It’s time to assemble your gaming team, be they friends you take down zombies with, family you play with, or just a squad you compare stats with — we have a fresh batch of games for you. Grab your keyboard, your controller, or your mobile device and your hands for touch controls! Let’s jump in!
Coming Soon
Grand Theft Auto V (Cloud and Console) – April 8 When a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a terrifying psychopath find themselves entangled with some of the most frightening and deranged elements of the criminal underworld, the U.S. government and the entertainment industry, they must pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which they can trust nobody, least of all each other.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – April 8 Hitler’s zombie hordes are back for more in this spine-chilling shooter from the makers of Sniper Elite 4! Abominable occult enemies, epic weapons and a harrowing campaign for 1-4 players await in 1940s Europe, as you fight to save humankind from undead Armageddon!
Disneyland Adventures (Cloud) – April 8 Experience the magic of Disneyland! Take a journey where stories come to life and dreams come true, right in your living room! Explore Disneyland park, from Main Street U.S.A. to Critter Country, where you can join Peter Pan to battle Captain Hook, high-five Mickey Mouse, and hug Snow White.
Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure (Cloud) – April 8 Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure invites families and fans of all ages to experience the worlds of six beloved Disney/Pixar films. Team up with characters from “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up,” “Cars,” “Toy Story,” and “Finding Dory” to solve puzzles and uncover hidden secrets.
NHL 21 (Console) EA Play – April 12 Carve your path to superstardom in an expanded Be A Pro mode and go down as one of the league’s greatest. On the ice, change up your attack with all new moves, dekes, dangles, and evasive maneuvers, inspired by the league’s most groundbreaking innovators.
Rain on Your Parade (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – April 15 Travel the world as a cute cardboard cloud and ruin everybody’s day! Unlock new methods of mischief in over 50 levels, each with unique setting and objectives. Make new friends and help them too – it’s an adorable schadenfreude game!
Pathway (PC) ID@Xbox – April 15 Assemble a bold team of adventurers and journey through the desert-wilderness. In 1936, Nazi influence has spread, along with rumors of secret excavations, mysterious artefacts, and gruesome occult rituals… Outwit foes in strategic squad combat and locate ancient treasures before they fall into the wrong hands!
MLB The Show 21 (Cloud and Console) – April 20 MLB The Show 21 is coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one on Cloud (Beta), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Experience faster, deeper, and more intense moment-to-moment action on the field in 4K 60FPS on Xbox Series X|S consoles. Lead your ballplayer to Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty glory as a two-way star and face your friends on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 with cross-platform play.
Play Over 50 Cloud-Enabled Games with Xbox Touch Controls
Last September, we were thrilled to launch our first game with Xbox touch controls – Minecraft Dungeons. Since then, touch controls remain one of the top-requested features for cloud gaming, to unlock new ways to play on your Android mobile devices without the need for an external controller. Today, we’re excited to share that we have been working with developers to bring you 50+ great touch-enabled games that you can now play with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). In addition to Minecraft Dungeons, Xbox touch controls are available with Sea of Thieves, Gears 5, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Slay the Spire, and many more games.
Playing games with your friends just got easier with Xbox Game Pass on your console. Within the Game Pass, you’ll see a new section that says Play with Friends when you have people on your friends list playing any of the games in Xbox Game Pass. You’ll be able to either jump right into a joinable multiplayer session or begin installing the games your friends are currently playing!
In Case You Missed It
Genesis Noir (ID@Xbox) – Now available with Cloud A noir adventure spanning time and space. When a love triangle between cosmic beings becomes a bitter confrontation, you’ll witness a gunshot fired by a jealous god — otherwise known as The Big Bang. Jump into the expanding universe and search for a way to destroy creation and save your love.
Octopath Traveler – Now available with Cloud Eight travelers. Eight adventures. Eight roles to play. Embark on an epic journey across the vast and wondrous world of Orsterra and discover the captivating stories of each of the eight travelers. Use each character’s distinctive abilities in and out of battle and make decisions to shape your path.
DLC / Game Updates
Among Us: The Airship Update (PC) – Available now Prepare for but beware the Impostor. Hop onto the newest Among Us map: the Airship! Out now for 4 to10 players in local and online multiplayer, work together on the biggest map yet to carry out the greatest plan… though whether that’s as a Crewmate or Impostor is another question. Free hats, new tasks, and even more emergency meetings to call!
Gears 5: Free Batista as Marcus Skin – Available until April 12 Calling all Gears 5 wrestling fans! For this week only, get the Batista as Marcus skin for free in the in-game store. Previously released for use in campaign, the Batista as Marcus skin can now be equipped in Versus and Horde modes.
Grounded Photo Mode Update – Available now This update brings with it the first iteration of Photo Mode available in single-player games, allowing players to show their creativity and share images from their life in the Backyard. Along with new content and features, this update is helping to pave the way for more to come!
Halo: The Master Chief Collection Season 6 – April 7 The free Season 6 update for Halo: The Master Chief Collection starts April 7! Enjoy new content like Halo 3 armor, vehicle and weapon skins inspired by the Halo: Fireteam Raven arcade game alongside over 100 additional seasonal rewards.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Visit the Perks gallery on your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One consoles, Xbox App on Windows 10 PCs, or the Xbox Game Pass mobile app on iOS and Android to claim these rewards:
Sea of Thieves: Ocean Crawler Bundle – Available Now Claim the Ocean Crawler Bundle of cosmetics for your character and ship, including the Ocean Crawler Jacket and Hat, matching Figurehead and Sails, and a windfall of 10,000 gold!
Gems of War:Shadow Dragon Legendary Starter Pack – Available Now The Shadow Dragon Legendary Starter Pack available now via Perks, features the Shadow Dragon, Legendary weapon “Order and Chaos”, 10 legendary ingots and 1500 Souls.
Phantasy Star Online 2: April Member Pack– April 7 Snag the April Member Pack which includes Triboosts, EXP, Coins, and more!
Apex Legends: Have Faith Weapon Charm– April 8 Show the competition what you’re made of with your new Have Faith Weapon Charm, brought to you by EA Play! Equip this to your favorite weapon and battle for glory, fame, and fortune in style.
Spellbreak: Chapter 2 Pass– April 8 Join the Order of the Vowbreakers as you reveal the secrets of the cataclysmic Fracture! As an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you get a free Chapter 2 Pass that unlocks 50 levels of rewards, gold, and exclusive cosmetics. Can you complete the chapter and unlock the Vowguard Inquisitor?
Xbox Game Pass Quests
April Quests launch today with an Easter Egg theme running throughout the month! Keep your eyes peeled as you play your favorite games. Claim and redeem the Points you earn from Quests to use for Xbox gift cards and more.
Try out these select monthly Quests that can earn you double points starting today!
Forza Horizon 4– 150 points: Earn 7,000 Influence.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – 150 points: Play 2 matches.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited– 150 points: Find 2 Skyshards or Have 3 Alliance VS Alliance Kills.
Leaving Soon
It’s time to say farewell to the following games leaving the Xbox Game Pass library on April 15, as well as a batch of EA Play games to be delisted from The Play List on April 16. You know the drill, be sure to show these games some love before they go (calling all Achievement hunters here)!
If you want to keep the fun going, you can use your Game Pass member discount to save up to 20% on games leaving the Game Pass library, while Ultimate and PC members can save up to 10% on EA Play games.
April 15
Deliver Us the Moon (Console and PC)
Gato Roboto (Console and PC)
Wargroove (Console and PC)
April 16 (EA Play)
Madden 15 (Console)
Madden 16 (Console)
Madden 17 (Console)
Madden 18 (Console)
Madden 25 (Console)
NHL 18 (Console)
NHL 19 (Console)
Starting off April with games you can touch here on the ground, quests for games you can drive, Perks for games you can sail – we’re getting games in all sorts of places. If you haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass Ultimate yet, get your first month for $1 and make sure you don’t miss out on any of these games coming up. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and we’ll be back with more games this month!
Xbox Game Pass might have the upper hand over PlayStation Now when it comes to subscription services, but when it comes to GwG vs PS Plus, there’s no contest.
This is a fantastic month for PlayStation Plus subscribers – a PS5 game, a well-received PS4 exclusive, and the excellent Zombie Army 4. Regardless of how you feel about the (frankly ridiculous) console wars, both sides have been bringing lots of value to their fans recently.
Oddworld: Soulstorm (PS5 only)
Oddworld’s Abe returns in this action adventure platformer set directly after the events of 2014’s Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty. Having undergone a transformation from clueless cog in a mega-corporate machine to unlikely hero and beacon of hope, Abe must now save his fellow Mudokons by any means necessary. As you recruit more followers, stick to stealth and puzzle solve to survive or scavenge goods and craft an arsenal to liberate your friends. In Oddworld: Soulstorm, you will begin to understand the power of many will be needed to solve problems that the individual alone cannot.
Days Gone (PS4, PS5 BC)
Ride into a desperate, dog-eat-dog open world of the Pacific Northwest as drifter and bounty hunter, Deacon St. John. Risk the threats of the broken road on the back of your trusty bike as you face swarms of mindless feral Freakers – and equally terrifying humans. Unpredictable weather and different times of day and night can cause incredible danger and shocking surprises… and everything wants you dead. Devise your strategies as you customise weapons and skills, craft traps and upgrade your bike as you try and survive the unforgiving wilderness.
“Zombie Army 4: Dead War has surprised me in so many ways. It looks amazing, production values are excellent, and the shooting mechanics are outstanding, but it also manages to remain fun tens of hours down the line, and the great progression system means you always have something to strive towards. Where the previous games were entertaining in small doses, this is a game I can envision myself coming back to again and again.”
All of these games will be available from 6th April 2021 for PlayStation gamers with an active PS Plus subscription.
In what is arguably their biggest power move to date, Microsoft has announced it is bringing MLB The Show 21 (Standard Edition) to Xbox Game Pass on Day One (April 20th) for Xbox One and Series X|S, and also Android phones and tablets with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).
Not only is this the first time the formerly PS exclusive franchise has come to the current generations of Xbox consoles, but it’s also going to be a day one drop at no extra cost above the standard Game Pass subscription cost. This news must be a bitter pill to swallow for PlayStation gamers who have supported the franchise for all of the years where it was an exclusive title. To add insult to injury, the PlayStation 4 and 5 versions will be £49 and £59 respectively.
Despite being developed by a PlayStation Studios family developer, the publisher is listed as MLB, so we can only imagine this deal was made between Microsoft and MLB – we’ve already seen forums awash with figurative pitchfork-waving mobs angry at Sony, but this feels a bit unfair considering Sony likely had little or no part in making the deal.
Controversy surrounding the launch aside, this is great news for Xbox gamers, as MLB The Show is widely regarded as being not just the best baseball game, but one of the best sports games, period. Who knows, maybe a few Xbox gamers who get to sample the quality of some PlayStation Studios first-party output may be tempted to pick up a PS5 (if you can actually beat the scalpers).
As we said from the beginning, this is an incredible moment for all of us and bringing the franchise to more players and baseball fans is something that we at MLB, MLB Players, Inc., and Xbox are all excited about. We can’t wait for Xbox fans to experience the fastest, deepest, and most intense moment-to-moment baseball action yet. With pinpoint pitching, brand new fielding mechanics, and gameplay styles, Xbox gamers are in for a treat when MLB The Show 21 launches on April 20.
MLB The Show 21 rockets the franchise onto the next generation of video game consoles with a huge range of improvements, enhancements, and optimizations that make The Show the ultimate Major League Baseball experience. Thousands of new animations, revolutionary innovation on gameplay, and an all-new Stadium Creator let you own The Show like never before.
Jamie Leece, MLB Senior Vice President, Games & VR
MLB The Show 21 launches on the 20th April 2021, for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Another month, another four games come to Games with Gold
Games with Gold has been going for so long it feels like they must have given away all the good games now and we’re left with, well, this lot. They aren’t terrible, but when you see what Sony is giving away each month you can’t help but feel a little disappointed. At least Game Pass is still bringing in the hits and day one titles like Outriders and MLB The Show 21.
