcement during this Summer’s Nintendo Direct, Stellar Blade appears gearing up to land on the Switch 2 soon, having now been rated by the ESRB.

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) recently published a new listing for Stellar Blade coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. This of course was already known, with the official announcement coming back during Nintendo’s June Direct alongside a vague ‘2026’ release window.

While this latest rating doesn’t shed any new light on the matter, we will likely learn about its expected release date sooner rather than later.

In terms of what the rating does confirm, it appears as though all of the more ‘adult’ themes from the game are being kept in tact, with the summary noting that Stellar Blade on Switch 2 “depicts some female characters in revealing costumes (e.g., deep cleavage; skintight, flesh-toned body suits), with breasts that jiggle during combat.”

So far SHIFT UP has been 2-for-2 when it comes to releasing Stellar Blade on different platforms. It will be interesting to see how the title performs when it does arrive on Switch 2 (hopefully) soon.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you looking forward to Stellar Blade on Switch 2? How do you think the game will run? Let us know down below.

Ubisoft has been one of the better publishers when it comes to updating its 8th-gen titles for modern platforms. While the extent of each patch has varied, Ghost Recon Wildlands appears to be set to receive a pretty substantial update, with users noting marketing materials advertising an upcoming 4K60FPS ‘Definitive Edition.’

As reported by multiple users, Ubisoft appears to be gearing up to announce a ‘Definitive Edition’ of 2017’s Ghost Recon Wildlands. Taking to the game’s subreddit, users shared a splash screen which seems to confirm that Ghost Recon Wildlands will be receiving an update in August, bringing some cosmetic packs alongside a ‘new mission’.

By far the most exciting part of the update however is the fact that Wildlands will seemingly be updated with full 4K and 60fps support (compared to its current 1440p 30fps offering).

Of course, we will have to wait for official confirmation from Ubisoft themselves before jumping to conclusions. That being said, the publisher has somewhat acknowledged the leaks, recently taking to Twitter to write: “It’s been a while Ghosts! We know some of you saw some updates, we’ll have more to say on the 6th of August when we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Ghost Recon. Intel coming soon.”

Given that the August date lines up with the aforementioned splash screen, it’s safe to assume that the information is legit. It will be interesting to learn whether this update will bring with it a bespoke current-gen app, or if it will function more as a backwards compatible+ type of experience. We shouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Ghost Recon Wildlands? How does it compare to 2019’s breakpoint? What other Ubisoft games do you hope will receive a current-gen update? Let us know down below.

Ever since Sony made the announcement that they will be getting rid of physical disc production come 2028, we have seen PlayStation being inundated with tons of backlash from fans. Unfortunately, these concerns are likely falling on deaf ears, with one analyst revealing that just 7 games have sold over 100k physical copies on PS5 this year (in the US).

As reported by industry analyst Mat Piscatella of ‘Circana Retail Tracking Service’, PlayStation is unlikely to backtrack on their current plans to get rid of physical game discs, revealing that:

“2 PlayStation video games sold more than 10k physical units in the US during week ending July 11, 2026. 7 have sold more than 100k physical units year-to-date.”

Considering the sheer number of PlayStation games released on an annual basis, having just 7 surpass 100K physical copies sold is pretty damning.

That said, these figures pertain only to the US – likely one of the more digital-focused regions – and so how representative this is of the rest of the world is unknown.

Either way, with Sony already beginning to retool its disc printing factories for other purposes, it seems as though unfortunately nothing will sway Sony from this decision.

KitGuru says: Are you surprised by the lack of physical sales in the US? How do you think it compares to other regions? Will Sony backtrack on their decision with enough pressure? Let us know your thoughts down below.

2026 has been a terrible year for Bungie. With Marathon failing to garner a major audience base, and Destiny 2 being all-but-shut-down, the future of this once iconic studio remains in flux. Adding to the confusion, Marathon’s Game Director Joseph Ziegler has now announced that he is departing the studio.

Taking to Twitter to make the announcement, Joseph Ziegler confirmed that he will be parting ways with Bungie, writing: “Friday 7/17, will be my last day at Bungie and I'll be passing the torch of Game Director to the very capable and amazing hands of Del Chafe III, who will guide the game forward alongside the Creative Director Julia Nardin. Both of them have been operating in a strong leadership capacity for the team and are ready to guide Marathon into the next chapter with an even better and brighter future.”

Unlike the recent retirement of industry veteran Glen Schofield, Ziegler appears to be staying in the games industry for now, adding: “As for me, I'll be heading to something new, somewhere else, and will update you on where and what soon. I just want to say a deeply heartfelt thank you to all of you for supporting me and Marathon in our windy mission to bring a dark and terrifying space survival frontier to your screen.”

