I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
Story Highlight
Crimson Desert will not include microtransactions beyond pre-order bonuses.
There will not be a cosmetics cash shop after launch.
There are no difficulty settings, no enemy scaling, and different bosses in various areas are skill-gated.
Crimson Desert is one of those incredible showings that seems almost too good to be true, which explains why many gamers had qualms about trusting Pearl Abyss. However, all the footage, marketing, and promises have begun changing the mainstream perception.
Pearl’s PR director has now bluntly confirmed that the MMO-turned-single-player RPG won’t have microtransactions besides pre-order bonuses that are purely cosmetic.
There won’t be any cosmetics cash shop after launch, as the monetization model is solely built around a one-time purchase policy.
Why it matters: Crimson Desert appears to be making all the right decisions, confirming that it is focusing on winning the hearts of gamers instead of chasing all the profits like many other AAA studios that push microtransactions in single-player games.
In an interview with itmeJP, marketing director Will Powers says that Crimson Desert is a premium game that you only need to buy once. He elaborates that it is the only transaction that Pearl Abyss expects from players.
It will not seek to squeeze more profits from players through microtransactions, as seen in many popular open-world games. So, players won’t be able to spend real currency to gain powerful items or purchase cosmetics.
this is made to be a premium experience that you buy and enjoy the world, and not something for microtransactions.
-Crimson Desert PR Director, Will Powers.
Will also mention that Crimson Desert is more of a new IP than being tied to the Black Desert Online MMO. The game has no traditional difficulty settings, enemies are not scaled with levels, and multiple regions and areas are skill-gated.
Crimson Desert features a vast, dynamic open world.
Unfortunately, there also won’t be a demo before launch, as there’s just too much to show, and no mod support has been confirmed.
Some gamers also worry that Pearl Abyss may go ahead with a player-friendly MTX model for the game’s rumored multiplayer mode, given its history with Black Desert Online.
Do you think Crimson Desert’s developers will maintain this ethos after launch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
Story Highlight
Santa Monica has been working on a secret project aside from the God of War trilogy remake.
The game is expected to be released in 2027 with a reveal in the next few months.
It is also going to be SIE’s next big thing.
Santa Monica is mostly known for being a single-project studio, but things have now seemingly changed for the better. Just recently, a remake of the original God of War trilogy was announced, but it seems Santa Monica has more to offer.
Aside from these remakes, another project is being developed and has been in the works for quite some time, led by none other than Cory Barlog. The game’s release date might be just around the corner, as an insider expects a 2027 release.
Why it matters: Cory’s new title will be a worthy addition to the PS5’s first-party catalog, which has been lagging behind for the latter part of the console’s generation.
Insider Talking About Release Schedule For Santa Monica’s Next Game || Social Media
Recently, we covered another report on the project, which said the game’s reveal would happen in the upcoming summer season. Adding to the original conversation further, insider Nate The Hate adds that he expects a 2027 release for the game.
Currently, details on the game are unknown other than the fact that it isn’t an original IP, it’s a new game on an existing one, but it will feel familiar. From the looks, it seems to be different from the new rumored Egypt-based God of War game.
Insiders have confirmed it is not to be an Atreus-led title, so we can exclude that possibility. Nevertheless, it is expected to be the next big thing from SIE, so expect the PS5 lifecycle to end with a banger.
It’s Highly Likely That The God Of War Trilogy Remake Is Being Outsourced To Another PlayStation Studio, Likely Bluepoint Games
Another State of Play event is expected for May, so we bet a reveal then, as Sony would likely reveal such a big title at their own event.
What are your thoughts on this story? What do you think Cory’s game might be? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
Story Highlight
A new development reveals God of War reboot games generated $1.4 billion in revenue.
Both titles were also critically acclaimed, reigniting the love for the series.
These are crazy and some of the best revenue figures for a rebooted franchise.
The God of War franchise made a huge comeback with a reboot in 2018. The title was revamped from the original with a more mature Kratos, featuring his son Atreus. It was wonderfully received and also a financial success.
A new update reveals that God of War 2018 and Ragnarok combined have generated a whopping $1.4 billion in revenue so far. These are crazy numbers, considering the amount was generated from just 2 releases.
Why it matters: Santa Monica’s franchise has always been considered amongst the best from PlayStation. It cemented the spot further with the last 2 mainline AAA releases.
God of War reboot titles have generated $1.4 billion in revenue
According to Rich Fielder’s LinkedIn profile, who worked as a Senior Producer at Santa Monica, God of War 2018 and its sequel have accumulated a total of over $1.4 billion in revenue since their release.
In 2013, we got Ascension, which wasn’t as universally praised as the other entries, so fans were skeptical when the reboot was announced for 2018, considering the premise was completely changed.