As usual, you are getting two Xbox One games and two Xbox 360 titles (playable on Xbox One/Series X|S via backwards compatibility).
*Truck Racing Championship is sold as European Truck Racing Championship outside of North America
Vikings: Wolves of Midgard “Journey to the shores of Midgard, a world based on mythology with a fantasy twist. Join a notorious band of Viking warriors and take up the fight against the fearsome Jotan and the beasts of Ragnarok. Master mighty weapons including sword and shield, two-handed hammers, axes, and bows, and vanquish the fiendish creatures of Fimbulwinter which threatens to end all life.”
Truck Racing Championship We reviewed this game, saying, “I really enjoyed the career mode, and the challenge of learning the handling characteristics of the big trucks was welcomed, but I couldn’t help feel the whole package was lacking. From the overly simplistic design of the menus, to the awkwardness of finding the leaderboard times in time trial, I was never overly impressed with FIA ETRC. I enjoyed the racing, and they did really well in conveying the feeling of throwing a big truck around a circuit, but as a cohesive package, I found it lacking depth and substance. For fans of the series, however, the adherence to the real world rules and regulations, and the quality of the racing, makes this a worthwhile purchase.”
Dark Void I roughly remember this Xbox 360 game from way back when, and seem to recall thinking, “Meh, that was alright-ish.”
“Step into the Void, a sinister parallel world full of hostile aliens and deep mystery. Dark Void showcases powerful weapons, where a combination of ground-based combat and jetpack powered dogfights bring a thrilling dynamic. Experience the seamless transition between fight and flight in this epic adventure.”
Hard Corps: Uprising Play the retro run-and-gun action title, Hard Corps: Uprising. Write your own legend in the grueling trenches of Arcade mode or upgrade and build up your soldier in Rising mode, where only the best of the best can survive and achieve ultimate victory.
If, like many people, you’ve been struggling to get hold of an RTX 3070, there is stock available (sort of). Acer’s excellent Orion 3000 PO3-620 is available with an RTX 3070, and you can buy one today, with free next day delivery:
Priced at just £1499, this is a phenomenal deal, especially when the GPU alone is trading hands from upwards of £800 from resellers and scalpers.
We recently reviewed the updated Orion 3000 PO3-620 with an RTX 2060 (£1299), and we were already very impressed. Upgrading to a 3070 for just £200 more is an exceptionally good deal.
Our review unit of the Orion 3000: RTX 3070 is due next week. Once it’s in our office we’ll be able to give you the full lowdown on the performance, but I’m confident it’s going to be impressive and very hard to beat at that price.
Free Spool-Reel With Every Hugely Impractical Cable Sold!
London UK, 1st April 2021 snakebyte, one of the leading global suppliers of consumer electronics and gaming accessories announced today the launch of a 500m PS5 USB cable, finally answering one of the most asked questions in cable management: “Will it reach?”
Cable management has long been the nemesis of every gamer, who until today have had to choose between crouching in front of their console while their controller charges or creating a dangerous series of daisy-chains to make cables long enough to reach the couch.
snakebyte’s CHARGE & DATA:CABLE 500™ opens up a range of options for gamers keen to take advantage of the latest generation of consoles.
Not only can they sit comfortably on their own couch while their controller charges, but they can also visit anywhere else in their postcode and still be connected. It’s a great way to experience nature and get some fresh air, whilst always being fully charged wherever you go. A truly next-gen experience.
When not in use the CHARGE & DATA:CABLE 500™ can be safely stowed away in its handy reel, which only requires a team of six to operate. Perfect for sharpening teamwork skills before taking on that next multiplayer raid.
Marc-Alexander Knipschild, Head of Marketing at snakebyte Group said, “We’ve always said will go to any lengths to give gamers what they need, and today’s announcement proves that. I’m proud that the team has been able to go the extra mile – or in this case half a kilometre – and provide a truly unique option to solve cable management woes.”
Check back with us for even more totally not fake April Fools related news stories!
The espresso Display is a great way to add touchscreen functionality to your PC
Manufacturer: espresso
Model: espresso Display 13
Price when reviewed: £249
Supplied by: espresso
Slim and light
The first thing you will notice about the espresso Display is how compact it is: At just 5.5mm thin, it is the slimmest portable display on the market. It’s very lightweight, too, weighing just 700 grams.
With its stylish construction, the espresso Display has a distinctly premium feel, similar to a flagship smartphone or tablet. The main body and edges are manufactured from light-grey aluminium, with a dual-layer glass display fitted snugly into the frame. Impressively, espresso has eliminated all panel gaps and there are no visible joins or external screws.
The espresso Display has a minimalist design. An espresso logo is placed centrally on the lower panel, with a larger logo and espresso Display text logo on the rear. There are also very few inputs and controls. Due to the way it works, there is no need for a power button – it simply turns on when a signal is detected. This means you only have a pair of buttons on the left side for controlling volume and brightness above a 2.5mm audio jack, and the mini-HDMI and USB-C ports along the right edge.
Bezels around the display are very thin and uniform at the sides and top, with a larger lower bezel and an additional larger aluminium panel at the bottom of the display. Essentially, it looks like someone has taken the screen from a high-end laptop and turned it into a beautiful standalone display.
The touchscreen worked very reliably in our tests, responding well to swipes, pinch to zoom and multitouch inputs. I did find the display surface wasn’t as smooth as on most mobile devices. It’s not exactly sticky, but scrolling through pages wasn’t as smooth as I’m accustomed to.
There is no integrated kickstand or mount included with the display, but you can purchase accessories from espresso:
Flip case with integrated stand – £39
Mount Pro (magnetic VESA stand compatible mount) – £39
Mount Go (magnetic multi-position stand) – £39
My personal preference would be the Mount Go, as this offers the best balance of functionality and size. Without a stand, you need to either hold the display or lean it up against something, but on a smooth surface the display has a tendency to slip. I used a foam tablet stand, but there are loads of makeshift options available if necessary.
What’s in the box?
USB-C display/charge cable
Mini-HDMI to HDMI cable
USB-A to USB-C Cable
Microfibre cleaning cloth
Instruction manual
Our review unit also came with a travel carrying case:
Connectivity
The espresso Display utilises simple plug-and-play functionality and supports a wide range of, but not all, devices. Full details of compatible devices can be found with this link. There is no battery inside the espresso Display, meaning it needs to either draw power from the device you are connected to, or you will need to use an additional cable to provide power.
There are three input ports: The top USB-C connector is for power delivery and also has passthrough charging capabilities if enough power is delivered. The middle USB-C connector is for display connections or for enabling the touchscreen when connected via HDMI. Finally, the mini-HDMI to HDMI allows you to connect to any device with an HDMI output, including games consoles.
The espresso Display can be used in the following configurations:
Windows PC
Depending on your PC’s capabilities, you can connect either via USB-C if your PC supports DisplayPort over USB-C, or with HDMI. On our test PC, the notebook provided enough power to run the display, meaning we only needed one cable to connect the display.
If you use the HDMI connection, you will need a USB-C connected to the middle port to enable the touchscreen display (USB-A to USB-C will also enable touchscreen inputs). If this port doesn’t support power delivery or doesn’t have a high enough output, you will also need to use a USB-C or USB-A to USB-C cable to deliver power. Although all three PCs I tested on were able to deliver enough power to run the screen at full brightness, I also tried a range of mobile phone chargers and found they all worked without issue.
Games Consoles
To connect to Xbox Series X and S, PS4 and Xbox One consoles, I used the HDMI connection and the USB-A to USB-C cable connected to the front USB port, which worked perfectly. These consoles don’t support touch inputs, so it’s a very simple process to get up and running.
Mobile
If you are buying this display to use with your mobile, make sure it’s compatible with your device first. I have a Samsung Galaxy A71, which is a new phone, but it doesn’t support Samsung Dex which is required to use the display. Espresso has a list of officially supported devices – there are others that may be compatible, but unless it’s listed I’d be wary of purchase without confirmation first.
Mac PC
We didn’t have a Mac available for testing, but we did a bit of research: If you have a Mac, you can use the espresso Display, but you will need to buy the espresso Touch Software separately, priced at £39.99. It may seem expensive for what amounts to a driver update, however, it does allow you to set up the display to use short and long press functions and various multi-touch inputs, which dramatically improves functionality within iOS.
Nintendo Switch
The espresso Display is compatible with the Switch and is one of only a few displays that work without needing to use the dock. We didn’t have a Switch here to test with, so can’t confirm if the touch inputs work while playing Switch games.
Display
The espresso Display is available in 13.3” or 15.6” screen sizes, with a 1080p 16:9 format IPS panel running at 60Hz.
There are no display picture adjustments other than brightness, which is adjusted by long-pressing either of the left-side buttons. If you are using a PC it’s easy to make adjustments within the desktop colour settings, but for consoles or mobile devices that don’t offer granular control of the picture, you are limited to the factory calibration. This also means there is no option to enable blue-light filters or other gaming presets, but considering these generally aren’t used by many people it’s no great loss.
On our review model, the range of the colour gamut and vibrancy was excellent. The espresso Display covered an excellent 96% of the sRGB range and 75% AdobeRGB making it suitable for content creation and professional work. The default colour balance is a little warmer than my personal preference, but it’s still very close to the ideal 6500K. On PC I needed to make minor adjustments to calibrate the colour, but the factory contrast and gamma levels were spot-on.
Black levels were also excellent, with no visible clouding or backlight bleed and just the slightest hint of IPS glow in the bottom right corner. I found peak brightness to be lower than quoted, measured at 237 cd/m², however, this is suitable for a reasonably brightly lit room. The peak brightness combined with the glass screen and lack of anti-glare coating makes the espresso Display impractical for use outside, though it is visible as long as it’s not in direct sunlight. The clear glass display does make the image appear sharper, though, which is desirable on smaller displays.
Viewing angles were excellent thanks to the quality IPS display. The image is clearly visible at even the most extreme angles, with only a minor loss of colour saturation as the angles increase. Brightness uniformity is consistent, and large patches of colour remain balanced across the display.
The Grey to Grey response is slightly below average, but not too bad considering this isn’t a dedicated gaming display. Significant motion artifacts were visible on fast-paced objects, which can affect performance in games that rely on fast motion like FPS or sports games. That being said, it’s still comparable to many mid-tier gaming monitors and better than most televisions.
Audio
A downside of creating “the worlds thinnest portable display” is that it doesn’t leave enough room to fit in decent speakers. The espresso is listed as having a dual-driver speaker, however, this is a mono output, which is located on the bottom of the display. Peak volume is very low, and on anything above mid-level comes through with static hiss and distortion. Lowering the volume enough to eliminate this leaves you with a very empty sounding speaker, with no bass or mid representation and disappointing treble, reminiscent of a late 2000s mobile phone.
If you are using the display on the go, then you could possibly be reliant on the integrated audio, but the vast majority of devices you are likely to connect to have better solutions. Whether this is via Bluetooth, their own integrated speakers or a headphone jack, there’s plenty of options, and it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker by any means.
In addition to the speaker, there is also a 2.5mm headphone port. Most headphones use a 3,5mm jack, but that port wouldn’t fit into the slimline frame. Fortunately, a 3.5mm to 2.5mm converter can be bought for well under £2. We didn’t have one available to test, but seeing as this is an audio passthrough channel it shouldn’t negatively affect the audio quality.
Although there are fairly simple workarounds, audio quality is something that I hope is addressed in future revisions.
Pricing and availability
The 13” variant is available for £249, while the 15” costs £279. This is at the higher end of the scale for portable displays, but not unreasonable when you factor in the solid build quality and attractive styling, and many of the rival displays don’t have touchscreen capabilities. You will need to factor in additional costs for a display stand, which many competing devices include, but overall it’s definitely worth the investment.
Who is it for?
