Gaming

ROG Ally review: New handheld gaming king?

#playALLYourgames

Published

July 20, 2023

When the ROG Phone first came out, we thought ASUS ROG was the perfect company for the job. After all, ASUS had success with both their Zenfone line and their whole ROG gaming portfolio. It was a perfect combination that came at just the right time. The ROG Phone is now going strong in its 7th generation.

ASUS might have the right device to recapture that same kind of magic with the ROG Ally. It’s a handheld gaming console — ROG’s first.

There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the ROG Ally and all of them have to do with what ROG has built throughout the years.

That’s a proven track record in the gaming space when it comes to hardware, software, and close collaborations with processor partners.

While we’re at it, here are the specs of the ROG Ally.

AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor
7-inch FHD 120Hz screen, 500 nits peak brightness
Up to 16GB LPDDR5 of RAM
Up to 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD internal storage
MicroSD Card slot for storage expansion
AMD Radeon Navi3 graphics
40Wh with 65W PD Adapter, support for passthrough charging

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor is also a first for AMD Ryzen. It’s a chip that’s made specifically for handheld gaming PCs. That’s an exciting prospect that could mean more handheld PCs are on the horizon. But that’s a topic for another day.

The series consists of two chips — the base Ryzen Z1 and then Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Both will make their way to the ROG Ally.

We’ll dive into overall performance later on. For now, let’s take a look at this handheld console’s design.

Undeniably ROG

One look and the Ally is undeniably an ROG device. The lines all over the device scream ROG and are very reminiscent of the recent ROG Phones.

Viewed from the back, you’ll find the ROG logo carved in a vent-like pattern.

On both side edges is a ridged and sloped pattern. ROG says this was made for better grip.

The overall layout is reminiscent of an Xbox controller with the sticks and buttons being asymmetrical.

The left side has the left stick and the circular directional pad. And near the screen are the View Button and Command Center button.

While on the right are the face buttons and the right stick. Here, near the screen are the Menu Button and Armoury Crate button.

The trigger and shoulder buttons sit alongside each other where you would normally find them in most controllers.

ROG also added additional buttons at the back of the device — a staple for pro and semi-pro controllers.

The device weighs 608 grams, slightly lighter than what it will be compared to the most — the Steam Deck, which tips the scale at 669 grams).

Light and just right

Personally, I thought it felt pretty light. ROG did a good job with the weight distribution. The Ally feels sturdy and fits my hand pretty well. Naturally, this experience is gonna vary from person-to-person. For me, it feels like a proper, well-built handheld.

Once again, the company is very proud with what they’ve done on the cooling front. The fans and vents are laid out in a way that they would avoid your hand.

They’re also made so that the ROG Ally doesn’t produce a loud fan sound even when you’re pushing it to the limit.

After testing we can say that the ROG Ally is relatively quiet. Perhaps it helps that the speakers are also pretty darn good and the games I played were pretty entertaining. I never felt bothered by noise coming from the fans, which to me meant it was not producing any excessive noise.

ROG says this handheld has been in development for five years now. They even showed us the multiple design iterations it has gone through.

What you see now is what they landed with ultimately and feel like is the most optimized for what they want to offer.

Windows woes

The ROG Ally will run Windows 11 out of the box. That means it runs more than just your Steam Library right out the gate. Games downloaded from the Epic Games Store, Xbox Game Pass, and EA Play will immediately be available.

Microsoft is rumored to already be developing a version of Windows that’s specifically designed for handheld gaming PCs. That’s great because navigating the Windows desktop interface with a controller isn’t the best experience.

Expect your first day or so with the ROG Ally to be spent installing updates, signing up to the game stores and services, downloading your games, and just the whole set-up shebang.

My advice is to connect a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and sign-in to all your accounts in one go. This way, you can just hop in and play the next few times you fire it up.

Armoury Crate SE to the rescue?

You can bring your games together through ROG’s Armoury Crate SE. Armoury Crate is ROG’s proprietary software that comes with every ROG device. On it, you can tweak multiple things like how much processing power should be used by certain games.

There are plenty of other things you can do with it. For our smartphone-first audience, think of it as a really souped up version of Game Mode interfaces on smartphones.