Both games have been super successful, both critically and financially
The Greek saga was over, and the title kicked off the Norse saga. The sales numbers and reviews are an embodiment that it paid off big time, with the 2 games generating some of the best revenue figures by a reboot.
Anyhow, if you were more of a fan of the older games, a God of War Greek Trilogy Remake is in the works. There are also rumors of a next mainline game set in Egypt, and a TV show is already in the works.
What are your thoughts on God of War reboot and its sequel generating $1.2 billion in revenue? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
Story Highlight
The U.S. Govt has now removed Chinese-based companies CXMT and YTMC from its restricted list.
This move has been made in an effort to prevent a memory collapse as supply becomes volatile with each passing day.
More manufacturers have started turning to Chinese companies for memory supply to keep prices under control.
The US government has reversed its policy of restricting Chinese technology companies, easing the bans on CXMT and YMTC. As the title suggests, the reason is straightforward: the American industry requires the knowledge of these Chinese firms to prevent collapse.
Just a day before, the U.S. Department of War (DoD) released an update to its Section 1260H list, which was withdrawn about an hour later.
The list included an inventory of businesses that Washington deems “Chinese military companies,” meaning they are either Chinese military companies or companies associated with China’s military-civilian fusion efforts.
Manufacturers Are Desperate To Look For Ways To Keep Pricing Down
The nearly immediate withdrawal raised more questions than answers. According to Reuters, the Pentagon asked the Federal Register to delete the “public inspection” notice without saying why, and neither the White House nor the Department of War disclosed the reason at the time.
From a political perspective, the back-and-forth fueled speculation about internal disorganization or an incomplete interagency validation process: Reuters reported that some “removals” were still being reviewed, even as the “additions” appeared more stable.
In this way, the removal of CXMT and YMTC from the market creates, on paper, a new pathway for the use of Chinese DRAM and NAND memory in consumer products and global supply chains.
Essentially, the United States is doing what the entire industry, particularly the PC business, has been asking for: seriously considering adopting Chinese memory to assist in the present situation where it is virtually nonexistent, resulting in massive price rises.
GDDR7 And HBM Are The Most Demanded Memory Types Currently
It is worth noting that HP, Dell, Acer, and ASUS were already investigating the use of this Chinese memory. But to do so, they need the US government to lift the ban. In January, HP took the lead by limiting the usage of this RAM to hardware sold in China.
In the case of YMTC, Reuters has reported on its legal struggle with the US government over the military designation. It also discusses its disagreements with the Commerce Department over other lists and restrictions on access to US technology.
This latest incident occurs at a sensitive diplomatic juncture, amid a climate of relative de-escalation following a trade truce established in October. Not to mention Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to China in April, which underscores the notion that the administration is attempting to strike the right tone with Beijing.
In a market where memory is a crucial component in terms of both cost and availability, both CXMT and YMTC may become popular alternative providers at the industrial level. Larger projects like the mass manufacturing of HBM3 memory for Huawei’s Ascend 950 AI chips are currently CXMT’s main priorities. It would, however, welcome more profits from its production line of DDR5 and DDR4 memory.
Let us know what you think of this story in the comments below, or join the ongoing discussion on the latest tech developments at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
Story Highlight
God of War Sons of Sparta was shadowdropped after the recent State of Play.
It received mixed reviews and is now the lowest-rated Metacritic game in the series.
Reviews call it an average experience, with the gameplay being generic and repetitive.
After so many rumors and speculations, a new God of War game is finally here. It isn’t a AAA, and instead is a toned-down Metroidvania exploring Kratos’s past. Unfortunately, the response to the title isn’t as positive as one would think.
God of War Sons of Sparta is currently the lowest-rated Metacritic game in the franchise. It even sits below God of War: Ascension, which also didn’t really have a universal positive reception.
Why it matters: God of War games are mostly associated with big budgets and a massive scope. This game doesn’t have either of those, so this is a step in a different direction, which isn’t sitting well with the fans.
God of War Sons of Sparta has the lowest user review score in the series
On Metacritic, God of War Sons of Sparta has a user score of 7.4, which is the lowest in the franchise. Even this score isn’t bad; it is just average, which is something you don’t expect from arguably Sony’s most popular franchise.
The overall opinions on the game are quite mixed, with some praising it for expanding the franchise beyond just the mainline games, while others criticize it for being too bland, generic, and repetitive.
1 of 3
Some have even argued that if the “God of War” name wasn’t associated with it, it would be just another game on the PlayStation store. Even the series creator harshly called the project out, calling it nonsense.
At least the saving grace is that Sony also announced a God of War Greek Trilogy Remake at the same State of Play. So, fans will be eating well as we have a show, the remakes, and a rumored mainline game in development.
What are your thoughts on God of War Sons of Sparta being the lowest-rated entry in the series? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
Story Highlight
Microsoft is prioritizing audience growth over console exclusivity, aiming to put games on every screen.