I found myself using the espresso display for far more things than I envisaged I would. I’m no stranger to multi-screen display setups, but the compact nature of the espresso Display actually opened up some new opportunities to me:
Console power on the go
As well as an Xbox Series X, I also have a Series S. It’s an ideal console for travelling with due to its diminutive size, but with the espresso Display, it becomes even better. Because you don’t need a power adapter for the display, it’s perfectly feasible to use the Series S on a train, as most seats have access to a power socket these days. Additionally, I’ve stayed at many hotels where either the TV is recessed into the wall, or has the ports obstructed so you can’t plug in your console. With the espresso Display, all you need is one power socket and you’re good to go!
Triple-screen laptop gaming
Many laptops nowadays have multiple display outputs, with a lot of devices I’ve reviewed recently having both DP over USB-C and HDMI outputs, and ample performance to run three displays. With two of these espresso Displays, you could easily make a portable triple screen gaming setup. Hopefully, espresso can develop a 120 Hz+ variant of the display with an improved g2g response, which would make for a stunning laptop gaming experience.
Adding touch inputs to a non-touch device
For creatives and artists, touch screen displays can boost your productivity significantly. The problem is that touchscreen-equipped notebooks are few and far between, and often prohibitively expensive. For a reasonable outlay, you get all the benefits of a touchscreen display as well as all the convenience multiple display setups bring.
Mega mobile gaming, with touch!
A few years back, when you mentioned mobile gaming people assumed you meant Candy Crush or Angry Birds, but modern mobile games are far closer to what you can get on console now. If you have a compatible device, you can play the likes of Call of Duty mobile or Fortnite on a big screen, instead of a tiny mobile phone display, and watch your KD ratio rise! If you are a fan of mobile gaming and have a compatible device, the espresso Display is ideal.
Summary
The espresso Display is a definite contender for the best portable display. Sturdy build quality and an ultra-slim profile make this an attractive and desirable product. The robust selection of connectivity options and single-cable connectivity (where supported) make this a convenient way to add extra display real estate to your setup. We’d have liked to see a brighter panel used so it was easier to use the display outside, but the overall picture quality is still good.
There are a few revisions or upgrades I’d like to see in future displays from espresso, though: The lower bezel and panel are very large, and I’d happily deal with a bit of extra thickness in exchange for slimming those down, which would also leave more space for a 3.5mm headphone port and higher-quality speaker. Finally, as we love gaming, a 120 Hz version would make this an even more attractive proposition for gamers.
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ABOUT THE GAME
Enlisted is an MMO squad based shooter for PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in World War II where you act as an infantry squad leader, tank crew or an aircraft pilot. The weaponry, soldier’s uniform, appearance and capabilities of the vehicles in the game are in line with historical facts.
Each squad consists of several soldiers who can be trained, equipped with new weapons and items and then taken into a battle. You control one soldier directly while other soldiers will be controlled by AI which obeys your orders. You can switch between soldiers and stay at the most interesting point in a battle event after part of your squad has been defeated.
Dozens of units with different specialisations participate in Enlisted battles simultaneously. This ensures maximum density and spectacularity of a battle while maintaining a high contribution with each participant for the victory of the team. Infantry, armoured vehicles and aircraft battle together and you can try several roles in just one game session.
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It’s hard to think that in the modern gaming world there is still room for a new type of first-person shooter to exist, but that’s exactly what Enlisted from Gaijin brings to the table; a whole new FPS experience.
As someone who appreciates that what makes a good FPS is grunts and guns, Enlisted will certainly appeal to the FPS purist, as it’s a nuts and bolts, no-frills hardcore shooter. Many starting weapons have one-shot kill capability.
When you join the field you have four lives – one for each of the four members of your squad. If one is shot, and you can not heal them in time, you can then switch to another member of the squad to continue. It’s only when the entire squad has been eliminated that you need to re-spawn. When you do respawn, you have to do so as a different type of squad. For example, you can start as a squad with sniper rifles, but could then have to re-spawn as a squad with submachine guns.
What sets Enlisted apart from the others is that It’s not long before you are thrown into the dynamic of the gameplay situations you will be facing. Due to the nature of the design choices of the developers, you can spend long moments seeing others around you firing, hearing more gunfire but not seeing a single soul yourself to shoot at. However, when you do it’s normally the bulk of the enemy, which if you have been strategic in your positioning will have placed you in a position to mow them down in a turkey shoot. The maps and settings the game provides are fantastic for such circumstances, as there are many routes, hiding places, and opportunities to find and then flank the enemy.
As you progress and level up, it feels like there are an almost infinite amount of ways to upgrade each squad. You can customise a solitary squad member, or completely change the entire squad, forming a different type of team altogether. This lends itself to creating an intoxicating mix of varied gameplay in each round.
As mentioned, the maps are excellent, and although it’s not clear if they are historically accurate, the wide-open expanses have plenty of places to use cover as a means to get from one objective to the next without being spotted, and not being spotted is a key element of the game. Whilst moving around the maps, one minute you may be navigating your way through foliage or open fields, before finding yourself fighting over a strategic point in a dense urban area the next. Having the right squad for the right situation is key. For example, wielding a slow loading bolt action sniper rifle in a building is tantamount to suicide, unlike the hip fire from a submachine gun in confined spaces. Equally, having a submachine gun in a vast open space is about as good as having a pea shooter if you spot an enemy.
The maps are filled with lots of points of interest, be that wreckages, undulations or emplacements, filled with colour and diversity. Using these features helps immensely with teamwork. A simple run from one point to the next via a straight line will inevitably end in death as there will be eyes all around spotting you. Sticking with your team and dashing from cover to cover a la the real tactics used in any military, ensures success.
Teams can spot for their side, which then starts to draw in the tactical element of the game and teamwork is a necessity if you want to win. You may have a lone wolf on a team piling up the kills, but if they are still allowing the enemy to capture vital objectives then no matter how many kills they get, their side will still lose. The rewards for winning also trumps any single person’s achievement. It’s all about the win baby!
To mix things up even more, there is also vehicular combat via tanks and aircraft, and anti-vehicle stationary weapons such as mounted machine guns, cannons or flak guns. The basic vehicles can of course be upgraded into beasts of the battlefield, but each team is limited to just two per team at any one point, so that creates parity for all involved and ensures that the battlefield is not swamped with vehicles. Even the most basic grunt with a basic loadout can damage or destroy vehicles too, so the dynamic of gameplay is a perfect blend of rock, paper, scissors.
Upgrading, although a little overwhelming to begin with, becomes much clearer a few hours in. As you play, you discover not only your own gameplay strengths and weaknesses but also that of your squads. You can then train and/or upgrade the teams you choose to suit your playstyle further. The further you progress into the game, the more options you have to unlock different squad types with their own different set of skills and weapons.
Finally, the game also features different locations and campaigns to follow or specifically focus on. Within each campaign will be a new set of squad teams to learn and master, alongside new locations to explore, which will draw the players in to wanting more and more. It’s very addictive! Some game modes are set out over large areas, others are claustrophobically small, so even the same game mode can play out differently dependant on the map.
With a wide range of historically accurate weapons, loadouts and divisions of squads to choose from, set across varied campaigns during World War Two that also bring various game modes, once you find your niche it will seriously start to take up your gaming time.
With so many variables and so much content to explore in vastly different settings and gameplay environments, Enlisted is the FPS breath of fresh air many FPS fans have yearned for, for years.
Note: This feature is based upon the preview build of Enlisted. When the game launches, it will feature even more weapons, locations and vehicles, alongside gameplay improvements and updates.
When ASUS released the Zephyrus G14 last year, it was both critically acclaimed and popular with consumers, showing that there is a strong market for ultraportable devices that pack some serious grunt. The Zephyrus G14 has been updated in ROG’s 2021 lineup (review coming soon), but ASUS hasn’t stopped there.
The ROG Flow X13 is ASUS’s newest entry to the high-performance convertible market, but it comes with a ROG twist – well, two actually. As this is their first 2-in-1 gaming laptop, they’ve gone all out and made this very, very special.
The version we have been sent for testing is the Supernova edition, which means it is fitted with AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 5980HS CPU and 32 GB of LPDDR4X memory, clocked at 4266 MHz. Both these components are very efficient with their power, helping keep temperatures and noise down, as well as helping extend the battery life.
On its own merits, the ROG Flow X13 is a powerhouse productivity machine, but it is also available with ASUS’s new XG Mobile external GPU. The eGPU is fitted with a mobile RTX 3080 with a proprietary connector designed to eliminate bottlenecks, and also serves as a docking station to increase the limited number of connections on the notebook itself.
You aren’t just restricted to the eGPU, though, as there is also a GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB MaxQ GPU inside. It’s not going to amaze anyone with the graphics it can produce, but considering the wafer-thin design of the laptop, it’s still a welcome addition. The GTX 1650 is capable of running games reasonably well, as long as you are prepared to make some concessions with graphical fidelity – unfortunately, Ultra settings are mostly off the table.
ASUS is apparently bringing an RTX 30 series GPU to the ROG Flow X13 later this year (possibly the rumoured RTX 3050), so if you plan on using this mostly as a portable gaming machine without the eGPU, it may be worth waiting for the upgrade.
The XG Mobile eGPU sadly wasn’t available for us to test, therefore this review will be based on the performance with the discrete GPU and I/O of the notebook only.
Flip and fold
There are several ways of using the Flow X13, made possible by the touchscreen display. You can use it in standard clamshell mode with access to the full size tenkeyless keyboard; folded into stand mode, which places the keyboard deck flat against the desk; in tent mode, which aids cooling and is ideal when playing games with a controller; and finally tablet mode, with the screen flipped all the way back.
In clamshell and stand mode, the screen hinge is fairly stable, although I found the screen wobbled too much when tapping away at the touchscreen. In the tent and especially tablet orientation, though, using the touchscreen is far more user friendly. We had the ASUS Pen stylus sent to us, and it’s a very useful accessory when using these modes. It has a pressure-sensitive nib, as well as a pair of buttons for right-click and erase actions. It’s a very accurate and reliable stylus, working well when held at significant angles. ASUS’s handwriting recognition software works superbly well, even correctly recognising my sloppiest cursive, though I still prefer to use the virtual keyboard.
With most laptops, I tend to use them at a table or a desk, but with the Flow X13 I was using it all around the house. It’s the perfect device for anyone not tied to a desk, and it’s exactly the kind of all-in-one device I need for work and entertainment. The high-performance CPU and proper keyboard are there for when I need them, but if I want to fold it into a tablet to watch some movies on the sofa or play a few games in comfort, I can.
Professional styling
Although this is a ROG device, it has a much more restrained design than most gamer-focussed notebooks. The lid and base are free of any major flourishes, with a simple diagonally ridged texture covering the lid and base, and tighter ridges on the keyboard tray. Underneath the display is a discreet ROG FLOW text logo, and on the lid is an iridescent purple metal plate with an embossed ROG logo that is unique to the Supernova edition. Despite this simple styling, the ROG Flow X13 oozes class and feels every bit the premium device.
The side bezels are fairly slim, however, the top bezel is slightly larger to accommodate the 720p webcam, which is somewhat of a rarity on ASUS’s 2021 range.
Fully embracing the ultraportable design, the ROG Flow X13 is just 15.8mm thin, and it weighs just 1.3 Kg. With 29.9 cm width and 22.2 cm depth, its profile is only fractionally larger than a sheet of A4 paper. Default display scaling is set to 150%, however, I found it limited how much fit onto the screen, so I used 100%. This is an entirely personal preference, but if you need to fit large amounts of data on the screen, it should be noted that 100% scaling makes text very small.
As we now expect from ASUS, build quality is superb. They have used a mixture of metal and plastic in the construction that gives the Flow X13 a high-quality feel in the hand. Considering how thin the notebook is, there is almost no flex in the case, the keyboard tray is extremely sturdy, and the lid, which can often have the stability of a slice of cheese on ultrathin devices, is reassuringly sturdy thanks to the Gorilla Glass display.