Settings and customizations on Armoury Crate SE.

The ROG Phone has this too. And like on the ROG Phone, the Armoury Crate SE pulls in all the games you have installed and lays them out in a cohesive, easy-to-access fashion — one that works with a controller layout.

Not just your Steam library.

That’s a near console-like function that should come in handy if you plan on stacking your Ally with plenty of games from various stores.

If you’re worried about smoothly navigating your games on the ROG Ally, the Armoury Crate SE makes the experience a little more tolerable.

It’s far from perfect and will likely get incremental updates and optimizations over the years – something ROG promised it will do for the Ally for the foreseeable future.

Game time!

Alright, now that all of that’s out of the way, it’s time to play! I played plenty of AAA titles and a couple that don’t demand as much power. Here’s how the games fared at a glance:

Lego Star Wars (Xbox Game Pass)

FPS goes from 24 to 60.
Pretty smooth gameplay all throughout.

Hi-Fi Rush (Xbox Game Pass)

FPS hovered in the 30-40 range.
Some stuttering. Not ideal for a rhythm game, but still fairly playable.

Dragon Ball FighterZ (Steam)

FPS a steady 35-50.
Ran extremely smoothly. No lag input. Critical for fighting games.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered (Steam)

FPS max is 31, dips to as low as 15.
Noticeable stuttering but nothing game breaking.

Returnal (Steam)

Varied intensely from 16FPS all the way up to 115 FPS.
Ran much smoother than Spider-Man despite the wide FPS variance.

NBA 2K22 (Steam)

Steadily at 59 FPS during play time.
Crucial for a game like this with so much happening on screen.

Dead Cells (Xbox Game Pass)

Steady 24 to 30 FPS.
2D side scroller game, not demanding graphically.
Ran smoothly.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Steam)

Steady 20-30 FPS.
2D/2.5D Side scroller, also not very demanding graphically.
Ran very smoothly.

Game time notes

Games from PlayStation Studios that are AAA titles – Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and Returnal seemed to require the most out of the ROG Ally.

Both games push the device graphically. This resulted in stuttering during gameplay. But nothing game breaking. Still pretty much playable.

These games drained the battery the fastest. Got about an average of one (1) hour and 25 minutes of playtime before I hit the 5-10% battery range.

They also put the rumble feature to use the most, perhaps in an attempt to mimic the effect of the DualSense controller. It doesn’t quite get there, but it’s still a solid implementation – close to how the Dual Shock felt like.

More on PlayStation games on the ROG Ally here.

Playing other AAA titles like Lego Star Wars the Skywalker Saga, NBA 2K22, and Doom Eternal, battery life hovered around two (2) hours before hitting the red mark.

Less demanding games like Dead Cells and Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising lasted longer – around three (3) hours and 35 minutes.

More game time notes

Battery goes red at 15% but there’s no alert. On one playthrough, the ROG Ally just died on me.

It’s like getting ghosted. In the grand scheme of things, it’s fine. But a heads up would have been nice. I started watching more closely after that, constantly switching to Armoury Crate SE to check battery levels.

The device feels well-built. It did not overheat to a point that you can’t hold it anymore. And that’s playing under 34-37 degree celsius conditions. It also stayed quiet the entire time. The cooling on this thing is phenomenal.

Front-firing speakers are pretty good. They’re not the best sounding but if you’re looking for a really good audio experience, just use bluetooth headphones or use the 3.5mm jack. The latter is a really great handheld experience.

Me time, We time, Pro time

Speaking of speakers. This being a Windows device means you have access to YouTube, Netflix and the like. Other than gaming, it’s one of the things you can do on “Me time” with the Ally.

I watched my fair share of LE SSERAFIM Chaewon and aespa Winter’s fancams. The experience was pretty pleasant.

One of the cooler things you can do with the ROG Ally is pair it with ROG’s own eGPU — the XG Mobile. With it, you add more power and unlock a few more modes of play.

I didn’t get to try this personally as my XG Mobile was under repair during the review period and as of writing. But I did get to see these during a media event.

With “We time” you can connect the ROG Ally to a couple of Bluetooth controllers and treat it as if it’s a regular console. You can do this with or without the XG Mobile.