The full post can be found HERE, and includes plenty of pleasantries towards Ziegler’s fellow Bungie developers.

For the uninitiated, Joseph Ziegler was brought in to help direct Marathon back in 2022, following the departure of Christopher Barrett. Formerly the director for Riot Games’ Valorant, Ziegler helped to push Marathon past the finish line – for better or for worse.

While the state of Marathon right now is far from perfect, the team do have quite a bit planned, most recently confirming that they will be bringing in some form of permanent PvE mode in the future.

Either way, the departure of Ziegler is a big deal, and marks another pivotal moment for this struggling live-service title. Hopefully the new management can help turn things around.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest departure? Is this good or bad news for Marathon in the long-term? Let us know down below.

Despite all of the many different controversies seen throughout the video games industry in 2026, one of the most notable is Sony’s announcement that they will no longer be printing PlayStation discs come 2028 – pretty much marking the end of physical media in gaming. One company which should be concerned is US retail giant GameStop. According to the CEO however, this latest move is “totally, totally irrelevant.”

Taking part in an interview with Bloomberg Tech, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen was asked about PlayStation’s recent announcement regarding their discontinuing of disc printing: “If the hardware makers are reportedly moving to discless on the console side, future game launches are digital only, where does that fit in for the business plan

According to the CEO, “it doesn’t matter at all” explaining “Software, it mattered in the past. Software today makes up less than 12% of the business, and collectables makes up over half the business. So, it's totally, totally irrelevant.”

For the uninitiated, GameStop has for many years now been trying to move away from the pure selling of video games including, as mentioned by Cohen, by leaning more into merchandise and other ancillary accessories.

That said, GameStop’s endgame still seems to be the desire to acquire e-commerce giant eBay – a plan which they first announced back in May.

Regardless of GameStop’s own plans, it is safe to say that the decision by Sony to get rid of physical media will have a reverberating impact across the games industry and beyond.

KitGuru says: What do you think of GameStop in 2026? Is the retailer ‘irrelevant’? Let us know down below.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is one of PlayStation’s more interesting upcoming releases. Developed by Arc System Works in direct collaboration with PlayStation, the console exclusive fighting game is set to launch in under a months’ time on the 6th of August. Ahead of this however, all those interested in checking the game out will be able to do so for free, with an open-beta set to go live next week.

Taking to the PlayStation Blog, Sony detailed the upcoming open-beta for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, writing: “The wait is almost over. The MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta is nearly here, and we can’t wait for players to jump into the action.”

Available across PlayStation 5, Steam and the Epic Games Store, the open beta is set to officially go live on the 24th of July at 8AM UK Time, and will remain playable until the 27th – also ending at 8AM.

All those interested will be able to pre-download the game two hours prior to it going live, giving you as much time as possible to play.

Being a beta, Tokon’s full suite of content will of course be locked. That said, users will still have plenty to check out and enjoy, with all of the following being accessible:

• 15 playable characters
• 6 playable stages
• Online Casual and Ranked matches
• Local Versus mode
• Explorable ‘open lobby’ hub world
• Training mode
• 3 Chapters of Tokon’s Episode (campaign) mode

This is far from the first time that Sony has allowed fans to try out Tokon ahead of launch, with various closed tests having taken place since its official announcement.

That said, the game has seen plenty of changes and improvements since, and so it will be interesting to get a clearer understanding of exactly how Marvel Tokon will feel like when the game fully launches next month.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Marvel Tokon so far? Have you been involved in any of the previous playtests? What’s your favourite Arc System Works game? Let us know down below.

One of Ubisoft’s lesser-appreciated franchises is Watch Dogs. While the first game in the series suffered at launch due to high expectations (much of which was Ubisoft’s own fault), its sequel in particular resonated with many thanks to its open-world, stealth-focused gameplay and overall fun mechanics. Despite 2020’s Watch Dogs Legion seemingly killing the franchise, recent rumours claimed that the trilogy would be making its way to the Switch 2 via a new collection. Unfortunately, this appears to be false.

Recently, a rumour popped up claiming that Watch Dogs 1, 2 and Legion would be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 via a ‘Dedsec Collection’, with a supposed screenshot of retailer alza.cz listing the product alongside a price of around £40 and an expected release date of March 2027.

While an exciting prospect, especially given that Watch Dogs 1 and 2 never received any current-gen patches, it appears as though the listing was fabricated, with known retail leaker Billbil-kun taking to Dealabs to clarify the rumour, stating (as translated):

“Two details betray the manipulation on the image itself. First, the Ubisoft logo, which is systematically listed at the bottom right of the jacket of all the publisher’s games, is totally absent from this so-called jacket.”