Internals and upgrades
While the SSD can be upgraded, you are limited to the smaller form factor M.2 2230, which does limit the maximum capacity available at the moment. The included 1 TB seems to be the most storage you can squeeze from an SSD this size at the time of writing, though the performance of the included WD PC SN530 is sufficient that it’s not worth upgrading for marginally faster read/write times.
There is no space for a second drive inside the notebook, nor in the XG Mobile, so it’s definitely worth going for the 1 TB SSD over the 512 GB.
The LPDDR4X SO-DIMMS are soldered on to the board, and cannot be replaced, so make sure you get enough for what you need when choosing the model of Flow X13 you want. In our test model (GV301QH) the 32 GB RAM fitted is ample, but the 16 GB RAM in the lower models is still sufficient for most current games.
Keyboard and trackpad
I’m impressed that ASUS managed to squeeze a full keyboard into such a tight space, and they’ve done so without having to compromise on its quality. Impressively, you still get 1.7mm of key travel, and the typing feel is excellent. The keys have a quiet but satisfying click that’s reminiscent of a mechanical keyboard, and the perfectly balanced activation pressure means they are great for both writing and gaming. Each key also has a (very) subtle curve, but I didn’t find it felt much different to other notebook keys.
Rather than the typical RGB backlight of ROG notebooks, the Flow X13’s keyboard is lit up by a tasteful white backlight. It illuminates the keys nicely and in addition to making the keys easy to locate, it adds to the clean and professional aesthetic. With the backlight turned off the translucent lettering is hard to see in low-light conditions, but the multi-step backlight brightness helps keep the lighting from becoming intrusive.
There are four hotkeys at the top left of the keyboard that control volume, mic muting and a quick-launch for the Armoury Crate software. Many other settings can be activated with Fn key shortcuts, such as display brightness adjustment, keyboard backlighting, sleep mode and more. The arrow keys are the half-height buttons I’ve become accustomed to on ASUS’s newest range, and I’m happy to say they feel far more natural now that I’m accustomed to them. The arrow keys also double as the Home, End, and Page Up and Down keys. Although I prefer dedicated keys for these functions, it didn’t take long to get used to using them, and it’s an acceptable compromise considering the compact nature of the Flow X13.
The trackpad is a decent size considering how little space is available for it, and it has good edge to edge responsiveness. The under-surface mouse buttons have a solid clicking action, without caving in the bottom corners of the touchpad like happens on cheaper devices, but I still prefer single or two-finger tapping the trackpad. In general, I usually use a mouse with notebooks but due to the limited connectivity I found I needed to use the touchpad more often than usual. Other than having to increase the sensitivity, it worked well enough for most tasks.
I did see some promo images showing an illuminated number pad displayed on the trackpad, like on the Zephyrus Duo SE, but I couldn’t see how to activate it (though it may not be available on the Supernova edition).
Connectivity
Without the multiple ports available on the XG Mobile, you’re left with an incredibly sparse amount of connectivity options. There is a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, 2x USB-C Gen 2 ports, HDMI 2.0b and a combi-jack for a headset. One of the USB-C ports is under the removable cover that houses the eGPU connection. It’s not unusual for a convertible to have so few ports, but for gamers who typically like to use several peripherals, it can limit the usefulness.
The USB-C ports can be used for DisplayPort 1.4 and power delivery. It’s important to note that charging is carried out via a 100 W USB-C charger, so when you have the Flow X13 plugged in you will only have one USB-A and one USB-C port available.
This did inconvenience me during testing: we use around 500-600 GB of games and benchmarking software, and it’s a laborious task transferring and installing all of these files. I would normally just plug in a mouse, but the port was taken up by the external HDD. It’s a minor complaint, in all fairness, but it did highlight that it could be impractical if you don’t have a decent USB hub.
The power button on the right side could do with a raised bump or some other tactile feedback to help you locate, though I’m sure with frequent use it will become more intuitive. It also has an integrated fingerprint reader that works with Windows Hello for unlocking your device, which I found to work consistently.
On the left side: ROG XG Mobile interface (inc. USB-C), HDMI 2.0b, 3.5mm audio combi-jack
On the right side: USB-C, USB-A, power button (fingerprint reader)
Audio
There are two 1W speakers on the underside of the Flow X13, and although 2 watts of audio power isn’t a lot, it’s adequate for a notebook of this size. They don’t go very loud, but the sound isn’t tinny or sharp, and it’s great for watching movies. The overall tone is well balanced, and the Flow even has decent bass clarity. This makes for a well-rounded sound which is surprisingly enjoyable to listen to.
Display
The ROG Flow X13 is available with two different panels:
Because this display is a touchscreen it is covered with clear glass and doesn’t have any form of anti-glare coating. While this does have the slight drawback of showing reflections in direct light, this is more than offset by the increased clarity.
I was delighted by the vibrancy and colour accuracy of the Flow X13. It’s capable of displaying a rich palette of colours that look absolutely sumptuous. Watching Futurama whilst testing the battery, I was impressed with how the vast swathes of colour remained consistent across the entire display. The Flow displayed subtle gradations of colour well, with only subtle banding visible.
The white balance is almost perfect straight out of the box, and I didn’t have to make any adjustments to get the display to meet my preferences.
Black levels were remarkable. The Open Seas episode of Our Planet on Netflix has some stunning underwater scenes that can really highlight how well a display handles very dark images and high contrast scenes, as well as any clouding, backlight bleed or edge glow. The Flow X13 presents itself very well in this scenario. Blacks, while not as inky-black as an OLED, are far better than you would expect from an IPS display. Detail is retained in the darkest parts of the scene, offset by bright whites and colours with no haloing. This also helps give the display a good amount of contrast.
Maximum brightness is average for a notebook display, at around 340 nits, but it feels far brighter as you are normally much closer to this display. It is just about bright enough to use outside, however, the reflective surface of the display can make it very hard to see if it is sunny. Brightness levels are consistent across the entire display when viewed straight on. General viewing angles are outstanding, with the display clearly visible from any angle, and there is only a monitor reduction in vibrancy as the angles increase.
Although the image quality is excellent, the response rates are underwhelming, with the display showing a lot of ghosting, even at low motion speeds. If you enjoy playing fast-paced games, it’s likely to be unwelcome and distracting when using the integrated display.
A couple of notes on the display:
The ROG Flow X13 supports adaptive sync, but only when connected to an external display.
We were sent the FHD display for review, but I’d like to quickly touch on the UHD display: For a device this size, the 4k resolution display is arguably overkill, however, given the power of the processor and compatibility with the XG Mobile, this is likely to be a desirable resolution for content creators and design professionals. Secondly, using the Flow X13 in tablet mode brings the display naturally much closer to you, so you are far more likely to appreciate the increase in clarity.
Gaming Performance
Without the eGPU, the gaming performance of the ROG Flow X13 is middling at best. With the exception of some esports titles or less demanding games, you will need to drop the settings to medium or lower to hit 60 fps at 1920×1200. Forza Horizon 4 is a pleasant exception, reaching 68 fps with the Ultra preset applied, but when we reach demanding titles, like Control, low presets need to be applied to reach 60 fps.
If you don’t mind playing in the 30-45 fps range, most games can be played at Ultra. Considering the smaller screen size you are far better served tinkering with the settings and aiming for medium to high at 60 fps. From our testing, we found keeping shadow details at a reasonable level prevented the image from looking too plain. Turning off effects like voluminous fog, screen-space reflections, depth of field and ambient occlusion didn’t negatively affect the overall experience too much but gave us enough overhead to maintain a sharp image and still hit a playable 60 fps.
While the gaming performance is not suitable for this to be your sole gaming device, for gaming on-the-go, it’s a perfectly acceptable compromise.
As a dual-purpose system, the Flow X13 should benefit hugely from having the eGPU. You have a portable system that’s small and light, and immensely practical thanks to its ability to transform into an uber-powerful tablet if needed, but can be transformed into a gaming beast when docked with the eGPU. You can simply leave your monitor, mouse, keyboard and other peripherals connected up at your desk at home, and with a single cable transform your notebook into a fully-fledged gaming machine.
ROG Flow X13 Benchmarks
All benchmark tests are carried out with power management on high-performance, factory GPU and CPU overclocking turned on if available, and fan control set to Turbo in the Armoury Crate software.
Gaming Benchmarks
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
1080p – Highest preset – 39
1080p – Medium preset – 49
Forza Horizon 4
1080p – Ultra preset – 68
1440p – Medium preset – 91
Gears 5
1080p – Ultra preset – 33
1080p – Medium preset – 56.7
Gears Tactics
1080p – Ultra preset – 38.6
1080p – Medium preset – 76.9
720p – Ultra preset – 62.4
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (RTX On)
1080p – Ultra preset – 55* Ran out of video memory
1080p – Medium preset – 82
Total War Saga: Troy (average across all three scenarios)
1080p – Ultra preset – 36.1
1080p – Medium preset – 97.9
Borderlands 3
1080p – Ultra preset – 27
1080p – Medium preset – 51.95
Control
1080p – Ultra preset – 28
1080p – Medium preset – 37
1080p – Low preset – 61
Destiny 2
1080p – Ultra preset – 45
1080p – Medium preset – 61
720p – Ultra preset – 75
Minecraft
1080p – Ultra preset – 110
Fortnite
1080p – Epic preset – 47
1080p – High preset – 62
1080p – Medium preset – 154
CS:GO
1080p – Ultra preset – 140
Rocket League
1080p – Ultra preset – 170
ROG Flow X13 System Benchmark Results:
Stacked up against other gaming devices, the system performance is excellent. Compared with most other convertibles and ultra-thin devices, however, it’s simply outstanding. AMD’s 5000 series Ryzen CPUs have been kicking the figurative ass of the benchmark tests we use, even outperforming many recent high-end desktop CPUs. Needless to say, this performance translates into super-fast productivity and a snappy and responsive user experience.
I threw everything I had at the Flow X13 and it barely broke a sweat. Even when plugging in an external 4k display, opening dozens of browser tabs and editing software, and streaming 4k video, there wasn’t even a hint of slowdown. I’m sure there are people in technical professions who may be able to put the CPU under more strain, but for your average user, the Flow X13 has more than enough power to handle anything you can think of.
Considering the R9 5980HS only has a TDP of 35 W (up to 45 W on boost), the performance is exemplary. Both single and multi-threaded results are very good – not quite up to the levels of the more power-hungry Ryzen 5000 variants in the new ASUS ROG Strix and Zephyrus machines, but significantly better than the current Intel competition (although the new 11th Gen Intel processors are being rolled out soon).
Results were also good on battery power. In performance mode, you can expect around 80% of the grunt you get whilst plugged in.
As we typically only review gaming hardware, we don’t have any other comparable convertibles to weigh up performance against. However, after a quick search of our fellow reviewers’ results, it’s quite clear that the ROG Flow X13 is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition in the 13” convertible/ultra-thin category. The Flow X13 excels when it comes to digital content creation and productivity.