“Pro time” is when you have it hooked up with the XG Mobile in a more or less desktop setup. Best for first-person shooting games, among many other things.

Better than the Steam Deck?

Steam goes into Big Picture mode on the ROG Ally

Jury’s out on whether or not the ROG Ally is an overall better handheld gaming console than the Steam Deck.

It does have a few things going for it. It’s certainly a more powerful device owing to the partnership between ROG and AMD. The display is also more of an eye candy than what the Deck has to offer. Plus having access to more than just your Steam library is a massive boon.

But the Deck has the Ally beat on software support, at least for now. Over the course of the Steam Deck’s year or so existence, Valve has had continuous, active support for the handheld.

It also has built a significant community and range of third-party accessories support. Only time will tell if the ROG Ally will have the same level of support rallying around it.

Some games, like Marvel’s Midnight Suns, even show up as Steam Deck “Verified” on the Ally.

For what it’s worth, I asked this to other reviewers who have used both handhelds: “Gun to your head. You have to pick one. Steam Deck or ROG Ally?” Majority of them picked the ROG Ally.

Price and availability

The ROG Ally is available in a couple of variants. One with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (widely available now) and another with the base AMD Ryzen Z1 chip (coming later).

The highest variant retails for US$ 699.99; a few dollars shy of the Steam Deck’s most expensive variant which costs US$ 649. A 50-dollar difference for better performance, a better screen, and a promising future support.

It has also subsequently launched in plenty of other countries including India and Malaysia. In the Philippines, it will arrive on July 20. The Z1 Extreme variant will retail for PhP 43,995. The Z1 variant will come in August 2023 for PhP 39,995.

You can pre-order from ASUS ROG’s official dealer partners.

Is the ROG Ally your GadgetMatch?

Pricing-wise, I’d say the ROG Ally is pretty competitive for what it offers. It’s more expensive than current gen consoles, but less expensive than flagship smartphones. It sits right in the middle and offers a unique use-case — play AAA games on the go. I still think that’s incredible.

Glaring weakness is how Windows 11 just isn’t made for handhelds. It’s functional but not the most intuitive for this kind of device. At least not yet. Battery life is arguably a weakness too, but I personally feel the play times are par for the course.

The ROG Ally is an exciting handheld gaming console. What it represents is a legitimate challenge to the Steam Deck which jump started the more widespread interest in handheld gaming today. Competition is good and we’re getting a heated one with the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally, a few other handhelds, and anyone else who will likely jump in.

On its own, the ROG Ally is a truly compelling gaming gadget. A relatively affordable handheld with the power to play AAA titles whenever and wherever. It’s pretty easy to justify its place in your gaming lifestyle. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty polished for a first generation device.

More on the ASUS ROG Ally here.

Gaming

PC Game Pass gets cheaper, but Call of Duty delays are coming

Lower price, slower releases

Published

April 22, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Microsoft is making PC Game Pass more affordable in the Philippines. But there’s a trade-off for fans of one of its biggest franchises.

Starting today, PC Game Pass drops to PHP 225 per month, down from PHP 320. The move lowers the barrier for players looking to jump into the service’s growing library across PC.

The update also comes with new US pricing. PC Game Pass now costs $13.99/month (from $16.49), while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate drops to $22.99/month (from $29.99).

But alongside the price cut comes a notable shift: future Call of Duty titles will no longer launch day one on PC Game Pass.

Call of Duty won’t be day-one anymore

Beginning this year, new Call of Duty releases will arrive on the service around a year later, typically during the following holiday season. That means subscribers will need to wait longer before accessing new entries in the franchise.

Existing Call of Duty titles already included in the library will remain available, so current players won’t lose access to what’s already there.

The change also applies to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate globally, where pricing has similarly been adjusted following feedback that the service had become too expensive. (Game Developer)

Still a strong value play

Despite the delay in Call of Duty releases, PC Game Pass continues to offer a wide catalog of games, including day-one launches from Xbox Game Studios and partner publishers.

Subscribers still get access to hundreds of titles, along with perks tied to the broader Game Pass ecosystem depending on their plan.