Major Xbox franchises like Fable, Halo, and Forza are confirmed or expected to launch on PlayStation.
The year features heavy hitters like GTA 6, a Tomb Raider remake, and a new Star Wars racing title.
Microsoft’s whole “exclusives win consoles” mindset feels like it’s fading fast. Not too long ago, choosing between an Xbox and a PlayStation actually felt like picking a side. You bought a console for the games you couldn’t get anywhere else.
Now, that line is getting blurrier by the year, and honestly, it feels like Microsoft is done playing the old console war game.
Back in the day, Xbox exclusives were a big deal. They were a reason to commit to the platform. But over time, Sony built its own lineup that pulled players hard in the other direction, and Xbox slowly shifted focus.
Instead of fighting for exclusivity, Microsoft started chasing reach. More players, more platforms, more screens. Less “our console only,” more “our games everywhere.”
Upcoming Xbox Games on Multiple Platforms
Halo, Forza, And Gears on PlayStation.
Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan has confirmed with almost certainty that Microsoft is pursuing a strategy of releasing games on as many platforms as possible. In a recent interview, he stated that “As the guy that gets to run studios and help our game teams, I take a pretty simple view on this: we want our games to reach the most players that we can. That’s always our goal. It’s rarely more complicated than that. It’s like, how can we get this game to as many players as we can?”
At the Xbox Developer Direct in January 2026, four games were shown to the public. These included Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and Kiln, all made by Playground Games and Double Fine. Of these, Fable and Kiln are scheduled to hit PlayStation on the first day of launch. Forza 6 is expected to be released sometime after its launch on the native console.
Working Out Release Dates
When asked about why some will be available on release and others at later dates, Microsoft has given development variables as the reason. This also depends on how big the team is and if plans change. This can result in inconsistencies.
The last of these games will be Halo: Campaign Evolved. This will be a major show of the shifting nature of Microsoft’s tactics to games, as the Xbox’s once flagship game makes its way to a rival. The same is expected with the new Gears of War instalment’s arrival. All of these signals that it may be the end of days when games were exclusive to Xbox.
Crossplay Issues
PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X
What Microsoft does get from these releases is access to new players, and they often do that through the creation of accounts to play the game. People must sign up for a Microsoft account, and this is mandatory. This is also the case if you buy it on Steam.
This has really annoyed many players and buyers. When doing so, you gain one license, so you can only play on one format at any time. It has been criticised as you don’t gain access to cross progression. A
Account linking has also been criticised as being loaded with bugs, with many people having to reconnect multiple times. There is also no trophy or achievement autosync.
A lot of players have started taking a different route instead of dealing with slow progression and messy account systems. That’s where Forza Horizon 5 accounts come into the picture. Some of these accounts are now seen as high-value because they come loaded from the start, with cars, credits, and unlocks already in place.
For players who just want to jump straight into racing instead of grinding for weeks, it’s an easy shortcut from beginner status to feeling like a top-tier driver on day one.
Upcoming 2026 Xbox Games
The rest of the year looks set for big releases on the Xbox system from a range of developers. At the head of this pack lies GTA 6, scheduled for a November launch. The delays have done nothing to dampen the excitement, instead showing everyone that Rockstar knows it has to be perfect.
All that is really known is that the role of dual protagonists will be adopted as you go across an open world as Lucia and Jason.
Old favourites will also return, as Lara Croft gets on her Tomb Raider outfit in Legacy of Atlantis, a remake of the 1996 smash. This will take the gaming icon back to her roots in the hunt for a mysterious artifact, with the addition of new surprises. All this will be just in time for the release of the new movie.
Star Wars will also add a new title to its long line of games with Galactic Racer. This will add to a long line of Star Wars racing games. This will see you take part in an off-grid circuit race in the galaxy’s outer rim.
Plenty of outliers will also be released, which could come from nowhere and become hits of the year. Square Enix is bringing another JRPG to the fore with The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. You take the form of an explorer who has a fairy sidekick who helps you upgrade and take on huge boss enemies.
Thus, the future looks bright for Xbox users and those wanting to play their games on other consoles. You will need accounts for many, but hopefully, issues will soon be resolved, especially if Microsoft plans to do this regularly.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
Story Highlight
CI Games has approved capital raise authorization for The Lords of the Fallen 2.
It will allow the studio to reach higher potential profits and improved valuation.
The rumors suggest that the raised capital might be used to buy Epic’s exclusivity rights to LotF2.
The Lords of the Fallen is among the best soulslike games to launch in recent times, so fans have been looking forward to the sequel. However, many of the CEO’s remarks and official confirmation last year suggested that it would also be tied to the Epic Games Store.
New developments now suggest that it is no longer the case, and Lords of the Fallen 2 could very well launch on Steam.