System Tests:
Cinebench R15
CineBench – CPU (Single)(cb)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 238 cb
CineBench – CPU (Multi)(cb)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 2070 cb
CineBench – GPU (OpenGL)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 142.98 fps
Cinebench R20
CineBench – CPU (Single)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 581
CineBench – CPU (Multi)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 4784
MP Ratio
8.24 x
Cinebench R23
CineBench – CPU (Single)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 1504
CineBench – CPU (Multi)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 12170
MP Ratio
8.09 x
3DMark
3DMark – Time Spy (DX12)
Time Spy Score – 3341
Gaming Score – 3008
CPU Score – 9000
3DMark – Fire Strike (DX11)
Fire Strike Score – 7743
Graphics Score – 8228
Physics Score – 24172
Combined Score – 3147
PCMark 10
Settings: Turbo
PCMark 10 – 6242
Essentials – 10031
App Start-up – 14233
Video Conferencing – 7753
Web Browsing – 9148
Productivity – 9344
Spreadsheets – 10631
Writing – 8214
Content Creation – 7042
Photo Editing – 8892
Rendering and Visualisation – 8005
Video Editing – 4908
PCMark 10 – Battery power
Settings: Performance, power saving
PCMark 10 – 4740
Essentials – 8137
App Start-up – 9099
Video Conferencing – 7838
Web Browsing – 7556
Productivity – 6712
Spreadsheets – 8289
Writing – 5436
Content Creation – 5294
Photo Editing – 6039
Rendering and Visualisation – 6150
Video Editing – 3995
Settings: Silent, maximum power saving
PCMark 10 – 3314
Essentials – 6198
App Start-up – 5696
Video Conferencing – 6989
Web Browsing – 5983
Productivity – 4126
Spreadsheets – 5309
Writing – 3208
Content Creation – 3864
Photo Editing – 4667
Rendering and Visualisation – 4623
Video Editing – 2674
UserBenchMark
Gaming – 40% Speed Boat
Desktop – 96% Nuclear Submarine
Workstation – 41% Speed Boat
CPU – Gaming – 92.30%
Graphics – 36%
Boot Drive – 228%
Storage
The 30mm Western Digital PC SN530 M.2 NVMe SSD in the Flow X13 performs well, even if it is a touch slower than the 80mm M.2 SSDs in most high-end gaming laptops. Peak read and write speeds were 2459 MB/s and 1976 MB/s respectively. In use this equates to a few extra seconds loading time in games, but it never felt sluggish.
There is only one available SSD slot inside the laptop, so it’s advisable to opt for the 1 TB drive to save having to upgrade down the line.
CrystalDiskMark
The following are the results recorded in CrystalDiskMark, with figures measured in MB/s.
Cooling and temperatures
The cooling in the ROG Flow X13 is highly efficient, especially considering the ultrathin layout. ASUS has achieved this through a combination of highly-engineered flat heatpipes, liquid metal compound, a set of three full size heatsinks and the newly upgraded Arc Flow fans: ASUS’s Arc Flow fans are particularly impressive, with the CPU fan spooling up to 9000 rpm and 6800 rpm for the GPU fan, slurping in cool air.
Surface temperatures can become quite high towards the rear of the keyboard tray and on the base of the notebook, but common contact points around the keys and under the palm rests remain well managed.
We ran AIDA64 for 30 minutes with the notebook in clamshell configuration to test heat build-up, as well as check for any throttling of the CPU under sustained load.
Turbo mode
After 5 minutes the CPU had reached 80℃, however, this swiftly dropped down to 73℃, where it remained for the remainder of the test. After an initial surge to 4.5 GHz, the processor maintained a solid 3.7 GHz for the full duration of the test. The fans ran at full speed in Turbo mode, and had a peak volume of 44.5 dBa.
Performance mode
Temperatures rose to and stabilised at just 67℃, while the CPU frequency dropped to a steady 3.4 GHz. Fan speed was even between the CPU and GPU, with both running at 5600 rpm, at a volume of 36.1 dBa.
Silent mode
In silent mode, the CPU stabilised at 2.9 GHz for the duration of the test. After a brief initial rise, the CPU temperature stabilised at 64℃. Fan speed was consistently between 3600 and 3900 rpm, with a peak volume of just 26 dBa.
GPU
The low TGP of the GTX 1650 and the excellent cooling kept the temperatures at or below 70℃ during stress tests, which again is great.
Overall, this is excellent performance under load that should assure the longevity of the CPU and GPU. In Turbo mode, you get excellent sustained performance at a volume lower than most gaming notebooks, while Performance mode offers a great balance between noise and power.
Silent mode was extremely impressive, giving decent performance whilst keeping temperatures down and fan noise low. If you need to work in an environment where you need to keep system noise down, you still get satisfactory performance.
Battery Life
The ROG Flow X13 has a 4-cell lithium-ion, with 62 WHrs capacity. Battery life is below average, though, even with the lower power consumption of the GPU and CPU. Our video playback test clocked in at 6 hours 40 minutes (100-25%, 5 hours 1 minute – adjusted), which is significantly under the projected 10 hours.
The dinky charger connects via USB-C and pumps out 100W to the notebook. This is enough to bring the ROG Flow X13 from 0-50% in just 30 minutes. In our test, from 25-100%, it took 64 minutes to reach 100% capacity.
If you mainly use your notebook plugged in or don’t need to disconnect from the mains for extended periods, ASUS’s ever-useful battery-life prolonging settings can be used. You can charge the notebook to 100% for frequent battery-powered use, 80% for moderate use, or just 60% which is designed to maximise the lifespan of the battery.
Performance on battery power is still very respectable. With maximum battery life settings, performance is roughly halved, and about 33% less powerful in performance mode. Considering how powerful the CPU is it’s still more than enough for general productivity tasks, although intensive editing tasks will take longer. For my typical usage patterns, it performed amazingly well, with no sign of slowdown. It really is a fantastic device for mobile workloads.
Although the battery life doesn’t fall that far short of other gaming devices, it is quite a lot lower than other convertibles. You may find yourself needing to plug in the charger throughout the day if you use the Flow X13 heavily. Fast-charging will bring the battery from 0-50% in around 30 minutes, which is handy for quick top-ups, but you can also use a USB-C power bank for top-ups throughout the day. Whether this will be a negative for you depends how much you use the notebook away from the charger, but I never found battery life to be an issue.
Note: Running the battery completely down on your system can significantly affect the lifespan of the cells, so we only test from 100-25%.
Video playback
100 – 25% – 5 hours 1 minute
In this test, we played Futurama until the battery reached 25% life remaining. Screen brightness was set to 50%, iGPU mode was activated (which uses the integrated GPU and deactivates the discrete GPU), maximum power-saving was turned on and flight mode was activated.
Gaming
100% – 25% – 1 hour 15 minutes
In this test, we played Minecraft in performance mode, power-saving activated, screen brightness at 50%, and WiFi turned on.
Productivity
100% – 25% – 3 hours 51 minutes
In this test, we ran PCMark10 on a loop, as it simulates a varied productivity workload. We used Performance mode with battery power saving enabled, and WiFi was turned on but not active.
Summary
If you’re in the market for a new convertible, the ROG Flow X13 is an excellent option. The Ryzen 9 CPU packs desktop-level performance into an ultra-slim and lightweight package. With the integrated GTX 1650 you can carry out some mid-level gaming on the go, or if you invest in the XG Mobile eGPU, you have an extremely powerful gaming machine. Without the XG Mobile, it doesn’t quite hit the highs of the ROG Strix or Zephyrus notebooks when it comes to outright gaming performance, but the Flow X13 has portability and flexibility, which is likely to appeal to more business focussed users or students.
There are a few drawbacks to be aware of. The display looks stunning, but the middling response rates can lead to fast-moving images looking blurry. Battery life is merely average, although fast charging and USB-C power bank compatibility go some way towards negating this. Finally, you are restricted to a very small amount of IO ports, so you’ll need a USB hub if you need more than the most limited amount of peripherals.
Minor negatives aside, this is exactly the kind of device I’ve been waiting for. Powerful performance when I need it, and a tablet or stand mode with a vivid and rich display for media consumption. It’s small and light enough to effortlessly carry around or take to meetings, but with the optional XG Mobile eGPU, I can have a hardcore gaming machine waiting at home, that can be set up and ready to roll with a single cable.
Tiger Woods’ resume includes 15 major championship wins; 82 PGA TOUR victories; 11-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year; lowest career scoring average and tied for the most career wins in PGA TOUR history, among many other accolades. He is recognized as one of the greatest golfers of all time and is heralded among the most prolific athletes in the sporting world.
“I am looking forward to making my return to the video game landscape, and with 2K and HB Studios, I’ve found the right partners to make it happen,” said Tiger Woods in January. “I’m honored to take part in this opportunity and look forward to sharing my expertise and insights as we build the future of golf video games together.”
Woods’ partnership with 2K includes rights for his name and likeness to appear exclusively in the PGA TOUR 2K franchise, as well as any other golf games published by 2K during the partnership term. Woods will play an active role in the video game landscape as an Executive Director and consultant with PGA TOUR 2K, while 2K will also partner with Woods’ TGR Foundation, which provides award-winning STEM curricula and college-access programs to offer underserved students the tools needed to thrive in school and beyond.
“In golf, there is no bigger icon than Tiger Woods. Like the rest of the world, we were saddened to hear of his recent accident, and we wish him a full and smooth recovery,” said David Ismailer, President at 2K. “We have been eager to announce our partnership with Tiger, whose legendary career has transcended the sport. We are thrilled to have him join our PGA TOUR 2K series as an Executive Director.”
The developer behind PGA TOUR 2K21 – which USA Today’s “For the Win” called, “unquestionably the best sim-style golf game ever created,” – Nova Scotia-based HB Studios will join Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, Cloud Chamber and 31st Union as a wholly-owned studio for 2K upon the closing of the acquisition. The developers’ Lunenburg studio location will be retained as part of the acquisition for use as the head office for Canadian affiliate, Take-Two Interactive Canada, Inc., with plans to grow the business.
“The team’s love and knowledge of golf is immediately evident in our games. We’re thrilled to officially become part of the 2K family and continue development of the PGA TOUR 2K franchise,” said James Seaboyer, President and Studio Head at HB Studios. “Our work with 2K on PGA TOUR 2K21 brought our capabilities and aspirations to the next level, and we can’t wait to show the world what we’re planning for the future.”
“Through our new partnership and acquisition of HB Studios, we’ve reaffirmed our commitment to the PGA TOUR 2K franchise, expanded on our successful independent studio model and invested in both the right people and resources to bolster our portfolio of world-class sports experiences,” said Ismailer.
PGA TOUR 2K21 is rated PEGI 3 and E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information on PGA TOUR 2K21 and 2K, visit PGATOUR2K21.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #PGATOUR2K21 or subscribe on YouTube.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout continues its fun-filled fumble through time and space with the launch of Season 4 today on PC and PlayStation platforms. Astronauts, aliens and the funkiest looking Fall Guys this side of synthwave will bumble their way through a sci-fi inspired Season packed with seven new Rounds, plus oodles of challenges, costumes and delicious features!
Season 4 – New Rounds!
Skyline Stumble – Our new 60-player gauntlet showcases a mega assortment of fresh futuristic obstacles, including Low Gravity Zones, Forcefields and Lasers!
Hoverboard Heroes – Set sail for slimy seas as players dive and stumble over perilous obstacles. Ride out the chaos on the hoverboard ‘til the finish line or face elimination!
Basketfall – Team up to shoot some hoops in low gravity. This is the Fall Guys future, so prepare for a very silly number of basketballs…and triple hoops!
Short Circuit – A new type of racing Round drops beans on the grid and propels them through lap after lap of gravity-defying, obstacle-strewn mayhem!
Power Trip – Stumble onto the future-funk dancefloor and light up those tiles in a battery-powered battle for disco domination!
Big Shots – Ever wondered what it’d be like to stand on a See Saw while inflatable stars, magnets, gamepads, and miniature Saturns were shot at you? Well, now you’ll know.
Roll On – Its Roll Out…but a race!? In this classic themed Round, 60 players dash to the finish line over a series of rambunctious rotating drums. Don’t fall off!
New Feature: Squads Mode! Qualify together as a Squad of 4, with your whole Squad claiming victory if any of you win the final Round!
New Round Type: Squad Race! Score points for your Squad by crossing the finish line—the higher your position, the more points you earn! The lowest scoring Squads get eliminated, so every Squad player’s performance matters.
New Round Type: Squad Survival! Stay out of that slime and earn precious points for your Squad! The lowest scoring Squad gets eliminated, so feel free to target opponents and throw them off their game!
New Feature: Daily Challenges! Eager beans can log in each day to receive new Challenges to complete, with the opportunity to earn bundles of Fame and Crown Shards!
New Currency: Crown Shards Earn 60 Crown Shards to transform them into a shiny new Crown! Collect Shards through Challenges and Squads, and check your balance in the Show Selector screen!
Could Kena: Bridge of Spirits be the next big story franchise?
