Gaming

ROG Phone 6 series now official

All new cooling, improved performance

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ROG Phone 6

The latest iteration of the premiere gaming smartphone from ASUS ROG has finally arrived and it comes in two – the ROG Phone 6 Pro and the base model ROG Phone 6

The latest version of the ROG Phone maintains its distinctly gamery look and feel. The specs have obviously bumped up for 2022 standards. But ROG is proud of what it did with its cooling technology. 

Game Cool 6

We all know things can heat up when we play. Having made many versions of a gaming phone over the years, ROG has come up with optimal cooling solutions depending on the duration of your gaming session. 

They addressed this by revising the ROG Phone’s thermal structure. It all starts with the Enlarged Graphite Sheet all the way to adding the Aeroactive Cooler 6 accessory. They identified the gaming sessions as such: 

  • Short-time – 1 to 15 minutes
  • Mid-time – 15 to 30 minutes
  • Long-time – Over 1 hour 

At each segment, only a portion of the cooling system kicks in. And if you’re playing for a long-time, that’s when they recommend you to use the Aeroactive Cooler 6. 

Peak performance

ROG Phone 6

ROG Phones are specs monsters and the ROG Phone 6 series is no different. Powering the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. It’s supposed to be 30 percent more power efficient than the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. 

You also get up to 18GB of RAM along with 512GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. And like its predecessors, there’s an X Mode that boosts overall performance for gaming. 

It still has the same 6,000mAh battery, but the new chip should contribute to better power efficiency. You still have support for wired fast charging. 

The main camera now uses the Sony IMX 766 with a 40% bigger pixel size. Alongside the main shooter, you get the Ultrawide angle and macro lenses. 

Snappy, stunning display

ROG Phone 6

Something a top-notch gaming phone requires more than amazing-looking displays is one that’s extremely responsive. Equipped on the ROG Phone 6 is a 6.78-inch Samsung E4 display. 

It has a dynamic refresh rate that ranges from 60Hz all the way up to 165Hz. Touch sampling rate peaks at 720Hz for ultra responsive gameplay. It’s protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. 

Additional features include an Always-On HDR tech that activates where applicable. Typically when you’re Netflix and chilling on the phone or streaming any content that supports the feature. 

Cyberpunk design

ROG Phone 6

The distinct gamer look is alive and well even in the Moonlight White version of the phone. This is where the ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro primarily differ. 

The ROG Phone 6 Pro’s back features the ROG Vision. It’s a customizable LED display on the back. The feature is also present in some of their top-line gaming laptops. 

The ROG Phone 6, meanwhile, doesn’t have ROG Vision but there’s still a screen-like panel at the back to replicate the effect. It definitely heightens the cyberpunk look ROG is going for. 

The ROG Phone 6 series is also the first in the line to get an IPX4 rating. Meaning it’s splash resistant. It’s not totally water resistant so still be careful in bringing it around water-y areas. 

Accessories

Other than the Aeroactive Cooler 6, there’s also a white version of the Kunai Gamepad that totally matches the color of the ROG Phone 6. For those who like to game with Bluetooth earphones on, whether you’re using ROG’s Cetra True Wireless Pro or another brand’s, there’s a Low Latency BT mode you can toggle for a better experience. 

Pricing

The ROG Phone 6 comes in two variants. The 12GB/256GB version retails for EUR 999 while the 16GB/512GB variant sells for EUR 1149.

Meanwhile, the ROG Phone 6 Pro with 18GB/512GB is priced at EUR 1299.

Check your local ROG social media accounts for specific pricing and availability in your market/region.

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

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When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

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

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Gaming

Stranger Than Heaven is a Yakuza prequel with Snoop Dogg

The story spans different eras and regions across half a century in Japan.

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In my review of Yakuza Kiwami 3, I groaned about how every new entry in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchise — original and remake — looked identical with each other. I ended that playthrough hoping desperately for a new era. Thankfully, those hopes did not fall on deaf ears. In its first trailer, the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven showed off an interesting reimagining of the Yakuza universe. Oh, and Snoop Dogg is in it.

First announced back in late 2024 as Project Century, Stranger Than Heaven has now confirmed itself as a prequel to the prequel to the Yakuza games. It didn’t start that way, though. When it was announced, there was hope that the then-untitled game featured a new story disconnected from Yakuza. It looks like the final game is making the best of both worlds.

Stranger Than Heaven chronicles the rise of the infamous Tojo Clan. Unless this is decidedly different from the Tojo Clan in the Yakuza series, this is the clearest sign that this is, in fact, a prequel.

Makoto Daito, a Japanese boy living in Chicago, escapes America to forge a new life in Japan. Along the way, he meets Orpheus, a smuggler played by Snoop Dogg, who drags Makoto into the criminal underworld. Eventually, Makoto decides to do things his own way by creating a new crime family called the Tojo Clan.

Unlike other games in the series, Stranger Than Heaven spans different eras and regions in Japan, starting with Fukuoka in 1915 and ending with Kamurocho in 1965. It will also have different fighting mechanics by mapping the left and right bumpers/triggers to left and right attacks.

Off the bat, Stranger Than Heaven looks like a new era for the series. It launches winter this year for all major platforms.

SEE ALSO: Now Playing: Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

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Gaming

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches October 6

Pre-orders now live

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Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set to launch on October 6, 2026, bringing a new high-speed twist to the Star Wars universe. The game is published by Secret Mode and developed by Fuse Games. It arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with support for up to 12 players.

Pre-orders are now open across Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Editions. Pricing starts at $59.99 for the Standard Edition, with both digital and physical versions available depending on platform.

A different kind of Star Wars story

Set in the lawless Outer Rim, the game introduces the Galactic League—an unsanctioned racing circuit where skill matters more than destiny. You play as a mysterious pilot named Shade, navigating a single-player campaign built on rivalries, alliances, and unfinished business.

There’s no Force or prophecy here. Instead, the focus is on build strategy and racing mastery. Players can customize three types of repulsorcraft and even take on classic podracers, blending familiar Star Wars elements with a more competitive, arcade-style edge.

Multiplayer supports online races where players can test their builds and driving skills against others.

Pre-order bonuses and editions

All pre-orders include a bonus livery usable across vehicles, with platform-specific colors, plus a Player Banner background for multiplayer.

The Deluxe Edition adds three extra vehicles, exclusive Arcade events, a livery pack, and cosmetic upgrades like new player banners and insignias. It also includes a digital art book featuring early designs of characters, locations, and vehicles.

Collector’s Edition for dedicated pilots

For collectors, the physical Collector’s Edition bundles a model of the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, themed patches, a printed art book, and a steel case housed in premium packaging. It also includes all Deluxe Edition digital content.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with pre-orders now available.

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