Why it matters: A new tease by the CEO of CI Games suggests that Lords of the Fallen 2 could be set for a Steam and GOG release. Although it’s unclear whether the game will arrive on other PC platforms on day one or end up as a timed exclusive.
CI Games has approved an additional capital allowance for The Lords of the Fallen 2.
As announced on Twitter, CI Games has approved a proposed capital raise authorization, which sets its upcoming releases for ‘higher potential profits’ and ‘improved valuation.’
However, this capital could be used to buy Epic Games’ permanent exclusivity rights for the sequel, which would set it up for a release on other PC platforms.
CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski sparked these rumors after liking several fan comments about a Lords of the Fallen 2 Steam release under the announcement. The studio boss also retweeted a post that discussed the new announcement and the ongoing rumors.
Many gamers have been asking for a Steam release of Lords of the Fallen 2.
This is a different tune than what the CEO sang last year, so the plans about the future of Lords of the Fallen 2 might have changed since the original reveal. The CEO previously also caused controversy by claiming that Lords of the Fallen carried the torch for Soulslikes.
Regardless, the sequel is also expected to be much darker than the original, so fan expectations are at an all-time high.
Do you think The Lords of the Fallen 2 will launch on Steam day one, or will it come to other PC platforms after a timed exclusivity deal with Epic Games? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
Story Highlight
Insomniac Games has confirmed that Marvel’s Spider-Man games won’t be coming to Xbox.
The developer says the franchise heading to Xbox is “not likely.”
However, Spider-Man games are playable on the Xbox Rog Ally X, with performance very close to the PS5.
Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man series has become a staple of the PlayStation brand. The 2018 game alone made over $3.8 billion in revenue for Sony, with the subsequent sequel and spin-offs selling over 10 million copies each.
The franchise has even turned out to be a hit on PC, bringing in millions in extra revenue for the company, even with a messy launch. However, despite its success on PC and PlayStation, Marvel’s Spider-Man titles are not heading to Xbox consoles anytime soon.
Why It Matters: The console rivalry between PlayStation and Xbox has dwindled with the latter putting most of its games on PS5. However, from the looks of it, Sony is going to keep its premium first-party offerings on PlayStation, at least for the foreseeable future.
While replying to a now-deleted comment on X, the official Insomniac handle denied any chance of the Spider-Man games being released on Xbox. The account bluntly replied “not likely” to a fan’s query regarding whether the series will head to PlayStation’s rival console.
Despite the confirmation from Insomniac, however, fans are still hopeful that Spider-Man will launch on Xbox. Back in 2017, the developer stated that the series wouldn’t come to PC.
But, as we all know, Sony changed its strategy and released all the Spider-Man titles on Windows, with the recent Spider-Man 2 port bringing in $8 million in revenue just 2 days after launch.
Before the first game launched, Marvel’s Spider-Man was never meant to be released on PC.
Regardless of PlayStation’s stance on Spider-Man’s exclusivity, the franchise is playable on the Xbox-branded Rog Ally X, with Spider-Man 2 being very close in performance to the PS5 version of the game on the handheld.
Do you think Marvel’s Spider-Man games will ever launch on Xbox consoles? Will Sony ever change its stance regarding first-party releases on Xbox? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
At Tech4Gamers, I work as a guides expert. My role involves writing about solving different gaming and tech-related topics that pique my interest and that I believe more people should know about. This position allows me to share my insights and discoveries with a broader audience, enriching their gaming experiences with the unique perspectives I bring.
Story Highlights
Being an indie developer is a lot easier than it used to be, but it still requires time, effort, luck, and investments.
As a solo developer, you’ll either have to invest in other people to get audio and visual resources, as well as marketing, or do everything yourself.
Ultimately, if you’re just starting out, your first game’s success depends entirely on luck.
The gaming industry has changed significantly over the years. What was once a space for bigger companies and AAA titles to dominate the market has now become a place where even solo developers can expect to earn enough to pursue gamedev full-time.
Still, not every game will be the next Hollow Knight, and with every Balatro, there are a thousand games that never turn even a single dollar in profit. What exactly do you need to become an indie game developer, and is it even worth it to become one?
Investments An Indie Developer Needs
Everything in Stardew Valley, from the code to the sprites, was made by a single person (Image Credits – ConcernedApe)
A lot goes into making an indie game. Funds for the game itself can include paying for any software you use for the game’s creation, any visual or audio assets, and any team members who might be helping you.
Another thing to account for is taking out time you could spend working on developing a game, as if you want to pursue game development full-time, you’ll need to set aside an amount of funds to sustain you while doing so.
Apart from all that, you also need to take into account marketing, publishing fees, and platform fees. All of this can add up quickly, and if you’re expecting any profit, you should keep these investments in mind as well.
