Gaming

ASUS has refreshed its ROG Strix lineup of gaming notebooks with next-gen Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 GPUs and Intel’s 13th-gen/ AMD Zen 4 CPUs. Among the new devices is the ROG Strix SCAR 17 (2023) which has now been upgraded with a high-end Ryzen 9 7000 Zen 4 CPU and up to a GeForce RTX 4090 mobile GPU.

ASUS has introduced a new 27-inch gaming monitor for those after a fast OLED panel. Announced as the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, the monitor combines a 240 Hz refresh rate with a 2.5K resolution and 1,000 nits of peak brightness, among other features.

Asus has revamped its ROG Strix G series at CES 2023 with the new ROG Strix G16 and ROG Strix G18. These laptops are powered by Intel's latest Raptor Lake-HX CPUs up to the Core i9-13980HX and up to a 175 W Nvidia RTX 4090 Laptop GPU. These hardware changes are complemented by a revamped Tri-Fan cooling system for improved thermal performance.

The Alienware m16 has officially broken cover with 16-inch QHD+/FHD+ displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, up to a Core i9-13900HX, and next-gen GeForce RTX 40 /AMD Radeon graphics. The notebook measures 289.9 x 368.9 x 25.4 mm. Furthermore, the laptop features an 86 Whr battery that can be charged with a bundled 330 W adapter.

ASUS has upgraded the ROG Flow Z13, its 13.4-inch gaming 2-in-1. Now available with up to an Intel Core i9-13900H, the ROG Flow Z13 (2023) also contains an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU and a 2.5K display with a 165 Hz refresh rate, which are all powered by a 56 Wh battery.

Highlights for the 2023 ROG Strix G17 laptops include up to a 16-core / 32-thread AMD Zen4-based mobile processor, mid-range RTX 4000-series mobile dGPUs, and a 17.3-inch screen option with 1440p resolution and 240 Hz refresh rate.

The most outstanding upgrade for this year's Zephyrus Duo 16 laptops is the Mini LED screen with superior black levels, 2560 x 1600 resolution and 240 Hz refresh rate. Asus also refreshed the configurations with AMD's latest Ryzen 7000 mobile processors and Nvidia GPUs up to an RTX 4090 mobile dGPU with 165 W TGP.

The Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition gaming mouse has been unveiled alongside the ROG AimPoint keyboard. Both offer Bluetooth, USB and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity and will be available for purchase later in the month.

Asus has refreshed the ROG Flow X16 (GV601) with Intel Raptor Lake-H CPUs up to the Core i9-13900H and up to a 135 W Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. The ROG Flow X16 now features an improved QHD+ mini-LED display option with a 240 Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass DXC coating for added durability and reduced surface reflections for better visibility in bright environments.

Packing a 16-inch QHD 240 Hz Nebula Display that uses a Mini-LED panel with over 1,000 dimming zones, the new Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 sports an Intel Core i9-13900H processor alongside up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 mobile graphics with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus. Pricing and availability depend on the market.

Capable of running 25 W higher than last year's model, the updated Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 is built around the Intel Core i9-13900H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU. It features a 16-inch QHD Mini-LED Nebula HDR display and is the first device of its size to use the ROG AniMe Matrix LED lighting array.

ASUS has introduced the ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023), an AMD Zen 4 and RTX 40 series upgrade for the company's 14-inch gaming laptop. Offered with a choice of three displays, the new ROG Zephyrus G14 also has plenty of ports and up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, among other features.

ASUS has showcased the ROG Flow X13 (2023), a 13.4-inch convertible that offers new AMD and NVIDIA hardware. Available later this quarter in Europe, the latest ROG Flow X13 comes with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 Zen 4 APU, an RTX 4070 GPU and a choice of two displays, among other features.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 have finally made their way to laptops. Both SKUs are up to 4x faster than their Ampere predecessors while consuming remarkably less power. Gamers can try them out starting on February 8 starting at US$1,999.

Dell has launched the Alienware x16 at CES 2023 with Intel Raptor Lake-H and Nvidia RTX 40 Laptop GPU options up to the RTX 4090. The Alienware x16 embodies the new Legend 3.0 design language and features Dolby Vision displays, an optional CherryMX mechanical keyboard, and vapor chamber cooling for the high-end SKUs with RTX 4080 and RTX 4090.

Nvidia has announced the mobile versions of its Ada Lovelace-based RTX 4000 graphics cards. The GeForce RTX 4070, RTX 4060 and RTX 4050 will supposedly deliver GeForce RTX 3080-class performance while consuming a third of the power. Gaming laptops featuring the GPUs will be available starting February 22 at US$999.

