Gaming

FFVII Rebirth PC on ROG Ally

Enjoyable on the small screen?

Published

January 22, 2025

When Final Fantasy VII Rebirth PC was first announced, the clamors were more for the ability to finally see Cloud, Tifa and the rest of the crew in “better graphics.” But not everyone has the type of PC that can run the game with the best visuals possible. Some players these days also only play on gaming handhelds. This quick play test is for those people as we played FFVII Rebirth PC on the ROG Ally.

Yes, just the ROG Ally and not its half-step upgrade, the ROG Ally X. As a first generation device, we feel the ROG Ally is a good baseline to start with.

Is FFVII Rebirth PC handheld compatible?

The official Final Fantasy VII account across multiple social platforms have already announced that Rebirth is Steam Deck verified. That’s not the end-all be-all for gaming handhelds, but it’s a good place to start.

At the very least, it confirms that you should be able to play the game with only a handheld in tow.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Remake Intergrade are both Steam Deck verified ✅

Pre-purchase the Twin Pack up to 30% off to download and start FFVII Remake Intergrade today ahead of FFVII Rebirth’s launch on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/9JJYX5U075

— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) January 17, 2025

PC Requirements

Square Enix understands that not all PCs are created equal. That’s why they made sure to release the PC requirements to adequately enjoy the game, no matter the hardware you’re rocking.

Here’s a look at the specs.

For a better appreciation of what each configuration will look like, they even shared a PC Graphics Preset Video.

FFVII Rebirth on ROG Ally

So, with all of that out of way, what’s the experience like playing the game on the ROG Ally? In a word: Decent.

It’s been at least a couple of years now since we’ve seen these PC Gaming Handhelds handle AAA games. And as someone who grew up and started playing first on Nintendo Famicom or the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) as it’s most widely known in the Western world, I continue to be floored by the fact that we’re now able to play modern games on a device we can bring anywhere. I digress.

The technology is relatively young and does come with compromises. Chief of which is length of play time. Typically, you’ll only get, at most, under two hours of playtime if you’re pushing your PC Gaming Handheld to the brink.

With FFVII Rebirth PC on the ROG Ally, that experience rings true.

Playtime duration

To get the best possible experience, I had the ROG Ally on Turbo Mode with the FPS (frames per second) limiter turned off.

In the first hour or so of the playthrough covering the beginning of the game, the GPU was operating at 95% capacity with the FPS fluctuating from a low of 27 fps to a high of 60 fps.

In these settings, I was able to play for roughly around an hour and 14 minutes before the battery levels reached red levels – somewhere between 15-18%.

I plugged in the ROG Ally before resuming my playthrough.

Visuals and performance

Still playing on battery, I resumed my playthrough. All the while, I didn’t tweak the graphics settings at all. By default when I fired up the game, the main Graphics Quality setting was set to Medium.

However, other graphic settings like Background Model Detail, Ocean Detail, Character Model Detail, and a few more were set to high.

With these settings, I tried playing the game on the various modes of the ROG Ally.

Operator Mode

In Operator Mode, the game had no problem playing cutscenes. But once gameplay kicked in, the lag and stutters were pretty bothersome. I do not recommend playing in this mode.

Performance Mode

In Performance Mode, the experience was a lot better. If you’re trying to squeeze more playtime while playing unplugged, this is the best compromise.

You’ll experience some noticeable stutters here and there, especially when there’s a lot happening on the screen. But for the most part, this mode was serviceable.

Turbo Mode

Turbo Mode is the best mode to play such a demanding game like FFVII Rebirth PC on the ROG Ally. That’s pretty obvious. It’s also still not perfect.

When you get to the spots where you’re starting to unlock Limit Breaks and Special Abilities, you will experience some stuttering. But it’s not to a level that’s totally bothersome.

The experiences mentioned above were all done while playing on battery or unplugged. We’re pretty sure it’ll improve if the ROG Ally was plugged.

We also didn’t tweak the graphics settings at all as we had a limited time to play prior to the official release of the game. Rest assured we’ll conduct more tests with more handhelds and more configurations as soon as we can.

Should you play FFVII Rebirth on PC?

FFVII Rebirth is my personal Game of the Year for 2024. In my spoiler-free review I mentioned that it’s “the game we all envisioned when a remake of the original Final Fantasy VII was first announced. It’s packed to the brim with mini-games, activities, and quest lines that are all worth your time, with a main storyline that is captivating, enthralling, and awe-inspiring.”

About a year later and my opinion remains the same. No matter what type of gamer you are, FFVII Rebirth is well-worth checking out. I feel the overall experience is that good. And I’m happy more players are now able to enjoy it as it becomes available on PC.

FFVII Rebirth on PC starts at US$ 69.99.
As of publishing time, it’s still available for pre-purchase at 30% off, which is US$ 48.99.

Related Topics:FFVII Rebirth PC Final Fantasy Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy VII Rebirth PC ROG Ally Square Enix

Gaming

New Civilization VII update will address everyone’s biggest issue

Soon, everyone can play as a single Civ.

Published

February 3, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Despite being enjoyable in its current state, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a work in progress. Firaxis Games is still working on improvements, especially as suggested by the franchise’s fans. Now, approaching the new game’s first anniversary, Civilization VII is getting a massive patch, called the Test of Time update, later this spring.

Playing as a single Civ

Test of Time will address the biggest problem that players had with the base game: the inability to play as a single Civ. Currently, players are forced to evolve into Age-appropriate Civs at the end of the previous Age. The system leads to odd histories, such as Maurya somehow evolving into modern-day America.

