Gaming

This year’s ASUS ROG laptops are here

Also featuring TUF Gaming and new gaming desktops

Published

May 29, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

For a brief moment this month, the new ASUS Gaming lineup took over the brand’s spotlight for gamers. Of course, though the brand-new lineup has successfully carved a niche for itself, it’s a prelude to the main event: the launch of this year’s ROG and TUF notebooks.

This week, ASUS has officially announced new ROG and TUF laptops and desktops with the RTX 5000 series.

The next evolution of ROG Strix

A lot of gaming notebooks these days are going for subdued designs. Rather than the sharp and edgy form factors of yesteryear, today’s zeitgeist involves designs that can fit comfortably in more professional settings. All that goes out the window with the new ROG Strix SCAR and Strix G lineups.

Loud and proud to be a gamer, the lineup boasts the brand’s AniMe Vision, a strip of dot-matrix lights that can be customized to show off any message or graphic you program it to do. It also comes with a full-surround RGB lighting to give the illusion that the notebook is floating.

In front, the family comes with a ROG Nebula HDR display. The screen has a dual-layer ACR film that can reduce reflections by 55 percent and boost contrast by 4.5 times.

Under the hood, all the different models in the series can ship with up to the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. Meanwhile, most variants can come with the next-gen Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX. As an exception, the AMD-built Strix G16 features the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX processor.

The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 can wield up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage. Meanwhile, the Strix G16 and G18 comes with up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage.

Further, the new lineup comes with the brand’s first tool-less bottom panel, allowing for easy tinkering and upgrading.

The ROG Zephyrus is back with more improvements

If you’re a fan of the more subdued designs, the new ROG Zephyrus duo exudes both its gaming DNA and a sense of elegance. It has a premium CNC-machined aluminum chassis and a Slash Lighting array.

Though the new series is designed to be thin for portability, it still made improvements to its cooling system. With an improved heat pipe design and new Arc Flow fans, the laptops can last longer even under intense loads.

Both models come with the ROG Nebula Display. However, the Zephyrus G14 puts out 3K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, while the G16 comes with 2.5K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate.

Inside, the Zephyrus G14 wields a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and up to an RTX 5070 GPU. The Zephyrus G16 comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU.

TUF Gaming gets a modest upgrade

Once again, the TUF Gaming lineup brings out ASUS’s capabilities in bringing premium gaming performance and robust durability into one package. The TUF Gaming F16 comes with up to the Intel Core i7-14650HX, 16GB RAM, up to 1TB of SSD storage, and up to the GeForce RTX 5070.

It also comes with a 16-inch WQXGA 165Hz display. It’s only 1.79cm thin and 2.2kg light. Finally, it has a sizable 90Whr battery.

New gaming desktops in the market

Besides notebooks, ASUS also launched new gaming desktops for more robust gamers. The new ROG G700 comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF chipset and up to a GeForce RTX 5080 GPU.

It’s built with the ASUS B860 motherboard for better durability. Additionally, much like the ROG notebooks, the ROG G700 has tool-less upgradeability so you can keep gaming for years to come.

Meanwhile, the TUF Gaming T500 is a gaming beast hiding in a tiny package. It comes with an Intel Core i7-13620H, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD storage, and the GeForce RTX 5060 or 5060 Ti.

Price, availability

The ROG Strix SCAR 18 costs PhP 359,995. It comes bundled with an ROG Gladius III Mouse, an ROG backpack, 3 months of Game Pass, and a warranty package.

The Strix SCAR 16, which comes with the same bundle, will sell for PhP 259,995.

Meanwhile, the Strix G16 starts at PhP 134,995. The Strix G18 sells for PhP 209,995.

At a slightly lower price, the Zephyrus G14 starts at PhP 159,995, while the Zephyrus G16 starts at PhP 199,995.

The new TUF Gaming F16 starts at PhP 99,995.

For desktops, the ROG G700 starts at PhP 179,995, and the TUF Gaming T500 will reveal more information later in June.

Gaming

SEGA/ATLUS, animate launch year-long collaboration featuring popular IPs

Fairs, live music events, more to be held, featuring globally-renowned SEGA group franchises

Published

May 11, 2026

GadgetMatch

SEGA/ATLUS and animate have officially announced a massive, year-long global partnership. This shall bring the gaming giant’s most iconic franchises to over 140 retail locations worldwide.

Marking the first cross-regional collaboration of its scale for both companies, the project is set to feature a rotating lineup of eight major IPs from the SEGA Group.

This includes titles from group companies like ATLUS and Rovio Entertainment. The featured franchises will be rolled out in phases.

The initiative kicks off in June 2026 with Sonic the Hedgehog taking center stage. Then, it will be followed by PUYOPUYO, HATSUNE MIKU: COLORFUL STAGE!, the Persona series, and the highly anticipated Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Moreover, the schedule continues through early 2027 with spotlight events for Yakuza / Like a Dragon, Angry Birds, and the classic Sakura Wars.

The project includes animate stores both in Japan and overseas (including locations in China, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.).

Fans visiting will experience a mix of limited-time exhibitions, exclusive merchandise, hands-on gameplay sessions, and “Cafe Gratte” collaborations.

The massive partnership is part of SEGA’s “Transmedia Strategy” which aims to expand its IPs beyond the digital screen and into the daily lives of fans.

Leveraging animate’s extensive retail network definitely creates an immersive experience for fans of different franchises under SEGA.

The festivities begin June 6, 2026, with the Sonic “Only Shop” and Fair. Fans are encouraged to check local animate listings for specific event dates and regional availability.

For the full schedule, including dates, locations, and activities involved, visit this microsite.

Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.

Gaming

Resident Evil Requiem’s LEON MUST DIE FOREVER update out now

Free minigame added as extra mode after completing Requiem

Published

May 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

Capcom has officially released the action-packed “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” DLC for Resident Evil Requiem.

The free minigame is now available on the fastest-selling entry in the franchise’s history as an update across various platforms. This includes PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Unlocked as an extra mode after completing the main story, “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” puts players back in the shoes of legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy.

The mode emphasizes nonstop combat action, with players fighting their way through areas they’ve previously visited throughout the game.

They will then have to defeat the final boss, all with stronger enemy variants, and five difficulty ranks, in a race against the clock.

To keep the experience fresh, each run features randomized area progressions and “enhancer abilities” that Leon can unlock by filling an enhancement gauge.

Players can also hunt down the golden spider to earn more time. Plus, successful runs allow fans to unlock a variety of new costumes for Leon, including the “Wolf Mode” and “Turbo GT” outfits.

Watch the trailer for more insight:

Alongside the gameplay content, Capcom has released a series of technical updates, including bug fixes and PC support for the DualSense wireless controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

In addition, all new “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” merch, including t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirt, and hoodies, is now available on Amazon.

As Capcom continues to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, fans can expect even more updates for the title later this year.