Gaming

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree review: Game of the year again?

Back with new challenges

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Since the launch of Elden Ring in 2022, the gaming industry started a love affair with Soulslike difficulty. From the cutesy stylings of Another Crab’s Treasure to the bodacious Stellar Blade, it’s a great time for those who prefer working for their victories. But, of course, nothing beats the king. FromSoftware is back with Elden Ring’s first DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree.

After beating the Lord of Blood, the Tarnished find themselves transported to the Land of Shadow. Kindly Miquella has invited several people from the Lands Between to follow in his footsteps. In what can only be described as a perilous Stations of the Cross, players must fight tooth and nail to figure out what happened to the missing demigod. Naturally, as is always the case with FromSoftware, things are not what they seem.

A little bit of everything

Shadow of the Erdtree’s map slots nicely into the space within the original game’s map. Imagine a crescent moon. While the lit part represents the main game, the DLC is the dark part (or, quite literally, the shadow of the Erdtree).

The DLC costs quite a bit for just an addition to an already packed game. However, its sheer size makes the cost of entry more than worth it.

It also helps that the DLC has a little bit of everything you loved from the main game. Forces associated with all the demigods are converging around the area. Magic-wielding Carians, finger monsters, dragons, new weapons. It’s a veritable who’s who of the Lands Between.

Then again, it also has the things you might have hated. Scarlet rot, losing the boss because of the camera, platforming challenges that require a ballerina’s finesse. There are a lot of things that can make you pull your hair out. Then again, that’s part of the charm.

If you want to rekindle your love (or hatred) for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree is a must-have.

Some jolly cooperation

Besides bringing back elements from the main game, Shadow of the Erdtree comes with FromSoftware’s iconic level design. Segments connect so seamlessly. In one moment, you could be riding through a vast landscape on Torrent. In the next, you’re already knee-deep inside a dungeon. The DLC resurrects that brilliant feeling of getting lost.

Yes, getting lost isn’t the best feeling. However, almost every diverging path ends in a well-deserved reward. Oh yeah, and tough boss fights.

Being a tough game, the title makes cooperation even more important. While a lot of them still troll others, a lot of player messages help others by telling them of secret passages, unseen ambushes, and preferable battle tactics. Personally, I’ve also been chatting with friends about their experiences with bosses. It’s satisfying to know that you’re not the only one subjecting yourself to such masochism.

FromSoftware knows how to make boss fights challenging but fair. Plus, even in those moments where victory seems impossible, the game relies on its wide fanbase to create that feeling of a shared experience.

A few technical difficulties

That said, there are a few segments that are poorly optimized for modern systems. Framerates will drop unexpectedly. In a tough game like this, a few missed frames can spell disaster during a tense boss fight.

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, FromSoftware has not released a significant optimization patch to solve the issues. Bandai Namco has only issued statements asking players to turn off third-party software which might be hogging resources away from the game.

Additionally, a few boss fights don’t feel fair. One example is a knight riding a large boar. The fight starts off with the boss immediately charging at the player with a move almost impossible to dodge. It’s a battle that almost requires you to use up one health item right off the bat. Thankfully, FromSoftware has just issued a patch that changes the boss’ positioning. It means that the studio is willing to listen to its players, and it also means that the issues presented in this section might not even apply to a patched game months after this review.

Plunge into Elden Ring again

Shadow of the Erdtree is more than just a DLC for Elden Ring. Essentially, it’s an entirely new world to explore. It’s filled with new enemies, weapons, challenges, and frustrations. If you’re a fan of FromSoftware, you’d know that their DLCs always hit. If you’re only familiar with Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree offers more of the same, but that’s all you’ll need from a FromSoftware game. The DLC is well worth the purchase.

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Gaming

AMD FSR Upscaling 4.1 now available for Radeon RX 7000 Series

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

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June 24, 2026

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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.

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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

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June 24, 2026

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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.

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Gaming

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

New Zephyrus laptops arrive

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June 24, 2026

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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.

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