When I look back at the PS4 era, two of the most critically acclaimed games seemed to have appeared out of nowhere but achieved phenomenal success. They were new IPs so a huge financial risk to the developers if they got it wrong, but that also meant until the game arrived there was no fan base to support it. Those games were Horizon Zero Dawn, and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Horizon Zero Dawn proved a huge studio (Guerrilla Games) could make the transition from one established franchise (Killzone) to another and be successful in doing so (I personally rate Horizon Zero Dawn as the PS4 game of the generation). Following the success of Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West is now one of the most eagerly anticipated titles for the PS5.
Hellblade, on the other hand, although not a world away from what developer Ninja Theory was making anyway, was another risk. Designed as a shorter AAA game experience, it had just a 6 to 8-hour playthrough, however, its price point was more accessible for players, at $29.99/£24.99. Would players buy a cheaper game knowing they weren’t getting anything longer than a few hours experience? Well, when it came to Hellblade, they did in their droves! Unfortunately for PlayStation fans, Ninja Theory is now part of Xbox Game Studios, so the incredible looking sequel won’t be coming to Sony’s new behemoth.
Step up to the plate, Kena: Bridge of Spirits!
During the PlayStation 5’s first games presentation, the visuals of one game, in particular, stood out. I was shocked at first as I simply thought I was watching the trailer for a new Pixar film. Then, when I realized that this was in fact a game, I thought what I was looking at was simply a pre-rendered cinematic trailer and the actual gameplay wouldn’t be the same. Then the new trailer arrived, showing me that what I had been seeing was not a new film or cinematic trailer, but was in fact actual PS5 gameplay visuals. Picking my jaw up off the floor, I then decided to find out which behemoth of the PlayStation studios was making this game? Naughty Dog? Santa Monica Studios? Guerilla Games? None of them. It was a small company called Ember Lab.
“Who is Ember Lab?”, I hear you ask.
Ember Lab, the developer of this stunning looking game, is a small team that has been around since 2009. Set up as an animation and digital content studio, they previously made short animated films or adverts for brands like Coca-Cola, HiSense and MLB. Ember Lab also produced the award-winning short film, Dust, and the critically acclaimed Majora’s Mask fan film, Terrible Fate. The success of these projects has led to them developing Kena: Bridge of Spirits – their first foray into the world of game development.
As we approach the release date of the game, the price point has also been revealed at the welcomingly low price of £32.99 or $40 (£31.99 for PC on the Epic Games Store).
Much like Hellblade, we have a new IP with triple-A visuals releasing at a lower price point. Have we got a mix of Horizon Zero Dawn with Hellblade? Historically, games that hit significantly lower price points than the $60-70 price point that is rapidly becoming the norm, tend to either be expansive but less graphically accomplished, or beautiful but ultimately very short games. Given how good Kena looks, the expectation is that this is likely to be a short but sweet gaming experience.
I myself have been craving a great story-driven game that is not all about death, destruction, doom, and gloom (looking at you, The Last of Us 2). I’m also really looking forward to finding a PlayStation console exclusive with stunning visuals to show off my PS5. At just £32.99, Kena is at an extremely enticing and attainable target: Sign me up now! The fact that Ember Lab describe themselves as “being driven by a passion for storytelling” only elevates the hype-o-meter of expectancy further.
The game itself looks like a magical adventure with very cute sidekicks called “Rots”. The details of the game also reiterate the expectancy of what’s to come.
“A story-driven action-adventure, the game seamlessly blends narrative with exploration, puzzle-solving, and fast-paced combat for a beautiful, immersive journey. Kena: Bridge of Spirits, takes players on a journey of self-discovery as Kena restores balance to an ancient village in a once-thriving environment. Players take on the role of Kena, a young Spirit Guide on a quest to uncover the mysterious story surrounding the demise of the village. Using her staff and the help of her collection of tiny companions known as the Rot, the player will disarm adversaries, unlock new skills, uncover secrets, and restore the beauty of the land”
With such intoxicating visuals, created by a development team renowned for their crafting of stories, albeit in a different form of media, is it any wonder we at Total Gaming Addicts are hoping Kena: Bridge of Spirits will follow in the footsteps of Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn and be the next big franchise on PlayStation?
Anyone hoping to pick up Kena from the Epic Games Store on PC should be aware that it has some relatively hefty system requirements. Recommended specs include an i7-6700K and GTX 1070 (or equivalent). Although this is older hardware, it still points to needing a capable rig to get the best out of this game.
Join us here at Total Gaming Addicts as we hope to bring you more news and a full review of the game upon its worldwide release date of 24th August 2021, for PS4, PS5 and Windows PC (Epic Games Store).
Secretlab has once again partnered with a brand to create a stunning line of Limited Edition chairs, this time with Japanese fashion brand, A Bathing Ape (BAPE).
The collaboration has led to 3 designs based on the iconic AAPE camo print, including Red, Green and Blue camo variants.
All three designs feature the camo print on the inside trim and along the sides of the backrest, as well as on the side and centre trim of the seat section itself.
To add to the unique design, the chairs feature a large embroidered AAPE logo on the back and an embroidered text logo in the front centre of the backrest.
The AAPE collection is a must-have for the fashion-forward gamer. The first to drop will be the green camo on the 25th of March, followed by the red and blue on the 31st March.
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BROADCAST YOURSELF
Take your content to the next level and share your passion with Logitech StreamCam. Featuring pristine image quality, dual front-facing microphones, versatile mounting options, and USB-C connectivity, it’s the perfect camera for broadcasting to your favorite streaming platforms—all you need to do is be yourself!
A POWERFUL COMBINATION
Logitech StreamCam is even more powerful when used with Logitech Capture. Capture unlocks features on StreamCam that automate exposure, framing, stabilization and more, so you can focus on making your best content.
STREAM TRUE-TO-LIFE AT 60 FPS
Tired of looking a bit dull? Stream and record vibrant, true-to-life video with smooth motion and crisp details in full HD 1080p at 60 frames per second.
SMART AUTO-FOCUS AND EXPOSURE
Stop losing focus in the middle of streams and videos. AI-enabled facial tracking delivers accurate focus and exposure no matter where you’re positioned. Auto-exposure is finely tuned so you look your best in a variety of lighting conditions.
FULL HD VERTICAL VIDEO
Simply turn your StreamCam to instantly shift into portrait mode. 1Logitech Capture must be installed, available for download at logitech.com/Capture Enjoy full HD in the 9:16 format —perfect for Instagram and Facebook stories.
VERSATILE MOUNTING OPTIONS
Achieve the perfect angle for any stream or video with flexible mounting options. The monitor mount features the ability to tilt and pan, or you can even mount it on a tripod. Built-in electronic image stabilization reduces camera shake from accidental bumps or movement.2Logitech Capture must be installed, available for download at logitech.com/Capture
CONNECTS WITH USB-C
The standard for fast and reliable connections, StreamCam uses USB Type-C to ensure efficient video transfer speeds. Compatible with Windows 10 and macOS 10.14 and above.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
SMART AUTO-FRAMING
StreamCam uses Logitech Capture to automatically keep you framed front and center in all your streams and videos.
PREMIUM AUDIO PERFORMANCE
Sound more authentic and vibrant to your audience whether you’re singing a song or sharing a story with dual front-facing microphones.
OBS, XSPLIT AND STREAMLABS SUPPORT
Logitech StreamCam is optimized for Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), XSplit and Streamlabs so you can effortlessly stream to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms.
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The Streamcam is the latest release into the webcam market from Logitech, basking in the success and glory of its predecessors, the C920 and C922, that were the go-to choice for content creators everywhere. The Streamcam fully embraces this, as hinted at by its name, boasting a feature-set that caters to the streaming market.
But is it actually a Streamers dream or is it just another minor upgrade?
Starting with the Streamcam’s design, It has a completely new camera, and the look and style are entirely new compared to the housing we have seen on both the C920 and C922. Now in a large square housing that in theory is to house a bigger sensor for better performance. The front of the camera has a large glass that covers the sensor and a fabric face with a white ‘live’ indicator LED hidden behind it. Lastly, there is a small Logi text logo along the right side of the face. The design is very clean and modern and it has a nice professional feel to it, adding to the impression it has fully departed from its predecessors.
The best new design feature in my opinion is the stand. Where the C920 and C922 previously had the monitor mount that just latched onto the monitor and had a minor amount of tilt, the Streamcam has a much-improved stand.
The basic design essentially stays the same in terms of attaching to a monitor, but this time it has a full tilt system that allows the camera to tilt all the way over, to the point that if mounted on the top of your monitor it could point straight down at your desk or even at your monitor (If you really want to do that). Adding to the betterment of the stand, it has a swivel/twist action now so that you could mount it and have the camera twisted to the perfect position while the stand is firmly planted on the monitor.
There is also the ability to fully remove the camera and mount it in a vertical orientation: while I have personally found no use for this, there are creators out there that do use vertical cameras for a fresh look and aspect. The only situation I found where this would be useful to me personally was when I contemplated using a command strip to mount the stand to the side of my monitor and then mounting the camera to the mount vertically, that could leave me with a standard orientation when capturing but with the perfect angle for my setup.
The downfall of all the improvements is the removal of the stand attachment on the bottom. Where the C920 and C922 attached to mounts through their stand you had a little more adjustment to get the perfect angle. The Streamcam instead comes with a simple static clip-on mount that entirely replaces the stand for mounting. It’s a very clean solution, but I would have much preferred to have the option to use the mounting point we used to have on the C920.
Moving on to performance the Streamcam boasts a host of improvements like exposure, auto-focusing and more.
Before I carry on, I must admit that for the first few weeks I used the Streamcam through an adapter as it connects through a Type-C and I did not have one on my PC.
Since then I have actually built a new system that has Type-C, and the camera performs significantly better, so I will be basing this section on that experience.
Comparing the Stream cam to both my C920 and C922,
the colours and depth of the image are much truer to life and attractive straight out of the box. With me having a strange Tan complexion it has been quite hard to get any webcam to accurately represent my skin tone. Usually, you could just mess with the settings but trust me, if I bump up the saturation I literally look orange.
The Stream Cam actually shows my skin tone in its full funky glory for the most part. During the day or in a well-lit environment the colours are damn near perfect, however, once the setting gets darker it becomes a bit more hit or miss. The camera naturally starts battling to set the correct exposure and this seems to affect the colours a fair bit.
I generally stream in a dark room with a ring light set to white or mixed on me with a few coloured lights in the background. The Streamcam does a great job of keeping me well exposed and even bringing out some detail in the darker areas of my background. I expect that with better lighting the Streamcam would do quite well in any environment, and you can tweak the settings in the Logitech capture software or apply a LUT in OBS to get the colour profile you are looking for.
The exposure, as mentioned above, becomes more of a priority in dark settings as expected, but overall the Streamcam does a great job of keeping the exposure right. I have also noticed that the directly lit areas on your face, where usually you will find some blown-out white highlights, are much better. The Streamcam manages to keep it to a minimum, even lights in the background have better detail. Both my Xbox logo and my Master Chief box light have much better clarity to them. On the C920/22 they both just looked like lights with no distinguishable shape. On the Streamcam, however, you are able to make out the Xbox logo and see that the Master chief light says something.
Moving on to focus, the Streamcam does a much better job than its predecessors. The focus and exposure of the Streamcam is actually based on your face, as it detects your face and bases all its settings off that. This has led to much better performance. I have yet to see the Streamcam do the focus “pulse” as I call it, that you see so frequently on streams (Where the camera comes out of focus and back into focus as it tries to find its subject again).
Now to touch onto something I mentioned earlier and talk about the last major benefit of the Streamcam, It connects through USB-C not USB-A. I used the Streamcam through USB-A for a while knowing that I would soon have a new PC with a USB-C port, but doing this significantly restricted the Streamcam.
While connected to USB-A I found that I was restricted to 30 FPS
Finally, I’d like to touch on a couple of negatives for the Streamcam. The auto-centre feature is one of them. In theory, this is a really cool feature, but in practice, I can not find a practical use for it. This feature basically zooms in on your face and keeps it in frame as you move around: most streamers that the Streamcam is targeting make very little movement while on camera, or at least not enough to warrant this feature.