They continued: “Then, and it’s even more revealing, the product code displayed on the shop (‘NS2SW143’) does not actually match the Watch Dogs game: this same code refers to the product sheet of The Crew Motorfest, released recently on Switch 2.”

Full details on their investigation can be found HERE, but in essence, no there does not appear to be a re-release of Watch Dogs planned for the Nintendo Switch 2 any time soon.

All that being said, it wouldn’t be the worst idea for Ubisoft to port the trilogy to more platforms, especially with the long-awaited Watch Dogs film currently being in production.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the Watch Dogs trilogy? Would you welcome a re-release / remaster? Let us know down below.

Last week, Microsoft officially unveiled its upcoming Xbox Game Pass line-up for the month of July, confirming a number of titles including the likes of Gears of War: Reloaded, Quarantine Zone: The Last Check and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. In an odd twist however, Microsoft has now come out to reveal that the Xbox-owned THPS 1+2 will no longer be joining Game Pass this month.

Taking to the Xbox Wire blog to offer an update on the previously-announced line-up, Microsoft amended their upcoming list of Game Pass inclusions, stating: “We’ve removed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from the list of titles coming soon to Game Pass.”

Unfortunately, we did not get any further details, and so it is unknown exactly why Pro Skater 1+2 is no longer joining.

Ever since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for just under $69 Billion, the console maker obtained an influx of IPs, including Call of Duty; Crash Bandicoot; Spyro the Dragon and of course, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Given this, it is unlikely that its removal has anything to do with licensing and ownership issues, and so the reason remains unclear.

Either way, this is not the best of looks for Microsoft / Game Pass, especially considering everything else going on at the company right now. Hopefully the game does wind up being added eventually.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this sudden change? Could it have something to do with in-game music? What other reason could there be for Microsoft to backtrack like this? Let us know down below.

Prior to the recent upheaval of Microsoft’s various Xbox Games Studios, we had been hearing leaks regarding the future of Halo and Master Chief, with one in-development project – known as Ekur – seemingly being on the chopping block. Though never officially announced, additional insiders have now spoken out on the project, corroborating claims that Ekur has been cancelled.

For a while now, we had been hearing leaks and rumours surrounding Project Tatanka – reportedly a “a new separate PVP game co-developed by 343 Industries and Certain Affinity in the SlipSpace Engine.”

Since then, a lot has happened, with the same source (Rebs Gaming) later claiming that Tatanka was transformed into an extraction shooter under the project name Ekur.

This too however ran into some issues, with Rebs then stating that it had evolved once again, this time turning into a “super big-team-battle” type of experience running on Unreal Engine 5 under the direct control of Halo Studios (no longer involving Certain Affinity).

Given all of the back-and-forth with Project Tatanka (later Ekur), it perhaps does not come as a surprise that the game has now reportedly been cancelled, with known Microsoft insider Jez Corden claiming: “Rebs reported that Halo Studios was working on a multiplayer title known as Project Ekur, which was cancelled. I've verified that as 100% true.”

As mentioned, Project Ekur had encountered plenty of issues and setbacks even before the latest suite of Microsoft lay-offs and so it isn’t too surprising to see it ultimately being cancelled. Given how long it had been in various stages of development however, it will be interesting to see how this impacts Halo Studios moving forward.

KitGuru says: Were you excited for Project Tatanka? What about Ekur? What do you think is next for Halo after Campaign Evolved releases? Let us know down below.

Over its many years of development, we’ve seen the PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 breeze past plenty of major milestones: including allowing for the injection of new post-effects such as AMD’s FSR while continually reducing the number of unsupported titles. Furthering these efforts, the team have revealed that 75% of the entire PS3 library is now fully playable through the emulator.

In going to the project’s official site, users can find a full compatibility list of titles, showcasing which games are supported by RPCS3 and whether to expect any issues.

Split into 5 tiers of support, each game is placed into one of the following categories:

1. Nothing (Games that don't initialize properly, not loading at all and/or crashing the emulator)
2. Loadable (Games that display a black screen with a framerate on the window's title)
3. Intro (Games that display image but don't make it past the menus)
4. Ingame (Games that either can't be finished, have serious glitches or have insufficient performance)
5. Playable (Games that can be completed with playable performance and no game breaking glitches)

As of now, across the PlayStation 3’s more-than 3500 games, 75.33% are considered to be playable, with 22.93% achieving ‘ingame’ status. At this point, very few titles suffer from major issues, with just 1.71% still stuck in the ‘intro’ stage and 0.03% only being loadable. Like we reported back in 2021, a total of 0% of the PS3 library remains in the ‘nothing’ stage.

