Gaming

All the announced Switch 2 games will make you buy the console

Open-world Mario Kart, 3D Donkey Kong platformer, a new FromSoftware title

Published

April 2, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

It’s safe to say that PC-based handheld consoles are now put on notice. After Nintendo’s more detailed announcement of the console, the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to reclaim its crown as the world’s best handheld console. While we have a breakdown of the console’s hardware here, it’s time to talk about the games you can play on the console.

Mario Kart World

The recently concluded Direct started off with a bang. It announced the upcoming Mario Kart World. Whereas the previous sneak peek showed off the game’s racing, the new trailer reveals something much more amazing than just a racing game.

For the first time, Mario Kart is an open-world game. Though you have the usual circuits and races, you also have the option to drive towards the next race. There’s also a free roam mode wherein you can just explore the world in your chosen car and character. It’s similar to arcade racers on other platforms such as Forza Horizon 5.

There’s a new mode called Knockout Tour which works like a battle royale. There are new cosmetics and power-ups. It’s definitely a revolution of the Mario Kart franchise.

Plus, it’s a launch day title, so you can get the new game as soon as the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

Donkey Kong Bananza

From the very beginning of the Direct to its ultimate end, here’s Donkey Kong Bananza. The presentation did not reveal a new 3D platformer for the Mario franchise. In lieu of that much-awaited announcement, Nintendo revealed a similar revolution for the Donkey Kong series.

Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D platformer that we’ve been waiting for since Super Mario Odyssey. The platformer maximizes the Switch 2’s hardware. The graphics look amazing. Donkey Kong’s fur looks amazing. Plus, unlike Super Mario Odyssey, Bananza will feature destructible terrain. It’s not just Odyssey with a new skin; it’s something new.

Donkey Kong Bananza releases on July 17.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

The Zelda franchise is also getting a nod for the new generation. Developed in partnership with Koei Tecmo, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a new title in the Hyrule Warriors series. It also ties directly into Tears of the Kingdom.

Zelda — not Link! — finds herself in the past participating in the Imprisoning War. With the help of Hyrule’s mightiest warriors, she must fight against the forces of darkness to save Hyrule. Because it’s a Hyrule Warriors game, it’s more action-packed, compared to the laidback style of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

It will launch this winter.

Kirby Air Raiders

Finally, Kirby is also getting a new title for the upcoming console. Though it’s practically just a teaser than an actual trailer, Kirby Air Raiders will continue the original Air Ride launched way back during the GameCube era.

We don’t know much about the upcoming title yet, but it’s coming from the original director, Masahiro Sakurai.

It is coming in 2025.

The Duskbloods

We now live in a world where FromSoftware can announce a new title and franchise during a Nintendo Direct. Despite Nightreign still launching later this year, FromSoftware is already laying down the tracks for its next major franchise, The Duskbloods.

Upon first seeing the trailer, you will be forgiven for assuming a sequel to the widely successful Bloodborne. In fact, it uses much of the same language including blood and moonlight. But this is an entirely new franchise.

As is typical with all FromSoftware trailers, there’s a lot of mystery surrounding the new trailer. However, it does look like the game combines horror, cyberpunk, and the dark whimsy of Alice in Wonderland all into one title. It has the vibes of Lies of P. Then again, it’s FromSoftware, so we can assume something more.

The Duskbloods launches in 2026 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

This is one of the most recurring fever dreams for gamers. Is Silksong real? Fans of Hollow Knight know that, despite having the sequel announced six years ago, an actual release date is still a myth.

Nintendo just blew everything out of the water. In a brief four-second clip, the Direct announced that the much-awaited sequel to the widely successful Hollow Knight is launching this year. This was also supported by a tweet posted by Nintendo itself.

Is Silksong real? The Switch 2 wants to make it real.

Nintendo GameCube classics

As a new addition to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, the Switch 2 will give subscribers access to a growing library of Nintendo GameCube classics including The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Soul Caliber II.

Tons of modern games coming to the Switch 2

When the Switch 2 was announced, we assumed that the console was going to function similarly to the original console. That is, it’s a console meant specifically for Nintendo’s game but sprinkled sporadically with a few third-party releases operating at lower specs. Nintendo is thinking differently.

Today’s most popular games are coming to the Switch 2. These aren’t shabby titles either. The Direct confirmed that massive games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Borderlands 4, Yakuza 0, and Elden Ring, are playable on the new console.

The Switch 2 is making a statement, and it’s not looking good for the world of handheld consoles. Nintendo’s upcoming console is powerful enough to play modern games at a decent resolution. Plus, it can play Nintendo’s lineup of games, a feat you can’t do on other consoles.

Gaming

AMD FSR Upscaling 4.1 now available for Radeon RX 7000 Series

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

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

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.

Gaming

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

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

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.

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.