Microsoft says it will continue refining the service based on community feedback, signaling that more changes could come as it balances pricing, content, and long-term value.

Gaming

Marathon review: You will lose everything but queue again

Brutal runs, high-stakes firefights, and a loop that punishes you into coming back.

Published

April 22, 2026

Bernard Rivera

You don’t drop into Marathon expecting mercy. You drop in expecting silence—broken only by the scrape of boots on alien metal and the echo of your own breath inside a suit that feels one size too tight. Every run is a gamble. Every corridor feels like a question you aren’t ready to answer.

In Marathon, you’re not the hero. You’re a runner—hungry, ambitious, expendable. Extraction isn’t guaranteed. Survival is never promised. What you carry out is what you earn.

First taste? Yeah, it bites back

A quick disclaimer: Marathon is my first extraction shooter. I’ve spent plenty of time with first- and third-person hero shooters, so I’m not new to the “shooter with abilities” formula—but this is a different beast entirely.

My first few runs were brutal. Extraction shooters introduce a level of tension I wasn’t prepared for. Losing everything on death raises the stakes in a way few other genres do. Fighting UESC bots alone is already challenging—their AI is surprisingly aggressive and reactive—but once you factor in other players who will shoot you on sight, the experience quickly becomes overwhelming.

First run, first lesson: Nothing is yours

My first deployment was on Perimeter with two random teammates. We spawned near the Hauler, a massive land vehicle on the west side of the map. Not knowing what we were getting into, we went inside—only to find it packed with UESC bots.

Our team’s Destroyer, the tank of the group, went down first, though not without taking a few enemies with him. As the Triage—Marathon’s support/healer role—it fell on me to revive him. I managed to clear the remaining bots, but burned through all my ammo and consumables in the process.

My reboot ability, which allows for ranged revives, wasn’t ready yet, so I attempted a manual revive. That’s when a UESC ghost appeared out of nowhere and dropped me in two shots from behind.

With both of us down—reduced to loot bags—it was up to our Assassin, who had been lurking nearby. He popped a smoke screen, revived me first, and dropped a couple of patch kits. I immediately used my reboot ability on the Destroyer, grabbed a kit, and deployed my healing drone. Somehow, we stabilized.

We cleared the Hauler, looted better gear, and decided to extract early. But on the way to exfil, another team ambushed us. The fight wasn’t even close—we were wiped instantly.

Then came that dreaded screen: elimination, along with a breakdown of everything we’d just lost.

That moment defined Marathon for me.

The game doesn’t need to cheat—you’ll die anyway

The UESC bots are no joke. Some strafe and dodge gunfire, others rush you down with melee attacks, and some will snipe you from rooftops with lethal precision. There are grenadiers that bombard you relentlessly, shielded elites that soak damage, and ghosts that move quickly and unpredictably.

Each map also features a Warden boss—something you absolutely shouldn’t underestimate. I learned that the hard way.

Beyond bots, there are additional threats like Ticks, turrets, and drones. Environmental hazards are just as dangerous: toxin plants, explosive claymores, heat cascades, and frost rooms can all end a run if you’re careless.

Loud, neon, and unapologetically weird

As a fan of cyberpunk and utilitarian sci-fi, I love Marathon’s visual style. It won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s undeniably distinct.

Where many shooters lean into muted palettes and desolate landscapes, Marathon goes in the opposite direction—bold, high-contrast visuals with rich neon tones. It’s a risky choice, but it pays off. The aesthetic not only stands out but also reinforces the game’s tone and identity.

If you’re not listening, you’re already dead

The audio design is one of Marathon’s strongest elements. The soundtrack is filled with high-energy tracks that heighten tension, and subtle shifts in music often signal danger before you even see it.

Sound cues are everything here. Sprinting produces loud, unmistakable footsteps. Even walking can give you away if you’re not careful. Crouch-walking is quieter, but not silent—nearby players can still hear you.

Everything makes noise. Opening containers, interacting with objects, even doors—especially doors. The larger they are, the louder they sound. I’ve never paid this much attention to audio in a shooter before, and Marathon trains you to listen or die.