Speaking of 2021, back then, the compatibility list looked quite a bit different, with around 63% of games being ‘playable’, 30% reaching ‘ingame’ and nearly 6% stuck at the intro.

With just how much momentum RPCS3 has seen over the years, there will hopefully come a time in which 100% of the PS3’s library will be fully playable. We will have to wait and see how long it takes.

KitGuru says: How often do you use emulators for gaming? Are you impressed with RPCS3’s progress over the years? Let us know down below.

A little over a year ago, Sony announced and unveiled ‘Project Defiant’ – later officially being known as the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick. Initially set to launch in under a month’s time, Sony has now turned around and made the surprising decision to delay the controller indefinitely, citing “unexpected production delays.”

Taking to the PlayStation Blog, the VP of Global Marketing at SIE – Isabelle Tomatis – offered an update on the current status of their FlexStrike wireless fight stick

According to the company, “Due to unexpected production delays, FlexStrike wireless fight stick will launch at a later date,” adding that “we will share an update soon.”

Sony is pushing out email updates to all those who pre-ordered the hardware with details on exactly what happens next.

As mentioned, the FlexStrike was announced just over a year ago, with official pricing and pre-order details going live last month – making this sudden announcement quite unexpected.

Whenever it does eventually release, the FlexStrike should be a solid addition to PlayStation’s line-up of accessories, offering low-latency wireless gameplay alongside adjustable controls, a touchpad and everything else one would need (including a carry case).

Already a relatively expensive product (initially retailing for £179.99), hopefully this delay does not ultimately lead to a price increase.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the FlexStrike? Is it more form over function? Is a wireless fight stick necessary in your eyes? Let us know down below.

Valve has confirmed it is developing a new BIOS update for the Steam Machine that changes how the system's integrated LED strip handles thermal warnings. The upcoming firmware will trigger a red light indicator only when internal components hit 100ºC, a 5/10ºC increase over the initial threshold.

According to Valve (via Tom's Hardware), the updated BIOS will cause the LED strip to turn red if the CPU or GPU reaches 100°C. Once this threshold is crossed, the system automatically initiates thermal throttling, reducing processor performance to protect overall hardware health. This updates a previous behavior where the “red line of death” (RLOD) mistakenly flagged system issues at lower temperatures.

Earlier reports indicated the red warning light appeared when the CPU reached 95°C and the GPU hit 90°C. Valve is adjusting these parameters because the silicon can safely handle higher heat loads. The system features a customised AMD processor with an expected TJMax of 105°C, at which point the machine automatically shuts down to prevent permanent damage.

During standard operation, the LED bar remains blue. Internal cooling components, consisting of a dedicated heatsink and fan, provide sufficient dissipation under normal conditions. However, the company notes that restricted placement and high room temperatures can still lead to overheating.

KitGuru says: Do you have a Steam Machine? Have you witnessed the RLOD yourself?

In the wake of the recent and ongoing sweeping changes at Xbox, there has been plenty of discourse surrounding how this has and will continue to impact Microsoft’s various development studios. One team hit hard by the lay-offs has been Obsidian Entertainment – leading to the cancellation of a sequel to Avowed. According to insiders however, the project is still going ahead, with hopes that Microsoft might ‘uncancel’ it later down the line.

As reported by known industry insider Jason Schreier, the recent happenings at Microsoft has led to a great deal of confusion and lack of clarity across various Xbox Game Studios.

While we previously spoke on how Obsidian Entertainment were dealing with these changes, Schreier revealed just how in-flux things appear to be, taking to his YouTube channel to claim: “Obsidian have a small team that was working on Avowed 2, that's going to still work on Avowed 2 even though it is canceled, while they wait for other projects like Fallout to be ready for them.”

For the uninitiated, it was recently reported that Obsidian Entertainment have now been tasked with making a new entry in the Fallout franchise, leading to the aforementioned Avowed 2 being cancelled.

According to Schreier however, the project was “further along than most people would guess for a sequel to a game that came out last year,” adding that “I think their hope is perhaps they'll get it so close to finish that Xbox will look at it and say ‘Okay you can finish and release this, it won't cost that much more to finish it.”’

Based on everything we’ve heard, it seems quite clear that these latest changes at Xbox have up-ended many of the console maker’s previous plans and strategies. It will be interesting to see what ultimately becomes of Obsidian’s Avowed 2.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of all the current Xbox drama? Is Microsoft trying to change too much too quickly? Let us know down below.