Gaming

Everything you need for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beta testing

Omnimovement system, available maps, adjustments, essential information, more

Published

August 30, 2024

Manila Connoisseur

In just a few hours, the first open beta weekend for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will finally happen. This will give players the first crack at the Omnimovement system, some of the title’s 16 maps, and other innovations, before the game officially releases in October.

At the 2024 Call of Duty: NEXT, the showcase unveiled tons of vital information on the first person shooter. That includes the game’s global gameplay systems, multiplayer maps, and more on the spy action thriller series.

We have compiled some of the most essential key points from the showcase, with focus on Black Ops 6 to get you prepared as best as possible ahead of the Beta testing.

Here are the highlights:

Omnimovement

Set to be a game changer across the genre, Omnimovement immediately allows the player to move like never before. The system is designed for players of all skill levels. They’re likewise encouraged to learn how to take advantage of it before the Beta.

At its most basic level, Omnimovement allows players to Sprint, Slide, and Dive in any direction. That includes shooting targets while sliding or diving forward, sideways, or backwards.

Moreover, the system will allow a 180-Degree Combat Dive. This allows players to sprint towards the edge of a building and then dive from there. They may also quickly rotate while mid-air to face an enemy.

Furthermore, Combat Supine and Combat Slide and Dive will give players more advantages to maneuver and quickly aim and fire against enemies while in prone position or while sliding and diving.

In addition to Omnimovement, Black Ops 6 will introduce Intelligent Movement. This will be available for both keyboard and mouse or controller options. Under Movement, players may adjust a slew of features to tailor-fit how their operators traverse the landscape.

Treyarch and Raven has also streamlined the Loadout navigational experience. And with the Global Weapons Build, players’ Black Ops 6 weapons creations can be shared across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone.

Black Ops 6 Multiplayer maps

As announced before, Black Ops 6 will feature 16 maps. All the launch maps are small to medium-sized maps with traditional three-lane routes. They have all been meticulously designed to fully realize the signature COD: BO6 experience.

The maps are split into two main categories: 12 brand-new Core 6v6 maps and four brand-new compact sized Strike maps. These four maps are designed to be played in either Face Off 6v6 or 2v2 configurations.

Five of the core maps, including Derelict and Babylon, will be playable at the Beta testing. Strike maps Gala and Pit will likewise be accessible from the first Beta weekend.

For a full breakdown of all 16 maps, visit the Call of Duty: NEXT blog about them here.

Multiplayer modes

Multiplayer modes include the new Kill Order in which two teams are pitted against each other in a 6v6 respawn mode. Each team has a High Value Target, or HTV at any given time.

Teams score points for all eliminations, but the main focus is defeating the enemy’s HTV. This is equivalent to the largest number of points.

Of course, part of your team’s goals is to keep your own HTV alive as well while trying to eliminate the opposing one.

Other modes announced at Call of Duty NEXT are:

Team Deathmatch
Domination
Hardpoint
Face Off
Gunfight

Gunfight is a 2v2 mode that takes place specifically on Strike maps. This single-life mode requires teams to eliminate the other or capture the zone in the center of the map when it appears.

Each player will have the same exact Loadout as each other during a round. These Loadouts will randomize every round. Players will continue to battle until one team reaches the number of wins required.

Multiplayer gameplay overview

Speaking of Black Ops 6’s multiplayer maps, a few enhancements and adjustments have been made.

The Time To Kill, for instance, has been refined to synergize with Omnimovement and to put focus on weapon balance, including the 12 brand new weapons at launch.

The Beta is also a great place to try the flexibility of Heads Up Display (HUD). Players may try out a few visual examples in preparation for a full complement at launch. They may choose Presets to suit they style of play, as well as a variety of Interface Elements Colors and Settings.

Thanks to Omnimovement as well, Slide Cancelling is available to try during the two Beta weekends.

For an extra layer of protection, Body Shield lets players double-tap the Melee button to grab enemies and use them as, well, a shield. Drop them afterwards before they expire.

Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta: Are you ready?

Before dropping into the Multiplayer Beta, players will partake in the ins and outs of the new Omnimovement system through a Training Course led by Frank Woods. This takes place in the windswept island called Protocol. The skills learned here should get players in top form for the battles ahead.

Before doing anything further, players are also urged to equip their favorite Vault Edition Operator. That’s either Adler or Park from the Rogue Black Ops Faction or Brutus or Klaus from the Crimson One Faction. They can all be accessed from the Operators menu.

Then when you hit Level 4, you’ll unlock Custom Loadout Classes. This shall allow you to equip your Vault Edition weapons, as well as any other unlocked weapon available in the Beta.

Several guides are also available via the Call of Duty website:

Movement guide
Controls and Settings guide
Multiplayer: How to Play guide
Weapons and Loadouts guide

Black Ops 6 Beta testing schedule

Those who have preordered the game across all platforms and Game Pass subscribers may take part in the first Beta weekend. It is scheduled from August 31 at 1:00 AM (GMT+8) to September 5 at 1:00 AM (GMT+8).

Meanwhile, the second weekend is an Open Beta test for all, regardless of their preorder status. It will begin on September 7 at 1:00 AM (GMT+8) and will end on September 10 at 1:00 AM (GMT+8).

Related Topics:Activision Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Call of Duty: NEXT Call of Duty: Warzone Treyarch and Raven

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.

Gaming

Steam Machine was supposed to be much, much cheaper

Was the price increase justified?

Published

June 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The Steam Machine is the most anticipated gaming device this year. Valve’s upcoming machine aims to deliver a PC gaming experience in a convenient package. Today, the price of the Steam Machine was finally unveiled, and it’s a doozy. But did you know that it was supposed to be much, much cheaper?

Now, we already know that the Steam Machine was cheaper before, but we didn’t really know how much cheaper. Speaking to IGN, Valve essentially confirmed the Machine followed the same price hikes as the Steam Deck, which experienced an increase of over US$ 200.

After doing a bit of algebra, it can be assumed that the Steam Machine was supposed to start at around US$ 750. That’s a huge jump, considering that the more expensive variant currently costs almost US$ 1,500, almost double the price of the original.

Unfortunately, that’s just how the industry works these days. Because of the ongoing RAM crisis, several manufacturers have already confirmed price hikes happening throughout the year. Apple, most recently, announced that price increases might come soon because of the untenability of shouldering the costs themselves.

It gets worse for the Machine, though. Despite being expensive, the price tag doesn’t really reflect the specs you’re getting. You can certainly grab a gaming laptop with better specs for around the same (or even a smaller) price tag, especially considering that Valve’s console-but-not-really-a-console doesn’t come with peripherals yet.

Gaming

Epic Games Launcher is getting a huge update to make it faster

The update will also add customizable profiles and user reviews.

Published

June 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Admit it; you probably have a hoard of free games languishing on the Epic Games Store. Though it’s nice that Epic gives away games every week, the overall inconvenience of using the platform sadly outweighs the freebies. Now, the company is finally redesigning the app from the ground up with a distinct focus on making it much faster.

Earlier this year, Epic admitted that “the launcher sucks.” Though the company cited a number of reasons, the number one culprit is certainly speed. Compared to its contemporaries (especially Steam), the Epic Games Launcher leaves much to be desired. The platform just doesn’t let users into their games as quickly as Steam does.

During the recent Unreal Fest, Epic, via @LuKaOnIndeed on X, confirmed that the entire launcher will be rebuilt to be “5x to 6.5x faster.”

The performance improvements will come with other new features including player profiles and user written reviews. Epic’s vision of the future looks completely different from how the launcher is today.

Though the company doesn’t have a definite timeline right now, Epic promises that the updates will come later this summer.

It does remain to be seen whether these updates will change anything about how users perceive the platform. For the longest time, gamers consider Steam as the platform of choice. Some users even repurchase their Epic games (sometimes obtained for free) on Steam just to have it on the platform they prefer.