Profits Can Be Deceiving
Gunforged came out with 10k+ wishlists, sold 1.6k copies, and earned 9k USD in its first month (Image Credits – Firebelley Games)
Even if your game does well, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be getting everything it earns. It’s important to keep in mind that any platform you publish the game on will take a cut. Similarly, if you’re releasing the game with a publisher, they’ll also be taking some of the profits.
For Steam, publishing a game means you give 30% of all sales directly to Steam. This number goes down to 25% if your game works immensely well, but for most indie developers just starting out, this isn’t usual.
This number also counts the total sales before any taxes are deducted, which means it’s significantly more than just the 70% you’ll be getting. Speaking of taxes, they can also cause a significant lowering of the funds you receive from what you see on the Steam page.
What It Takes To Make A Game Solo
sould storm image
If you plan on being a solo developer or in a small team, there are a ton of things you have to do that a developer typically wouldn’t be responsible for, especially if you don’t have the funds to outsource things like assets.
Even if you put aside the audio and visual elements, marketing is something that an entire team is dedicated to. Still, if you’re just starting out and don’t have a ton of funds or help, there are some things you can do to make sure your game gets eyes on it.
This mainly includes creating content for it and uploading things relating to your game on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and, most importantly, YouTube. This can include short clips from the game itself, summaries of the game, or even backstage scenes of how your game functions.
While a carefully crafted plan and ample funding increase your chances of seeing success, they’re by no means completely necessary; oftentimes, just releasing a game that you find fun can be picked up by people and start earning.
Checkout: Cashier Simulator, for example, is a relatively simple game made by a small studio consisting of people with no experience in game development, Nessie Games.
As Michelle from Nessie Games talks about in the Cashout Devlogs, the game had zero marketing done prior to its release. It didn’t have many wish lists either, and neither did it do anything groundbreakingly innovative; it was just a fun game that made people want to play it.
Yet, despite all that, the game made a whopping $2000+ on just release day. Just by the end of the first month, this number reached $30,000. Looking back, even games that completely changed the industry, such as Toby Fox’s Undertale, weren’t sure to be successful from a logical standpoint.
Yet, with just the game’s quality alone and a few lucky strokes, something Toby made himself without any proper programming know-how is now one of the most renowned RPGs of all time.
At Tech4Gamers, I work as a guides expert. My role involves writing about solving different gaming and tech-related topics that pique my interest and that I believe more people should know about. This position allows me to share my insights and discoveries with a broader audience, enriching their gaming experiences with the unique perspectives I bring.
Story Highlights
Crowsworn is a metroidvania very similar to Silksong.
Ever since its reveal four years ago, fans of Hollow Knight have been looking forward to it, and the game’s finally close to release.
While the game has many similarities, it features a darker world and an edgier aesthetic, as well as its own unique mechanics.
Hollow Knight was an amazing game, one which many fans, me included, were left saddened after finishing because there just wasn’t any other Metroidvania quite like it. While Silksong was on an indefinite production period and we knew nothing about when it’d come out, Mongoose Rodeo’s Crowsworn seemed to be the game to play until Silksong comes out.
Well, Silksong has already come out, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be playing Crowsworn anymore. It’s a grimmer and darker game than both HK and SS, one that’s inspired by games like Devil May Cry and Bloodborne. It earned over a million USD in its Kickstarter alone, and, after four full years, the full game’s finally coming out.
What Is Crowsworn?
I’ve been excited about Crowsworn since its demo came out. I couldn’t play it at the time, but having just finished Hollow Knight, I remember looking forward to the full release almost as much as I wanted Silksong to be out.
It’s a very similar game to Hollow Knight, not just in it being a metroidvania. It has similar hand-drawn sprites as HK, has fairly similar weapon mechanics, and if you’ve just finished playing Silksong, might just feel like a different game from the same franchise.
It’s Not Just A Silksong Clone
Crowsworn has spectacular visuals with its hand-drawn sprites (Image Credits – Mongoose Rodeo)
Of course, the similarities don’t mean it really is just a clone, though. Even if the hand-drawn animations look similar at first glance, the atmosphere and themes of the two games are very different: Crowsworn is a lot edgier.
Where you’ll find a ton of bugs in the HK and Silksong universes, there’s a stark lack of crows and ravens in Crowsworn, save for the character we control. Instead, you fight against horrid-looking, deformed creatures of flesh and filth — the latter term is even used to refer to them.
Even the items you get are different. You won’t find yourself donning the sewn-together faces of dead people on your body in Hollow Knight, nor would you be stabbing your palms and sacrificing your blood to get increased health. More than just a tad more gritty, I’d say.
