Gaming

Elden Ring Nightreign is extremely difficult

But every run is more fun than the last

Published

May 28, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

FromSoftware is often infamous for creating incredibly difficult games. Despite the inherent difficulty, there is often an easier way to tackle the games’ seemingly insurmountable challenges. For example, in Dark Soul, Bloodborne and Elden Ring, players can grind easier areas to level up their characters and weapons. That same loophole doesn’t exist in the new Elden Ring Nightreign, which makes it one of the hardest games ever spawned from FromSoftware’s studios.

Elden Ring Nightreign is naturally inspired by the critically acclaimed game of the same name. It’s not a direct sequel to the events of Elden Ring, though. Gameplay wise, it’s something completely different, too.

It’s FromSoftware’s first attempt at a roguelike. Players begin every round at level one and a base kit of weapons. In teams of three or on their own, players must fight enemies and minibosses across a smaller map called Limveld. After a period of time, the map contracts and turns into an arena for a much bigger boss. If the team gets through this, the map refreshes, and the grind begins again. After two rounds, all players are transported to a final battle with an incredibly powerful Nightlord.

Is this FromSoftware’s hardest game?

Though expeditions will grant players a few Relics afterwards regardless of success, starting off at square one is a huge hurdle. It will take more than a few unsuccessful runs to get the hang of the game’s mechanics and enemies. Plus, since the two cycles are a huge slog, getting to the Nightlord just to practice is another challenge in itself.

The game relies a lot on luck: getting a favorable map, powerful drops, and even agreeable teammates. Chances are that your first few hours in this game are all about finding a good rhythm and figuring out which combinations of elements are most agreeable to your playstyle.

If you want to go at it solo, Elden Ring Nightreign is not a game well suited for singleplayer, except for the most skilled of players. A good number of bosses are built for team dynamics. For example, an early game boss involves two demihumans with the additional ability to summon more minions to the battlefield.

Mechanically speaking, Sekiro is still the hardest FromSoftware game because of how much it relies on pure player skill. However, because of the added roguelike elements and sheer luck, Nightreign might be the hardest one overall.

Appropriately paced for its difficulty

Extreme difficulty is often a factor that prevents players from falling in love with a game. Even now, my own runs can sometimes end in frustration. A saving grace, however, is how long a run usually lasts. A single day is around 15 minutes long. With two days (and three boss fights which can take a good length of time to finish), a completed expedition is around 45 minutes long.

Traversal is also much easier with a new climbing mechanic and new spirit springs. It doesn’t take long before figuring out a route and getting the action going.

The length is designed perfectly to capture my attention without sinking me into a pit of despair. Regardless of whether my run ends in 15 or 45 minutes, I always feel a pull to enter back into the fray. I don’t foresee that the game will regularly tempt me to play for hours on end, but I do see myself picking it up every day for a few runs. It’s the perfect game for both casual fans who don’t have a lot of time and for hardcore fans who can dedicate hours into playing the game well into the night.

Supports a variety of playstyles

In the original Elden Ring, starting classes are usually just templates for the very early game. The game allows players to level up any attributes they choose. Even a faith-based priest can turn into a strength-based warrior by the end of the game. Nightreign does not offer this flexibility. Classes are strictly limited to the skills and attributes they’re built with.

However, the lack of flexibility actually makes Nightreign much easier to understand than the original game. Everything feels more streamlined. You don’t need to think about which attributes work best with your character. Leveling up the Recluse, for example, will always prioritize intelligence, rather than strength.

Every playable class is perfectly attuned to what it’s good at. It has the jack-of-all-trades Wylder, the hardy tank Guardian, the archer Ironeye, the glass cannon Executor, the dexterity-based Duchess, the DPS tank Raider, the magic-wielding Recluse, and the summoner Revenant.

And it doesn’t shoehorn you into archetypes, either. Usually, I prefer strength-based characters, but the intelligence-based magic wielders are also fun and easy to play. Some, like the Revenant, do need more skill, but the game doesn’t bar you from trying them out for yourself.

Is Elden Ring Nightreign your GameMatch?

Elden Ring Nightreign is remarkably tough. Even as a fan of FromSoftware games, I constantly find myself on the edge of frustration.

However, Nightreign’s more streamlined approach actually makes for a fun ride. Instead of wallowing in anger, it has me looking forward to every succeeding run, either to try a new character or just to get another crack at beating the Nightlord. Though it’s not the usual FromSoftware formula, the studio hit another goldmine.

Gaming

AMD FSR Upscaling 4.1 now available for Radeon RX 7000 Series

Update drops earlier than expected, powering more than 300 supported games

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

PC and handheld gamers can officially skip the wait, as AMD has launched its FSR 4.1 upscaling technology for Radeon RX 7000 series (RDNA 3) GPUs.

Computing and Graphics Group Senior Vice President and GM Jack Huynh made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter). This development brings machine learning powered gaming to millions of players across more than 300 games.

By downloading the latest AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.6.2 driver, users can unlock the new AI upscaling suite on existing RX 7000 series desktop graphics cards.