The guns? Yeah, they carry this game

Gunplay is easily the highlight of the experience.

At launch, Marathon features 28 weapons across eight categories, covering everything from close-quarters combat to long-range engagements. Standouts include the M77 Assault Rifle, V75 Scar, Bully SMG, V22 Volt Thrower, Demolition LMG, WSTR Combat Shotgun, Longshot sniper, Ares RG Railgun, and the V11 Punch pistol.

Weapons can be heavily customized with mods and attachments that don’t just tweak stats—they fundamentally change how guns behave. Putting a stack overflow mod chip on a WSTR Combat Shotgun suddenly gives you four bullets instead of two. Unique gold mods like the Overcharge Lens for the V22 Volt Thrower turn the SMG into Halo’s Needler.

The result is a system that rewards experimentation and mastery. PvP encounters feel incredibly satisfying once you get the hang of it—landing headshots, timing abilities, and outplaying opponents creates moments that keep you coming back.

Great style, messy menus

Visually, the UI aligns well with the game’s aesthetic. The UX, however, needs improvement.

Inventory management can be frustrating. Many items look nearly identical, and mods often differ only slightly in appearance. You’re forced to hover over items and read tooltips to distinguish them—something that feels at odds with the game’s fast-paced, high-risk nature.

In a game where every second matters, clarity is crucial. I’ve lost runs simply because I was stuck comparing item tooltips mid-loot.

Additionally, some font choices feel inconsistent and occasionally jarring, which further impacts readability.

It punishes you—and that’s the point

Marathon is not a game that welcomes you—it tests you. It punishes hesitation, rewards awareness, and demands that you learn quickly or lose everything.

As a first-time extraction shooter player, the experience was overwhelming at first, even frustrating. But beneath that harsh learning curve is something deeply compelling. The tension of every run, the satisfaction of a successful extraction, and the adrenaline of unpredictable encounters create a loop that’s hard to walk away from.

Its strengths are clear: tight, satisfying gunplay, exceptional audio design, and a bold visual identity that sets it apart from its peers. At the same time, it isn’t without flaws. The UI/UX friction, particularly around inventory management, can actively work against the player in critical moments.

But maybe that friction is part of what defines Marathon. It’s not just about surviving the map—it’s about managing risk, making fast decisions, and accepting that sometimes, you’ll lose it all anyway.

And yet, you queue up again.

Not because it’s forgiving—but because it isn’t.

Gaming

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 revealed at Battle Hour 2026

Xenoverse 3 confirmed for 2027

Published

April 21, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Bandai Namco Entertainment has unveiled a slate of updates across its Dragon Ball game lineup during the annual Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 in Los Angeles.

The two-day event wrapped with a global livestream featuring announcements for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, and Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra. The showcase built up to the official reveal of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, previously teased under the codename “Age 1000.”

A new Xenoverse begins

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 continues the series with a brand-new take on the Dragon Ball universe. Players will once again create their own hero and explore a new world shaped by the vision of Akira Toriyama.

The game launches in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

Xenoverse 2 reaches its final chapter

Meanwhile, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is closing out its long-running post-launch support with FUTURE SAGA: Chapter 4.

Arriving in Summer 2026, the final DLC chapter brings the game’s nearly decade-long run to a close. It promises a climactic finale that revisits the series’ core themes—protecting history, shaping the future, and facing overwhelming power in a last stand.

New fighter joins the arena

Dragon Ball FighterZ is adding Goku (Super Saiyan 4, DAIMA) as part of its upcoming DAIMA DLC, launching on April 22.

The new character introduces fresh mechanics, including Wild Dash, which can branch into multiple follow-up attacks for more aggressive playstyles.

Sparking Zero expands its roster

For Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, Bandai Namco revealed details for the Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC.

The update adds Vegeta (GT) and Trunks (GT) to the roster—marking their debut in the Budokai Tenkaichi series—alongside new abilities and a solo progression mode that lets players strengthen characters through battles and events.

Gekishin Squadra gets crossover and esports push

Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra is also getting new crossover content with Xenoverse 2, including themed skins and emotes.

The game will also host its first offline-format world championship, bringing top players from different regions to Japan to compete for the global title.