Next up is the decision to make the Streamcam uncontrollable throughG HUB Logitech capture is a far better and more camera-specific software but for most streams, the options we had previously with the C920 and C922 in G HUB were perfectly fine.
I would like to have both be possible software options for the Streamcam.
Last is a simple one but I would have liked to see a USB Type-C to USB-A adaptor in the box. In cases like mine, where I knew I would be upgrading in a matter of weeks, it would have been useful. I do not think anyone whose computer does not have a USB Type-C should invest in the Streamcam, though, as it will be identical to a C922 through USB-A.
Summary
All in all, the Streamcam is a brilliant piece of kit. It’s a considerable upgrade from the C922 in both performance and design. The price is also considerably higher, so I would say it’s definitely worth it if you have a USB-C port (or plan on fitting one soon) and it’s your first cam or a huge upgrade. If you currently have a C922 then I would maybe hold off, but even if you don’t its a great camera. Bump OBS to 60FPS and you will really appreciate the difference it makes.
PROS
Stunning new design
60FPS 1080p
USB Type-C
Great performance and a decent upgrade from the C922
PlayStation and some of their favourite indie partners are collaborating to provide more free games to explore while you’re staying safe and staying home:
Abzû
From the artistic mind behind Journey, Flower, and The Pathless, ABZÛ is a beautiful underwater adventure that evokes the dream of diving. Immerse yourself in a vibrant ocean world full of mystery and bursting with color and life.
Enter the Gungeon
Enter the Gungeon is a gunfight dungeon crawler following a band of misfits seeking to shoot, loot, dodge roll and table-flip their way to personal absolution by reaching the legendary Gungeon’s ultimate treasure: the gun that can kill the past.
Rez Infinite
Prepare yourself for the ultimate version of Rez, a thrilling journey of sights and sounds and shooting action, remastered and upgraded by members of the original development team exclusively for PS4 and (optional) PlayStation VR.
Subnautica
You have crash-landed on an alien ocean world, and the only way to go is down. Subnautica’s oceans range from sun-drenched shallow coral reefs to treacherous deep-sea trenches, lava fields, and bio-luminescent underwater rivers. The water teems with life: Some of it helpful, much of it harmful.
The Witness
The Witness is a single-player game in an open world with dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. This game respects you as an intelligent player and it treats your time as precious. There’s no filler: each of those puzzles brings its own new idea into the mix. So, this is a game full of ideas.
We’re also proud to serve up a selection of free PlayStation VR games*** starting on March 25:
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Get a whole new perspective on platform games, thanks to PlayStation VR, in this daring rescue operation. Take control of Astro in a massive adventure to rescue his crew, where the PS VR headset puts you right in the thick of the action. Judge every jump with accuracy and be curious – there are lots of secrets to discover in your daring quest.
Moss
Moss is a single-player action-adventure puzzle game and new IP from Polyarc tailor-made for the VR platform. In Moss, players meet Quill, a young mouse with dreams of greatness beyond the confines of her settlement. While exploring the woods, she finds a mysterious Glass Relic and an ancient magic is awakened.
Thumper
Thumper is rhythm violence: classic rhythm-action, blistering speed, and brutal physicality. You are a space beetle. Brave the hellish void and confront a maniacal giant head from the future. Every crushing impact is interwoven with a pounding original soundtrack. To reach synesthetic bliss, you must go through rhythm hell.
Paper Beast
Experience a dreamlike odyssey in virtual reality. Discover a wild ecosystem, born from lost Internet data. Be the first to explore a world inhabited by exotic and surprising creatures, and shape your environment to overcome obstacles and puzzles. Unravel the mysteries of Paper Beast, a game born from the imagination of Eric Chahi (Another World, From Dust).
This amazing selection of PS4 games and PS VR games will be available for free download from March 25 8:00pm PT / March 26 03:00 GMT / 04:00 CET to April 22 8:00pm PT / April 23 04:00 BST / 05:00 CEST.
Starting April 19, 2021
But there’s more to come later this spring. Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition will be available for free download between April 19 8:00pm PT / April 20 04:00 BST / 05:00 CEST and May 14 8:00pm Pacific Time / May 15 04:00 BST / 05:00 CEST.
Outriders, Octopath Traveler, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, and more coming soon to Game Pass
It feels like we’re constantly sharing posts about the new additions to Game Pass, but when they keep adding more and more games I think it’s justified. Check out this list of all the new games coming to Game Pass for Console, PC, Ultimate and the cloud:
Coming Soon
Undertale (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – Available now Fall into the underworld and explore a hilarious and heartwarming world full of dangerous monsters. Date a skeleton, dance with a robot, cook with a fishwoman… or destroy everyone where they stand. The future is yours to determine in this critically acclaimed role-playing game from indie developer Toby Fox.
Empire of Sin (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – Available today Empire of Sin is a strategy game based in the 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago underworld. Step into the wing-tipped shoes of real and fictional gangsters like Al Capone or Stephanie St. Clair to build and manage your criminal empire. Schmooze, swindle, and strategize your way to the top.
Nier: Automata (PC) – Available today Humanity has been driven from the Earth by mechanical beings from another world. In a final effort to take back the planet, the human resistance sends a force of android soldiers to destroy the invaders. Now, a war between machines and androids rages on… a war that could soon unveil a long-forgotten truth of the world.
Star Wars: Squadrons (Console) EA Play – Available today The New Republic fights for freedom. The Empire demands order. The Galactic Civil War is at a tipping point in a time where ace pilots on both sides could make all the difference. Master the art of starfighter combat in Star Wars: Squadrons, coming soon to EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Torchlight III (PC) – Available today In Torchlight III, Novastraia is again under threat of invasion and it’s up to you to defend against the Netherim and its allies. Gather your wits and brave the frontier to find fame, glory, and a new adventure!
Genesis Noir (Console and PC) ID@Xbox – March 25 A noir adventure spanning time and space. When a love triangle between cosmic beings becomes a bitter confrontation, you’ll witness a gunshot fired by a jealous god—otherwise known as The Big Bang. Jump into the expanding universe and search for a way to destroy creation and save your love.
Octopath Traveler (Console and PC) – March 25 Eight travelers. Eight adventures. Eight roles to play. Embark on an epic journey across the vast and wondrous world of Orsterra and discover the captivating stories of each of the eight travelers. Use each character’s distinctive abilities in and out of battle and make decisions to shape your path.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition (PC) ID@Xbox – March 25 Bend the world to your will as you explore the depths of infinite possibilities, including detailed character customization, total freedom of exploration, and more meaningful choices at every turn. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition redefines the role-playing game experience for a new generation.
Supraland (PC) ID@Xbox – March 25 Save the red-stick figure village in this hit first-person, open-world, action-puzzle platformer. Roam and explore a grand interconnected world, unlock new versatile abilities, and combine them to overcome imaginative puzzles or uncover shrouded secrets.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Cloud, Console and PC) – March 25 Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, returns with the dream of living a quiet life. But soon he discovers Haruka has been in an accident and is now in a coma, leaving her young son, Haruto, without care. To protect this child, Kiryu takes Haruto to the last place Haruka was spotted, Onomichi, Hiroshima. Why are the Tojo Clan and Yomei Alliance both after Haruto? Kiryu will have to navigate through the criminal underworld he left behind and fight for the answers to keep the family he loves safe.
Narita Boy (Cloud, Console and PC) ID@Xbox – March 30 Become symphonic in Narita Boy! A radical action-adventure as a legendary pixel hero trapped as a mere echo within the Digital Kingdom. Discover the mysteries behind the Techno-sword, lock swords with the corrupt and tainted Stallions. Save the world!
Outriders (Cloud and Console) – April 1 Outriders brings intense action and deep role-playing to Xbox Game Pass! Developed by People Can Fly, veterans of the shooter genre, Outriders presents a journey of survival across a savage planet, which can be tackled in both single player and 1-3 player co-op.
DLC / Game Updates
Minecraft x Uniqlo Skin Pack, Vol.2 Get your free Minecraft x Uniqlo Skin Pack, Vol. 2 Today. This skin pack features all new t-shirts designs and Steteco shorts, plus new mobs that are sure to delight!
Sea of Thieves Third Anniversary Event – March 18 to March 21 March 20 marks the third anniversary for Sea of Thieves. To celebrate, Xbox Game Pass members who play between March 18 and March 21 will receive the Jump For Joy emote for free!
The Outer Worlds: Murder on Eridanos DLC – March 17 Xbox Game Pass members save 10%! It’s the final narrative expansion to the award-winning RPG from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division. The famous Halcyon Helen has been murdered, and everyone is a suspect. There’s more than meets the eye in the colony’s grandest murder mystery.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Apex Legends is here! This is the start of an exciting new monthly Perk drop in the form of Weapon Charms. Each month we’ll have a Weapon Charm featuring a different theme ready for you. March brings the Mass Effect N7 Weapon Charm. Claim yours now!
We have other great Perks coming this month, but in the meantime go claim these by going to the Perks gallery before they’re gone!
Rainbow Six Siege: Doc Byte Set – Claim by April 5
World of Tanks: Legend of War Pack – Claim by March 31
Xbox Game Pass Quests
Spring is coming! Time to mow over your competition and get 4X points for Ultimate Quests! Don’t forget to claim your Rewards points after you complete your Quests.
Try these weekly Ultimate Quests for 4X points:
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 – 200 points: Vanquish 3 zombies or 3 plants (Starting March 16)
Dragon Age: Inquisition [EA Play] – 200 points: Slay 15 enemies in single-player mode (Starting March 23)
Leaving Soon
The following games are leaving the Xbox Game Pass library soon, so be sure to dive back in to give a proper farewell! As always, you can use your member discount to save up to 20% on games before they leave to keep the fun going.
Xbox Game Pass just got even better for PC gamers, with the arrival of EA Play on Game Pass for PC
On Microsoft’s consoles, Game Pass offers unrivalled value, and it’s an almost essential subscription service. By bringing EA Play to Game Pass for PC (and Game Pass Ultimate), they stand to bring millions more gamers on board with their service.
Originally slated to launch back in November, EA Play’s addition to Game Pass was postponed for a few months. From today, Game Pass for PC now also gets EA Play, bringing over 60 of EA’s titles to the service, and adding huge amounts of value for gamers.
The service launches on Thursday, 18th March 2021 at 2:00 pm PT (5:00 pm ET/9:00 pm GMT)
More than 60 of EA’s biggest and best PC games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat, as well as titles from some of EA’s most popular franchises like Battlefield, Madden NFL, Command & Conquer, and The Sims.
Rewards each month from your favorite EA games. March rewards include: Gold Team Fantasy MUT packs and an EA Play Celebration Pack for Madden 21, a N7 Weapon Charm for Apex Legends and more.
And starting on day one of EA Play on PC with Xbox Game Pass, members can play the new-to-Play List title Star Wars: Squadrons on PC and console. Master the art of starfighter combat in the authentic piloting experience, feel the adrenaline of first-person multiplayer space dogfights alongside your squadron, and buckle up in a thrilling Star Wars story.
Exclusive in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, and discounts on EA digital purchases via EA Desktop app beta.
Access to trials of games for up to 10 hours from best-loved franchises and top titles like FIFA 21.
How to use EA Play with Game Pass for PC
To access EA Play with Game Pass for PC, you will need to download the EA Play desktop app, sign in, and link your Microsoft account. A handy guide will walk you through the process when you first download a title via the Xbox app.
The ROG Strix G15 offers a price to performance ratio that’s hard to beat
Manufacturer: ASUS ROG
Model: Strix G15 G513QR-HF010T (2021)
Price when reviewed: £1699
Supplied by: ASUS
Overview
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is an esports ready laptop, designed to offer maximum value without compromising performance. Having recently reviewed the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo SE, I was prepared to be underwhelmed by anything I tried after that gaming behemoth. How wrong could I be! I’ve been blown away by the level of performance at this price point. The Strix G15 is positioned as the more attainable sibling of the Strix Scar 15, but it shares the same esports and competitive gaming goals. High-performance components, a blazing fast display, stunning design and oodles of eye-catching RGB make this a very appealing device. I’m sure there are going to be other notebooks hitting the market soon that will give this a run for its money, but for now, the Strix G15 is hard to beat in terms of value.