The demo featured gorgeous animated cutscenes, and you can expect a lot more in the main game (Image Credits – Mongoose Rodeo)
The DMC and Bloodborne inspiration is very easy to see as well, especially with the focus on style and flashy moves. It features many similar mechanics, but overall, our corvid character has a multitude of unique spells at his disposal. Plus, he has a gun, one that can shoot demonic bullets.
The game even has very smooth, good-looking animated cutscenes that help with immersion, something that not a lot of Metroidvanias do nowadays.
Changes From The Demo
The game’s itemization has you equipping various dismembered parts (Image Credits – Mongoose Rodeo)
The demo went through most of the mechanics in a condensed one-hour playthrough. It introduced both the scythe and the gun weapons, showed some of the power-ups, and had two distinct bosses for you to fight.
We don’t really know what the main game will look like. The demo was more of a teaser; the developers will use no area from it in the main game. You can still expect the bosses and weapons to be there, just not everything you saw.
The trailer shows some of these newer things not seen in the demo, including a number of new abilities. It also shows a new choose-one-of-three option that makes you choose between tarot cards to gain buffs.
Crowsworn Release Date
Crowsworn splash art (Image Credits – Mongoose Rodeo)
It’s been a long time since the kickstarter, and two entire years have passed by since the last demo. Even Silksong came out last year, so do we know anything about when we can expect to play Crowsworn?
Well, not really. We don’t have an exact date, but the Xbox reveal trailer does mean that it’s just about ready to play. I’m pretty sure it’ll come out in 2026. Even if there’s a huge setback, I won’t expect it to be delayed any more than early 2027.
As a Senior Hardware Reviewer at Tech4Gamers with over a decade of hands-on experience, I dive deep into benchmarking GPUs, CPU coolers, and motherboards, pushing hardware to its limits. Passionate about overclocking and fine-tuning performance.
We’re taking a look at the brand-new Orico X50 Thunderbolt 5 storage solution, which has been shipped to us with 1 TB of capacity. It harnesses the blazing potential of Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. The Orico promises desktop-level performance in a compact, pocket-friendly aluminum chassis. The Thunderbolt can achieve a transfer rate of up to 80 Gbps, with read and write speeds that can soar to 6000 MB/s, which is typical for a PCI-Gen4x4 NVMe Storage solution. You can have the best of both worlds with this enclosure, keeping the sleek design while using it as a portable device with blazing-fast speeds.
Why Trust Tech4Gamers
Usman Sheikh is one of our most senior and experienced hardware reviewers. He loves spending hours (sometimes days) in his lab, testing and comparing different GPUs, CPUs, coolers, and more.
130+ peripherals tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
500+ hours spent testing different peripherals for our reviews.
At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.
We’ll check how it performs as compared to other storage solutions. The SSD is designed for Thunderbolt 5 but is also backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4 and USB4 ports. Orico X50 comes in different varieties. You can also get just the enclosure and install any NVMe Storage solution. Orico also offers built-in NVMe solutions with capacities up to 4 TB.
The Orico X50 uses the Thunderbolt 5 interface, the newest and fastest Thunderbolt standard available, offering a theoretical transfer rate of up to 6000 MB/s for both read and write speeds. Our version of the X50 comes with a pre-installed 1TB NVMe SSD, making it a ready-to-use portable Thunderbolt 5 SSD housed inside an aluminum alloy chassis. It delivers performance close to internal NVMe drives in a compact external SSD package.
Packaging
Let’s take a look at the packaging.
Outer (Front)
Outer (Back)
The product comes in a clean, blue-and-white retail box. The front of the box clearly highlights the key selling points: Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and read speeds up to 6000 MB/s. At the back of the box, the specifications, capacity, model, and dimensions are also listed. Our device comes with a capacity of 1TB.
Contents
Unboxing
Inside the packaging, the device is securely nestled in a thick custom-cut white foam insert. The external SSD itself is protected by a frosted plastic sleeve. No problems with the packaging whatsoever; the fit was right in the SSD, which is designed to withstand transit well. Inside the box, you will receive the high-speed data cable, a thick and robust Type-C to Type-C cable. The connector head features the ”80” logo, indicating this cable is rated for 80Gbps, which is a typical bandwidth for the Thunderbolt 5 interface. The documentation is also included. Also, one thing is missing: the hex driver in our packaging, which should have been included and would have allowed us to open and replace the NVMe.
Close Up
Let’s take a look at the storage.
Talking about the design first, the enclosure is made of aluminum alloy, with a matte, sandblasted silver finish that provides a Mac-friendly aesthetic that matches Apple devices. Since this device does not have any active cooling, the bottom is entirely a passive heat-sink, with deep grooves/fins visible there. The top surface features a black textured mesh that could also serve as ventilation to prevent heat buildup inside the chassis. The device profile features rounded corners and a flat overall profile, making it easy to slide into the pocket without snagging. On the storage’s side panel, the branding is prominent, displaying the Orico logo alongside the official Thunderbolt text.
oplus_288
Regarding its connectivity, the lightning bolt icon can also be seen near the Type-C port, indicating Thunderbolt connectivity.