Alienware x14 R2 has landed on the gaming notebook scene with the 13th gen Raptor Lake mobile CPUs and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics. The laptop retains the aesthetic Alienware’s x-series notebooks are known for while packing an improved display. Additionally, the machine features the Alienware X series 1-Zone keyboard with AlienFX per-key RGB.

Dell is re-introducing the 18-inch form factor with the Alienware m18. The Alienware m18 comes in both Intel/Nvidia and all-AMD options while offering a choice between QHD+ 165 Hz and FHD 480 Hz displays. Buyers can also configure the Alienware m18 with a CherryMX keyboard and up to 9 TB of quad-storage configurations.

Gigabyte has announced two new high-end gaming laptops, the Aorus 17X and Aorus 15X. Both feature 240 Hz QHD screens, a 13th-generation Intel Alder Lake processor, up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and a 99 Wh battery.

LG has introduced a trio of new OLED Smart TVs for 2023. Arriving before the LG A3 and LG B3, the LG C3, G3 and Z3 all rely on the α9 Gen6 4K AI processor and offer a new version of webOS, among other features. LG has included AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC and HDMI 2.1a support too.

Dell's Concept Nyx is an exploratory idea for future methods of connecting people for business, gaming, and more. The crux of Concept Nyx is the personalization of tools like mixed reality cameras and gaming controllers.

Samsung has announced a new version of the Odyssey Neo G9, its flagship gaming monitor. Not only has Samsung equipped the new Odyssey Neo G9 with a larger panel this time around, but it has also upgraded the Odyssey Neo G9 to an 8K resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate, among other changes.

Equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, and a 300 Hz IPS FHD display, last year's Asus ROG Strix G15 has a list price of US$1,299.99 on Amazon. However, the ongoing 23% discount pushes this gaming laptop below the US$1,000 threshold, allowing those interested to get it for US$999.99.

The Ryzen 9 5900HS/RTX 3050 Ti-powered Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 limited edition gaming laptop comes as part of a retail bundle that also includes a Remix DJ mixer pad alongside an Allan Walker-branded cap, sleeve, and socks. The GA401QEC-K2064T model is discounted by 38% — US$600 down from the Amazon list price of US$1,599.99.

Despite its large 70 Wh battery pack, the Victus 15 lasts for just a fraction of most other gaming laptops when running on battery power. Runtimes are so short that there could potentially be a bug with the numerous power profile settings.

Signs of the Lenovo Legion Y700 8-inch Android gaming tablet receiving a global launch soon have grown stronger. Recent clues indicated that the Legion Y700 might escape its domestic borders of China and now there are more hints that a worldwide release for the potential Apple iPad Mini 6 rival is on the cards.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti aka GeForce RTX 4080 12 GB has been benchmarked on 3DMark, where it performs on par with the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, but lags behind the Radeon RX 7900 XTX and 7900 XT. Nvidia is said to launch the graphics card at CES 2023.

The Steam Winter Sale is in full swing, discounting some of the best games to much more reasonable prices. Let's take a look at some excellent open-world games that have had their prices slashed to below US$15 thanks to Steam's biggest annual event.

With a list price of US$2,599, the MSI Raider GE66 12UGS-238 gaming laptop is quite expensive. However, the 24% Amazon discount brings this Intel Core i7-12700H-powered machine below the US$2,000 threshold. It also sports NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics, Thunderbolt 4, 32 GB memory, and 1 TB storage.

The Steam Winter Sale is, perhaps ironically, one of the hottest gaming events around, and usually features steep discounts on some of the best games currently available. As a result, some excellent action-adventure titles have been discounted to below US$5.

Intel's upcoming Raptor Lake-HX is now almost confirmed thanks to a recent leak of an MSI Raider GE78 HX laptop powered by the Core i9-13980HX on Geekbench. The CPU seems to be offering desktop-class performance with single-core and multi-core scores almost on par with a 170 W AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. The Core i9-13980HX also seems to be significantly faster than a leaked 12-core Apple M2 Max running the same benchmark.

Images of the Nintendo Switch OLED Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition have shown up online. The console has a Zelda-themed dock and Joy-cons, but does not include a copy of the game with it.

One of the best-performing RTX 3060 gaming laptops on the market has now been discounted by more than US$500, which makes the Asus TUF Gaming F15 a quite intriguing choice in the price range around US$1,000.