Starting with the update, players can now take a single Civ across the test of time. And it’s not a shoehorned feature, too. Civs will now have an Apex Age, meaning the Age they were historically associated with. Playing Civs outside of their Apex Age will introduce a new kit that corresponds to the other Ages.

Plus, this also introduces a new system called Syncretism. Playing a Civ outside of their Age allows players to choose a unique military unit or infrastructure from other Civs to help bolster their strategy.

The new system works in reverse too. Players can start a game in the Modern Age using an Antiquity Age Civ. Finally, if players decide to use this system, the AI will follow suit, ensuring an equal playing field.

Reworked victory conditions

Besides the playability of Civs, Civilization VII will rework Victories. Instead of a clear path to victory via Legacy Paths (which players have complained as being too rigid), the new Triumph system will introduce new optional objectives to prod players further down the line of victory.

Plus, getting extraordinary progress in one victory condition can help players earn victory even before the Modern Age. Victory can be earned as early as the Exploration Age, but Firaxis has not explained how this can happen.

Firaxis says that the new system should help the game feel more dynamic and exciting after the Antiquity Age.

Now, to celebrate the actual anniversary, players will get access to a new leader, Gilgamesh, a fan favorite from the previous game. He will be free for all players with update 1.3.2.

Gaming

CM Punk graces cover of WWE 2K26

The game will feature over 400 playable characters, the largest to date.

Published

February 3, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Compared to the gigantic NBA 2K, WWE 2K is a relatively small series. Well, with thirty teams and a healthy roster of hall of famers, that’s no surprise. This year, however, WWE 2K26 wants to catch up, featuring the biggest roster that the franchise has ever had and a plethora of new features.

WWE 2K26 will feature over 400 playable characters, which includes current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. As always, Legends and Hall of Famers will be playable wrestlers.

This year, however, the roster of classics are much healthier. Specifically, there are three different editions dedicated to past wrestlers. The first, called The King of Kings Edition, centers the spotlight on Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer, Triple H (or Paul Levesque). The Attitude Era Edition features Superstars from that era, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock. Finally, the Monday Night Wars Edition includes Superstars from WCW such as the nWo’s Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.

Meanwhile, the Standard Edition features a Superstar that’s been no less decorated over the years. CM Punk, who will also grace the cover, will have his entire career featured in the annual 2K Showcase.

For gameplay, WWE 2K26 has four new match types: I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell, and Dumpster. Intergender matches are also available now. The environment is now more interactable with more usable weapons. Plus, the Stamina and Reversal systems have been reworked.

The Standard Edition (US$ 69.99) launches on March 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

The King of Kings Edition (US$ 99.99), the Attitude Era Edition (US$ 129.99), and the Monday Night War Edition (US$ 149.99) will all launch a week prior, on March 6.

Gaming

PlayStation, LE SSERAFIM Chaewon team for the ‘Love of Play’ campaign

Chaewon meets PlayStation

Published

February 3, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

PlayStation is kicking off 2026 the Chaewon way.

Sony has officially teamed up with KIM CHAEWON of LE SSERAFIM for its New Year “Love of Play” campaign, blending cozy moments, playful energy, and very real gamer vibes into one stylish collaboration that spans videos, promos, and some surprisingly cute merch.

At the heart of the campaign is a four-part video series built around how we actually play: Family, Friends, Sisters, and Solo. The first episode, Family, is already live, with the remaining episodes rolling out daily from February 4 to 6. Each one leans into a different mood, but the message stays the same—PlayStation fits whether you’re gaming alone, hanging out, or sharing the screen with people you love.

Chaewon, meanwhile, is clearly having fun with it.

Chaewon’s PlayStation picks

In an interview released alongside the campaign, she shared that her very first PlayStation game was Stray on PS5—yes, the cat one—and that she instantly fell for its atmosphere and puzzles. She also tried out a full lineup of DualSense controller colors during the shoot, calling out Chroma Indigo for its elegant look, while admitting that Midnight Black still feels the most “her.”

And when asked about the most fun game she’s played so far? Astro Bot took the crown, with Chaewon praising the DualSense’s haptics and adaptive triggers for making the experience feel extra special.

Naturally, PlayStation is turning that energy into rewards. Fans across Asia can join upcoming social campaigns for a chance to win DualSense wireless controllers signed by Chaewon, with more details dropping on PlayStation Asia’s Instagram channels.

Festive New Year Sale 2026

The collaboration also ties directly into PlayStation’s Festive New Year Sale 2026, which runs from February 6 to 19 at participating retailers. Expect discounts on PS5 consoles, accessories, and a long list of games, including Astro Bot, God of War Ragnarök, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Stellar Blade, Ghost of Yotei, and more. Deals vary by market, but this is one of those sales where both hardware upgrades and backlog shopping make sense.

There’s also a lifestyle twist.

PlayStation has partnered with South Korean brand Wiggle Wiggle for a limited-edition “Love of Play” merchandise set featuring PlayStation-branded home slippers, acrylic clips, and coasters. The set is available through select PlayStation Asia social activities, including a live Instagram Stories sticker contest where fans can decorate a template, post it, and tag PlayStation Asia for a chance to win.

The Wiggle Wiggle collab is available in South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, making it a fun bonus for fans who like their gaming gear a little more colorful.

More Chaewon content is still on the way, too. PlayStation will release additional short-form videos, including “Unstoppable Play!” on February 5 and “Balance Game” on February 11, exclusively on its official Instagram and Facebook channels.

Between the videos, the sale, and the merch, this PlayStation x Kim Chaewon collaboration feels less like a one-off endorsement and more like a full-on New Year mood—and honestly, that tracks.