Controller / Memory Overview
Orico X50 Thunderbolt has the vendor ID of (1E48H), which indicates that our device is utilizing the MAP1602 Controller from Maxio Technology, which is commonly used in the Gen4.0 NVMe SSD’s that we have previously reviewed on our website. This controller is widely known as one of the mainstream consumer controllers to support the NVMe 2.0 standard. Another important point to note here is that this SSD does not have any separate DRAM component on the NVMe; it uses HMB (Host Memory Buffer), which borrows a tiny bit of your system RAM to manage data. This controller can reach read and write speeds of up to 7400MB/s on the PCIGen4x4.
Orico X50 Thunderbolt 5 Controller
Methodology
How Do We Measure SSD Performance
We test NVMe Drives in a diverse range of software, including various real-world tests, gaming workloads, gaming loading times, synthetic benchmarks, and thermal tests.
What Tools Do We Test
We use 3DMark, PCMark 10, CrystalDiskMark, and DiskBench for our benchmarks and compare the results against those of other storage solutions.
Preparing The System
At the time of this review, we do not have an Intel platform available to test the full potential of Thunderbolt 5. Due to limitations of our AMD system, the drive operates over the USB4 interface, which is capped at 40Gbps. We fully formatted the storage to ensure no data remained on the drive, and we also made sure there was no background activity in the operating system to maintain a clean testing environment.
How Do We Test Thermals
We test the SSD thermals using the PC Mark 10 Drive Consistency Test for 10 minutes. This software writes a large amount of data. This is an extreme test, and regular users wouldn’t stress the device that way. We use HWINFO64 for the temperature reporting.
How Do We Test Loading Times
Storage devices have no effect on the FPS or frame times in games, but can be effective in reducing loading times. We have picked two titles, Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption II. We test their loading times in (seconds) immediately after the game is launched.
WARNING: ⚠️ We currently do not have an Intel platform to fully utilize the complete potential of Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. All of our tests will be conducted on our AM5 platform, where the SSD will operate via the USB4 port on the rear of our motherboard, enabling a data transfer rate of up to 40Gbps.
Real World Benchmarks
Let’s start from the Real World Benchmarks.
DiskBench
Starting with Disk bench, this program evaluates storage performance under real life performance conditions, we have made two runs here first copying the file and then reading the file. The test file set consists of 32GB of mixed data including random PSD and excel sheets.
DiskBench
1 of 2
Copy
Read
3DMark Storage Gaming
3DMark Storage gaming is a very valuable tool that concentrates on how storage impacts gaming performance. This benchmark software simulates loading and saving game files, installing and updating games, recording game-play footage, copying game folders, and launching and loading game levels.
3DMark Storage Gaming
1 of 3
Scores
Bandwidth
Latency
PCMark10 Storage Quick
PCMark10 Quick is also considered an important tool to test the performance of the storage devices. This tool focuses on how well your PC handles common daily tasks like browsing, video calls, software start-up time, and spreadsheet and word processing tasks. This benchmark writes 23GB of data on the SSD
PCMark10 Storage Quick
1 of 3
Scores
Bandwidth
Latency
PCMark10 Full Drive
This Full Drive benchmark is more intensive than the ”quick” we have previously tested, as it writes 204GB of data. This tool also measures the real-world performance of your storage device. It simulates booting the OS, launching Adobe applications like Premiere, Photoshop, and processing the data in the Microsoft Office application, copying and saving files, and testing loading levels in the games.
PCMark10 Full Drive
1 of 3
Scores
Bandwidth
Latency
Synthetic Benchmarks
Let’s take a look the RAW performance of the SSD.
Sequential
Sequentials Read & Write | Latency
1 of 2
Sequential Read & Write SEQ1 Q8T1
Sequential Read & Write Latency SEQ1 Q8T1
RND4K
Random 4K Read & Write | Latency
1 of 2
Random 4KiB Read & Write
Random 4KiB Latency
Gaming Benchmarks
Let’s head to the gaming section.
Opening and Loading Times
We have tested the gaming opening and loading times in Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption II.
Opening + Loading Times
1 of 2
Cyberpunk 2077
Red Dead Redemption II
Thermals
Let’s take a look at the thermals.
PCMark10 Consistency Test
Thermals
For the stress test, we have run the PCMark10 Consistency Test, which hammers the SSD by writing an enormous amount of data. We have run this tool for 11 minutes, and the SSD peaks at 56 °C overall while maintaining a temperature of 53 °C at 22 °C ambient room temperature.
Should You Buy It?
