Gaming
ROG completes gaming lineup with Strix Scar 17 SE, Flow X16
ASUS ROG’s Strix Scar 17 Special Edition (SE) and Flow X16 gaming laptops are now finally available in the Philippines.
The two models complete ROG’s gaming laptop roster this year, and both can be bought starting September 2022 at official ASUS and ROG concept stores and select retailers nationwide.
Strix Scar 17 SE: Peerless performance
The Strix Scar 17 SE is all about powerful performance, as it runs on the latest Intel Core i9-12950HX processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti graphics. It has up to a 16GB GDDR6 memory and 2TB PCIE4 SSD storage.
It has a 17-inch WQHD display with Dolby Vision, Adaptive Sync, and a refresh rate of 240Hz.
The Strix Scar 17 SE will retail for the following prices:
- PhP 204,995 for the 8GB + 2TB
- PhP 249,995 for the 16GB + 2TB
The following freebies will be included for every purchase:
- ROG backpack
- ROG Chakram Core gaming mouse
- Type-C PD adapter
- MS Office
Flow X16: Versatile and powerful
On the other hand, the touchscreen Flow X16 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS processor with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics.
Its versatility comes from the 360-degree hinge, allowing users to switch from different modes such as tent and tablet modes, depending on how they’re using the device.
What’s unique about the Flow X16 is its ROG Nebula display, which is a feature available only to a few ROG gaming laptops for now. It is a 16-inch QHD Mini LED HDR display with up to a 165Hz refresh rate.
The laptop also supports XG Mobile external GPUs up to the latest AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT graphics.
The Flow X16 will retail for PhP 164,995 and will be bundled with the following giveaways:
- ROG Impact gaming mouse
- ASUS pen
- Type-C PD Adapter
- MS Office
Gaming
Nintendo might be working on an Ocarina of Time remake
It will reportedly launch in the second half of 2026.
What is the greatest game of all time? There’s a substantial chance that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be on the board. Even beside the Switch’s critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild duology, the Nintendo 64 title is one of the most quintessential games you can ever play. That said, it’s pretty dated. But maybe, not for long.
According to Nintendo insider NatetheHate, the company is working on a rerelease of Ocarina of Time. The title is scheduled for launch within the second half of 2026.
The wording is important here. “Rerelease” can mean anything. To be fair, NatetheHate, through his latest podcast, says that it’s likely we’ll get either a like-for-like remake or a full reimagining of the essential game. However, he does not discount the possibility that it’s just an HD remaster for the new consoles. Either way, Ocarina of Time is coming back this year.
If you can’t wait, the title isn’t exactly missing from the shelves. You can play the original from the list of available games through Nintendo Switch Online. The game also got a remaster for the 3DS.
There is no shortage of Zelda-related news lately. The franchise is getting a live-action adaptation next year, which now becomes a worthy follow-up to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming early next month.
SEE ALSO: The Legend of Zelda film gets its first official photos
Gaming
Life is Strange: Reunion now available on consoles and PC
Max and Chloe return for an emotional finale
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have officially launched Life is Strange: Reunion, the latest entry in the narrative adventure series. Developed by Deck Nine Games, the title is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. A physical PlayStation 5 edition is also available across Southeast Asia.
The launch comes with an official trailer, marking the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved storylines.
A long-awaited reunion
Set 11 years after the original events, Life is Strange: Reunion brings back Max Caulfield and Chloe Price as they reunite to solve a new timeline-spanning mystery. This time, the stakes center on a devastating inferno threatening Caledon University–Max’s workplace as a photography teacher.
Returning from a trip, Max discovers the campus engulfed in flames, with lives lost across the university. She survives only by using her Rewind ability, a power that allows her to reverse time.
The situation takes an unexpected turn with Chloe’s sudden arrival–an outcome tied to the timeline-merging events of Life is Strange: Double Exposure. Now dealing with fractured memories and an unstable sense of reality, Chloe once again finds herself relying on Max.
Dual perspectives, new gameplay dynamics
For the first time in the series, players can take control of both Max and Chloe, switching perspectives as the story unfolds.
Max’s Rewind power lets players revisit decisions, reshape conversations, and manipulate environments to solve complex, time-based puzzles. Meanwhile, Chloe brings her signature Backtalk ability, allowing her to push conversations in her favor and access situations Max cannot.
This dual-character approach expands both narrative depth and gameplay variety, offering different ways to uncover clues and influence outcomes.
A character-driven finale
Life is Strange: Reunion continues the series’ focus on grounded, emotional storytelling, with choices that carry meaningful consequences. The game builds toward a dramatic climax that aims to close out Max and Chloe’s journey.
As the final chapter in their story, Reunion positions itself as both a continuation and a conclusion–tying together years of narrative threads while delivering a new mystery shaped by time, loss, and choice.
Gaming
Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical
Physical releases will have the same price.
The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.
Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.
The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.
The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.
To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.
Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.
SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States
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