The sleek wireless gaming headset, which can also be connected to Sony's PlayStation 4 and 5, the Nintendo Switch as well as Apple iOS devices, has hit its lowest price in 30 days on Amazon, which is where the Razer Barracuda can be now ordered for just US$119.

The Nintendo Switch 2 – or Super Switch – is unlikely to make an appearance in 2023, despite the apparent sales momentum dip experienced by the current Switch console. Discussion about the expected next-generation Switch also alluded to the possibility that plans for a Switch Pro were canned and replaced by the Switch OLED Model.

Nvidia is yet to officially confirm the existence of an RTX 4070 Ti, but Chinese e-tailers have already started taking pre-orders with prices ranging from ¥7,199 (US$1,032) to ¥8,399 (US$1,204) for partner cards. The purported RTX 4070 Ti is expected to be just a renamed RTX 4080 12 GB that was unlaunched recently following widespread criticism. Nvidia is expected to price the card similar to the unlaunched RTX 4080 12 GB at US$899 MSRP, but partner cards, particularly in Asian markets, can have a significant markup.

An Alienware gaming monitor purportedly capable of up to a 500 Hz refresh rate has surfaced on social media. According to the leak, the Alienware AW2524H will make an official appearance at CES 2023. A couple of rumored key specifications for the Alienware 500 Hz gaming monitor are included in the Twitter post along with a single image.

Samsung has launched another gaming monitor in Korea, this time in the form of the 43-inch Odyssey Neo G7 with model number G70NC. The device features a Quantum Mini-LED display that can offer 4K resolution output and a gaming-friendly refresh rate of 144 Hz. The new 43-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 has a price tag of 1.25 million won (~US$982).

The AMD FreeSync-compatible LG 32GN650-B Ultragear gaming monitor comes with a 32-inch screen and 95% sRGB color gamut alongside HDR10 support, 1 ms response time, 165 Hz refresh rate, and 2,560 X 1,440 pixels. With a list price of US$399.99, it is now down 33% on Amazon to a more wallet-friendly price tag of US$266.99.

Lenovo's first gaming Chromebook has some great specs for under $600 USD including its 12th gen Core i5 U-series CPU, full sRGB IPS display, and a native 120 Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until Chrome OS is updated to fully support the latter.

Lenovo may finally be targeting an international release for its much sought-after Legion Y700 Android gaming tablet. The 8.8-inch slate was launched in China in the first quarter of 2022, and while Lenovo has also released an Ultimate Edition of the Legion Y700 for the same market since then, a global launch for the original device has yet to be announced.

The RedMagic 8 Pro series is now official as the most "evolved" form of its premium Android mobile line to date. The brand asserts that the 2 new smartphones go beyond their traditional e-sports heritage with a more streamlined, "futuristic" design and rear cameras that may be taken seriously for once. Then again, the 8 Pro Plus (or Pro+) goes back to its roots somewhat with SKUs that combine its OEM's fastest charging tech and an RGB-lit active fan to help keep its new top-end processor cool.

Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding is today's free game on the Epic Games Store. One can redeem it in the next twenty-four hours, but it's best to wait a bit because of the sheer number of people trying to claim it.

Compatible with Sony PlayStation 3, 4, and 5 consoles and Windows 7 to Windows 11 PCs, the Logitech G29 racing wheel features stainless steel paddle shifters, a hand-stitched leather wheel, and dual-motor force feedback. With a list price of US$399.99, it is now discounted by 32% on Amazon, so the price tag reads US$272.99.

Although it sports a lower resolution than the Odyssey G9 and Neo G9, the Samsung Odyssey Ark sports a massive 55-inch screen size, four corner speakers alongside two central woofers, and provides unique features such as Cockpit Mode and Eclipse Lighting. The ongoing 29% discount brings its price down to US$2,499.99.

The 2022 Steam Winter Sale started on December 22 and ends on January 5, 2023 when we're all still recovering from the holiday feasting. Some of 2022's gaming hits will be at an all-time-low price for the duration of the sale and are well worth a first or second look.

The free PlayStation Plus games coming to Sony’s subscription service in January 2023 have been leaked. The trio of titles is headed by a hugely popular Star Wars game, while PlayStation Plus subscribers with a PS4 or PS5 can also enjoy free access to a controversial title from Bethesda and a Metroidvania-type game.

With all the talk about AAA titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sonic Frontiers, it's easy to miss some of the smaller releases that happen on Steam. There were a number of excellent titles from a range of genres that came out towards the middle of December 2022.