The ROG Ally has some hefty shoes to fill. Touting an impressive slate of specs, the upcoming handheld console is one of the first true competitors to the dominating Steam Deck. Unfortunately, early reviews revealed a flawed comparison against Valve’s juggernaut of a console. Now, days ahead of its official launch, ASUS is releasing new firmware which drastically improves the console’s performance.

Getting down to the nitty gritty of things, the ROG Ally, in its unpatched version, lacked performance in low-wattage scenarios. Early reviewers found that the console could not keep up with the Steam Deck under such circumstances.

A new update, which started rolling out to early units, started catching up. According to YouTuber Dave2D, the update easily improves the console by 15 to 20 percent better than its initial release. First of all, it brings the ROG Ally almost at par with the Steam Deck in low-wattage scenarios. While the results aren’t as good as the latter device yet, it’s a much better performer compared to the former on day one. ASUS acknowledges that Valve really did its homework in low-wattage scenarios.

More notably, the update dramatically boosts the ROG Ally’s performance in higher wattages. The console is now close behind the Ayaneo 2S, a beefier alternative to the Steam Deck. Before the update, the ROG Ally could barely touch the Steam Deck, let alone the Ayaneo 2S.

ASUS also notes that the update should include improvements for the battery life. The lackluster battery has been a point of contention among all early users.

The ROG Ally is officially launching on June 13 and will start at US$ 699.99.

SEE ALSO: How well do PlayStation games run on the ROG Ally?

The renaissance of chess is an interesting sight to behold. While there are a few reasons why the sport rose in popularity — such as the emergence of chess content creators on Twitch — there is one show that quickly catapulted chess into the limelight: The Queen’s Gambit. If you’re still a fan of the show, Netflix is launching a chess game based on the popular show.

The Queen’s Gambit Chess is the next step in the platform’s push towards mobile gaming. Back in 2021, Netflix announced its first forays into offering mobile games for its subscribers. Now, every Netflix subscriber has access to a library of games right on their app.

With The Queen’s Gambit Chess, Netflix is going back to its pool of notable franchises to tie into the gaming world. The platform previously did the same with other franchises like Stranger Things.

In the upcoming title, players will immerse themselves in the world of Beth Harmon. They can “take lessons, play puzzles and matches, or compete against friends.”

Netflix has not shown a lot of footage of the game yet. The announcement comes through a short video enumerating the titles it has on slate for this summer. This slate also includes Cut the Rope, Oxenfree, and the upcoming Oxenfree II: Lost Signals.

Queen’s Gambit Chess will launch on July 25.

SEE ALSO: Netflix Tudum 2023: Talent lineup, how to watch live

Technically speaking, Diablo IV only just launched yesterday. However, you won’t hear much about its official launch today because a lot of players already started their early journey to hell days ago. Now, amid the palpable success of the title’s early access period, Diablo IV has already claimed the title of Blizzard’s fastest selling game of all time — only a day after launch.

Since the start of the earlier beta periods, the role-playing game easily ramped up the hype for its official launch. According to the betas then, Diablo IV took the tried-and-tested formula of the previous titles and added a modern patina to the franchise. It looked like something that both seasoned veterans and new fans can get behind.

Now, Diablo IV is officially available for anyone to play. Officially, the title launched on June 6. However, those who purchased a Digital Deluxe or Ultimate Edition received early access to play the title starting June 1.

The early access period has seemingly paid off. On Twitter, Blizzard has confirmed that the title is officially the studio’s fastest selling title of all time. Given the hype around the title, it’s no surprise, but it’s still quite an achievement.

Diablo IV is out now for the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. It will start at US$ 69.99. The Digital Deluxe Edition, which retails for US$ 89.99, will give players additional cosmetics, mounts, and access to the Seasonal Battle Pass. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Edition, selling for US$ 99.99, gives players an extra emote and an accelerated Battle Pass.

SEE ALSO: ROG Phone 6 gets limited-edition Diablo Immortal design