Buy It If
✅ If You Edit 4K/8K Video Or Work With Huge Project Files Often: Orico X50 Thunderbolt makes it much easier if you’re looking to back up your heavy project files, thanks to its blazing-fast bandwidth and pocket-friendly capacity.
✅ If You Have The Spare M.2 2280 NVMe SSD: Our Enclosure has built-in 1TB NVMe. Orico also has an empty enclosure that you can purchase if you want to repurpose it into a powerful external drive
Don’t Buy It If
❌ If Your System Does Not Support Thunderbolt 5 Connectivity: You will never reach the Thunderbolt 5’s full potential if your system does not have the support. If your motherboard supports USB4 or older Thunderbolt 3/4, performance may be significantly limited.
❌ If You Want The Storage For Casual Backup: If you just need something for the basic backups, photos, music, and video, a regular USB-C flash drive would be a better alternative, as Thunderbolt drives are usually very expensive.
Final Thoughts
Orico sent us their brand-new X50 Thunderbolt 5 device, a premium external storage solution designed for professionals. It is one of the fastest portable storage devices we have tested. However, our results may appear limited, as we were constrained by the USB4 interface bandwidth, which capped performance at 40 Gbps. In comparison, Thunderbolt 5 devices can reach up to 80 Gbps.
Despite this limitation, the drive delivered performance that rivaled Gen 4.0 NVMe SSDs. Orico offers multiple configurations for the X50, including a standalone enclosure for users who want to use their own NVMe drive as a portable solution. Our review unit came with a built-in capacity of 1TB.
If you are a content creator or a professional who needs fast and reliable access to data, this device could be an excellent fit. However, if you are looking for storage primarily for casual backups, it may be more than you actually need.
Performance:
In terms of performance, the Orico X50 performed really well despite its limited USB4 (40Gbps) speed, providing better performance than older PCI Gen3.0 NVMe drives and slower than Gen4.0 drives due to the interface limitation of USB4.0, as this SSD is designed to run at 80Gbps. In sequential benchmarks, it could make a big difference, but in real-world performance, it wouldn’t matter much, even if you use it just via USB4.
Gaming:
We experienced no issues with gaming load or launch times on the Orico X50. Cyberpunk 2077 loaded in just 40 seconds, including launching the game from the launcher. However, Red Dead Redemption 2 took slightly longer, loading in around 101 seconds. Compared to the other NVMe drives in our system, the Orico X50 performed exceptionally well.
Value:
Thunderbolt 5 Enclosures are expensive because they’re designed for professional workflows, whether you’re editing 4K/8K video or doing heavy photo processing. As of writing this review, the 1TB costs around $260 USD, the 2TB costs $500 USD, and the case costs around $180 USD. Surprisingly, compared with other Thunderbolt 5 devices, the X50 is one of the most affordable options on the market; however, you might want to skip this storage if you’re a budget user or looking for an external device for casual backup.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
Story Highlight
Expedition 33’s soundtrack has been hailed as one of the best in gaming.
It is now topping charts and occupies the top position in multiple countries.
It’s even above the recent Grammy winner, Bad Bunny, in the Physical Charts.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is just fresh from its 495th Game of the Year award, winning the accolade at the DICE Awards. Its success isn’t just tied to the awesome gameplay and story, but also the outstanding original soundtrack.
Laced Records’ Expedition 33 soundtrack has become the first-ever game soundtrack to reach number 1 on the official Independent Album Charts in the UK and across several different countries. In Physical Charts, it’s even above Bad Bunny.
Why it matters: It is rare that a game’s soundtrack resonates so highly with the people that it reaches a massive global audience. Laced Records has done a brilliant job, and this is a proud moment for the title.
Expedition 33 soundtrack is topping the music charts in multiple regions
These stats are never-before-seen for a video game soundtrack. It currently occupies:
No. 1 Independent Albums Chart
No.1 Official Scottish Albums Chart (Official Albums Chart UK)
No.1 Physical Albums Chart (France, UK)
No.1 Soundtrack Albums Chart (UK)
No.1 Vinyl Albums Chart (France, UK)
No.2 Official Albums Chart Top 200 France
No.2 Official Albums Chart Top 100 Germany
No.2 Soundtrack Albums Chart (Germany)
No.16 Official Albums Chart Top 100
This puts the album in various categories above massive names like Djo, Hayley Williams, and, most importantly, Bad Bunny. The latter just headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show, won multiple Grammys for his album DtMF.
It features some of the best music ever in games
Since the launch, the soundtrack has hailed for being brilliant. It takes the game’s environment to a new high, and is arguably one of the biggest reasons that the story hits so hard.
Nonetheless, this is nothing short of a huge achievement for Laced Records. Expedition 33 also added 6 new songs, which are as great as the already existing ones, as is apparent from the charts.
What are your thoughts on the Expedition 33 soundtrack topping the charts? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