(The driver can be downloaded here.)

The update drastically sharpens image reconstruction, delivers far superior temporal stability, and keeps motion ghosting to an absolute minimum. That’s across a massive library of supported titles.

Beyond optimized frame rates out of the gate for those two blockbusters, the release packs vital architecture stability improvements and bug fixes for the broader Radeon ecosystem.

Huynh added that AMD is actively engineering lightweight machine learning models to expand FSR 4.1 optimizations to a wider base of gamers. More details are to come.

Moreover, the driver for the FSR 4.1 upscaling technology will deliver day-one support for two highly anticipated releases: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations.

if you are wielding an RDNA 3 desktop rig or an RDNA 3-powered handheld, like the ROG Ally X or Lenovo Legion GO, simply open up the AMD Software suite, get the update, and test the new AI tech.

Gaming

GTA VI: New images unveiled as pre-order details, price finally announced

Highly-anticipated title to launch on November 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

Grand Theft Auto VI finally has a price. The highly-anticipated upcoming installment in the series is set to launch on November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Pre-orders will begin on midnight, June 25. Available versions are the Standard Edition at US$ 79.99 and the Ultimate Edition at US$ 99.99.

The Ultimate Edition amplifies the single player experience with an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story.

Here are some newly-released exclusive images:

Alongside the Standard and Ultimate Editions, all Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders and purchases before November 20 will also get the Vintage Vice City Pack.

This is a collection of items that flash back to when the neon burned brightest:

Players who pre-order digital versions of GTA VI will be able to begin pre-loading on November 12. This is to ensure they are able to play at launch on November 19.

The physical version, which contains a download code inside the box, will be available starting November 12 as well to support pre-loading.

Gaming

ASUS brings 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo, G16, and G14 to the Philippines

New Zephyrus laptops arrive

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

ASUS Republic of Gamers has announced the Philippine availability and pricing of its 2026 ROG Zephyrus lineup.

Headlining the range is the new ROG Zephyrus Duo, joined by refreshed versions of the Zephyrus G16 and Zephyrus G14. The latest models feature Intel Core Ultra processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs, upgraded cooling systems, and ROG Nebula HDR OLED displays.

The lineup is available through authorized retailers starting June 24, 2026.

ROG Zephyrus Duo introduces dual-screen gaming

The 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo (GX651AX) is billed as the world’s first 16-inch dual-screen gaming laptop.

It features two 16-inch 16:10 touch displays with 120Hz refresh rates. Together, they provide up to 32 inches of combined screen space for multitasking, content creation, streaming, and gaming.

The primary display is a 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with up to 1,100 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision HDR support, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color coverage.

A new 320-degree kickstand hinge enables multiple usage modes, including Laptop Mode, Dual-Screen Mode, Book Mode, Tent Mode, and Sharing Mode. ASUS ScreenXpert software manages display layouts and transitions between modes.

Powering the device are an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 64GB LPDDR5X memory, and 2TB SSD storage.

ROG Zephyrus Duo price in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus Duo GX651AX-SR071WSM (RTX 5090, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 559,995

The laptop comes bundled with an ASUS Pen 3.0, ROG Universal Backpack, ROG Gladius III Gaming Mouse, and ASUS warranty package.

ROG Zephyrus G16 gets RTX 5090 option

The refreshed ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU606) retains its slim aluminum chassis, measuring 1.49cm thick and weighing 1.85kg.

Configurations include up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with up to 160W TGP. ASUS says the laptop supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation technologies.

The 16-inch display uses a 2.5K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification, and NVIDIA G-SYNC support.

Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours of video playback, while ROG Intelligent Cooling combines Tri-Fan Technology, liquid metal, and expanded ventilation for sustained performance.

ROG Zephyrus G16 prices in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AR-TB061WSM (RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 289,995
ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AX-TB084WSM (RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 429,995

Both variants include an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

ROG Zephyrus G14 focuses on portability

The ROG Zephyrus G14 (GU405) continues to target gamers who want a more compact machine.

It measures 1.59cm thin and weighs 1.5kg. Despite its size, ASUS equips the laptop with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with up to 130W TGP.

The device sports a 14-inch 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-SYNC support, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification.

ASUS also redesigned the thermal system with thicker heat pipes, additional copper fins, and improved ventilation to boost cooling performance.

ROG Zephyrus G14 prices in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AP-SY057WSM (RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 224,995
ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AW-SY069WSM (RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 324,995

Each model ships with an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

Warranty and launch promos

All 2026 ROG Zephyrus laptops sold locally come with ASUS’ No. 1 Quality & Service Program. This includes a three-year international and local warranty, one-year accidental damage protection, and Premium Care support.

Buyers also receive a gaming mouse, three months of PC Game Pass, an Office 2024 lifetime license, one year of Microsoft 365 Basic with 100GB cloud storage, and up to 700GB of ASUS Cloud Storage.

Meanwhile, the new ROG Slash Collection 4.0 accessories, including the Slash Backpack 4.0 and Slash Sling Bag 4.0, will arrive in select ROG stores starting July 2026.