Before we get into the meat and bones of the review, I want to give a little nod to the awesome packaging of the Strix G15. When you open the box, a cleverly designed hinge integrated into the lid of the box raises the laptop up out of the packaging. Considering it’s something many people will only ever do once, it’s a very nice touch that lets you know you’ve chosen a quality product.
Design and build
Let’s cut to the chase, I absolutely love the styling of the G15. There are so many design highlights, some of them subtle, others far more pronounced. Whether it’s the lightly printed ROG lettering sweeping diagonally across the keyboard deck, the highly detailed underside of the laptop with the “FOR THOSE WHO DARE” mantra moulded into the rubber feet, or the illuminated ROG eye logo on the lid, the Strix G15 looks stunning from every angle.
By far my favourite feature, though, is the LED light bar that spans the front of the laptop and wraps around the sides. When synced with the RGB backlit keyboard it is mesmerisingly beautiful.
As someone who’s been into gaming ever since laptops were a mere pipe dream and monitors used to extend back three feet behind the display, I’m still incredulous that the Strix G15, at 27mm thin, is considered relatively chunky in comparison to the sub-19mm ultra-thin laptops available now. ASUS has pulled off some optical trickery with their design, however, that makes the G15 look far thinner than it actually is. The leading edge of the keyboard tray is extra slim, with the LED lighting hidden beneath a lip which makes the laptop look like it is both raised off the desk and just a few millimetres thin.
An advantage of having a slightly thicker laptop is that ASUS has been able to increase the performance of the GPU thanks to the additional space for cooling. In contrast with the slightly underperforming RTX 3070 of the ASUS TUF Dash F15, which was limited to just 80 W, the ROG Strix G15’s 3070 has been ramped up to 115 W (130 W with dynamic boost) and it makes a considerable difference to performance.
Build quality is up to ASUS’s usual high standards. I was particularly impressed by the rigidity of the keyboard tray, which exhibited only a minor amount of flex when subjected to significant pressure.
While most of the laptop is made of durable plastic, the lid of the laptop is capped in aluminium. Besides looking and feeling great, it also helps alleviate the flex that has become more common in the newest generations of superslim devices. Considering how wafer-thin the lid is, it’s exceptionally sturdy. It has also allowed ASUS to trim the size of the bezels considerably, giving the Strix G15 an 85% screen-to-body ratio, but it has a larger than average bottom bezel which means the side and top bezels are far smaller than that figure would imply. As is the case with many manufacturers’ 2021 laptops, there is no webcam, but clip-on USB webcams are readily available so it’s unlikely to be a deal-breaker.
Internals and upgrades
Upgrading the Strix G15 is limited to increasing or changing the RAM and adding to or replacing the SSD storage, but doing so is very easy. Removing the bottom of the clamshell is simple: unfasten the 11 Phillips screws, finishing with the pop-screw in the bottom right corner, and the panel simply lifts off. Be aware, the LED under-lighting is attached by two thin ribbon cables.
Both RAM sticks can be replaced, and the additional M.2 NVMe drive slot is easily accessible.
It’s a very well assembled bit of hardware: Check out the impressively complex cooling system and the enormous battery!
Keyboard and trackpad
There may have been just about enough space to fit a full keyboard, but omitting the number pad provides space for the highly efficient cooling system. The half-height arrow keys we saw on the TUF Dash F15 and Zephyrus Duo SE have returned, but aside from taking a few minutes to adjust to their diminutive size, they work very well.
Sitting along the right side of the keyboard are media control, delete/insert and the print screen keys, whilst at the top left are volume control keys, mic mute, a key with a fan icon that switches between performance modes, and a ROG Armoury Crate shortcut. These are useful additions that I got lots of use out of, although I’d have preferred a volume mute over a mic mute, especially given the omission of a webcam.
I’m a fan of laptop keyboards in general, as I like the soft action and low volume, but I was especially pleased with the G15’s keys. They aren’t as light as some keyboards, giving a very precise feel and good tactile feedback when typing or gaming, and they are consistent across the whole keyboard.
Using Aura Sync it’s possible to configure the per-key backlighting to your exact preference or select from their pre-programmed lighting routines. The translucent portions of the keys are easy to see, although I did have trouble singling out the individual F keys in the dark. Viewed from above, the lighting provides a very subtle illuminated border to the keys which is sufficient to ensure you consistently hit the right key.
The trackpad was a very pleasant surprise, as not only is it smooth and responsive, it’s massive. I found the under-surface mouse buttons to feel a bit clunky and vague, but they serve their purpose. While I can’t see a touchpad ever replacing a mouse for proper gaming, the extra-large touchpad worked great for productivity and even some light RTS gaming.
Connectivity
There is an average amount of ports, comparable with most gaming laptops, and they are sensibly located. The USB-C doubles up as a charging port (supporting up to 100 W) and also as a DisplayPort over USB-C connection, in lieu of a dedicated mini-DisplayPort. Notable omissions are any form of card-reader and the now-expected missing webcam.
The right side is free of any ports, which is something we’ve seen on previous ASUS notebooks and I’m a fan of the freedom it gives for gaming with a mouse, even if it may not be ideal for lefties.
Along the left side are two USB-A 3.1 Gen-1 inputs and a 3.5mm combi-jack port for a headset or headphones,
At the rear is an additional USB-A 3.2 Gen-1, a USB-C 3.2 Gen-2 (power delivery/DisplayPort), HDMI 2.0, Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet port and the power input.
Having the external display output and power supply connected at the rear works wonders for keeping your desk clean and tidy. There’s nothing worse than having HDMI and power cables jutting out of the side of your laptop and winding around your workstation.
Audio
The quality of the audio on ASUS’s new notebooks is definitely noteworthy. While the G15 can’t pump out bass in the way a dedicated sub or quality desktop speakers can, the sound is very well-rounded, and it doesn’t sound tinny or lacking in the way most laptop or monitor speakers tend to. The maximum volume could do with being a bit louder, but it’s free of distortion when it’s maxed out, and more than sufficient for movie and TV watching without having to reach for your headphones every time.
The speakers themselves are on the underside of the laptop and positioned towards the front, which keeps them away from the noise of the fans when gaming. A Dolby Atmos license is included, and it adds welcome warmth to the in-built speakers.
Display
The ROG Strix G15 is available with three different panels:
FHD (1920×1080) Value-IPS, 144Hz, 62.5% sRGB, 3ms
FHD (1920×1080) IPS, 300Hz, 100% sRGB, 3ms
QHD (2560×1440) IPS, 165Hz DCI-P3, 3ms
I wouldn’t recommend the 144 Hz value-IPS panel, as the sub-par colour makes for a dull viewing experience, but whether you choose the 165 Hz QHD or 300 Hz FHD display depends on what you plan on doing with the laptop. For content creators and single-player game aficionados, the exceptional colour accuracy of the 1440p panel will probably serve you best, and the G15’s gaming performance at 1440p was excellent in our benchmarks. Esports and competitive gamers should go for the 300 Hz option, as the powerful components can make good use of the high refresh display on many popular games.
Our review unit came fitted with the hugely impressive 300Hz 1080p display. It’s a beautiful display, with an exceptional colour vibrancy that’s basically as good as it gets outside of HDR. Colour accuracy is also very good, with the Strix G15 recording a Delta-E average of just 1.39 (most manufacturers target <2.0).
Panel brightness uniformity is solid, with minimal variation in brightness visible across the display. There was a minor amount of backlight bleed across the bottom edge, but it did not project far onto the screen. IPS glow was also very minor, and it didn’t impact the viewing experience. At just over 300 nits it’s bright enough to use in well-lit indoor environments, but outdoors it may be difficult to see clearly if it’s very sunny. Black levels were very good, as was contrast, with the panel handling dark scenes very well.
Viewing angles are good, with the display staying clear and colourful as you move around the display, although the image does lose some vibrancy off-centre.
ASUS uses some motion handling magic with this display, with an MPRT of just 1ms, which translated into incredibly smooth motion. Motion blur was minimal, making fast-moving images impossibly smooth, with only the faintest trace of ghosting (if you look really, really hard at a test video designed to make it stand out). For competitive gaming, this is a superb display.
Overall, this is easily one of the best laptop displays we’ve tested so far, and it’s an absolute pleasure to use for gaming or watching movies on.
Gaming Performance
The AMD/Nvidia pairing ASUS has switched to for its newest gaming machines is proving to be a potent combination. Compared with the i7-11370H and RTX 3070 of the TUF Dash F15, the ROG Strix G15 has benefitted from the octa-core CPU and higher TDP of its RTX 3070, turning in consistently higher frame rates.
In comparison with the outgoing RTX 20-series mobile GPUs, the RTX 3070 generally performs much better and sees a significant improvement when playing games with ray-tracing enabled. I was surprised to find that performance was roughly on par with and in some cases far better than a desktop RTX 2070 Super paired with an i7-10700K, especially at higher resolutions.
For the majority of games we tested, frame rates were comfortably around the 100 fps range using Ultra settings at 1080p, although if you lower the settings you can achieve considerably higher results. Esports gamers should be happy, as I managed to hit well above 200 fps on many titles without having to drop the graphics settings too much.
This is an obvious advantage for most potential buyers. People who just want to load a game, turn everything up to 11, and get on with playing can do so comfortably. Competitive gamers, who are far more likely to tinker with their settings anyway, can extract every last drop of performance from the system.
If you like plugging in an external monitor for big-screen gaming, 1440p will give you the best results and respectable frame rates, however, some games can be played at 4k Ultra and others just need a few tweaks, so it’s perfectly feasible to run a 4k display with the G15.
Although £1700 is reasonable for the spec on offer, it isn’t exactly cheap, so you still want your purchase to be relevant for a reasonable amount of time after you buy it. You can be reassured that the ROG Strix G15 will keep you playing the most demanding AAA titles for many years to come.
Benchmarks
All benchmark tests were carried out with power management on high-performance, factory GPU overclocking was turned on and fan control was set to Turbo in the Armoury Crate software.
Gaming Benchmarks
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
1080p – Highest preset – 90
1440p – Highest preset – 82
2160p – Highest preset – 57
Shadow of the Tomb Raider RTX
1080p – Highest preset – 64
1440p – Highest preset – 56
2160p – Highest preset – 40
Forza Horizon 4
1080p – Ultra preset – 115
1440p – Ultra preset – 92
2160p – Ultra preset – 57
Gears 5
1080p – Ultra preset – 101
1440p – Ultra preset – 79.1
2160p – Ultra preset – 44.2
Gears Tactics
1080p – Ultra preset – 108.6
1440p – Ultra preset – 88.7
2160p – Ultra preset – 48.1
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (RTX On)
1080p – Ultra preset – 132
1440p – Ultra preset – 109
2160p – Ultra preset – 73
Total War Saga: Troy (average across all three scenarios)
1080p – Ultra preset – 99
1440p – Ultra preset – 75.3
2160p – Ultra preset – 44.1
Borderlands 3
1080p – Ultra preset – 91.17
1440p – Ultra preset – 67.58
2160p – Ultra preset – 38.67
Control
1080p – Ultra preset – 119
1440p – Ultra preset – 89
2160p – Ultra preset – 53
Control RTX
1080p – Ultra preset – 74
1440p – Ultra preset – 58
2160p – Ultra preset – 33
Destiny 2
1080p – Ultra preset – 170
1440p – Ultra preset – 110
2160p – Ultra preset – 63
Minecraft RTX
1080p – Ultra preset – 92
1440p – Ultra preset – n/a
2160p – Ultra preset – 52
Fall Guys
1080p – Ultra preset – 275
1440p – Ultra preset – n/a
2160p – Ultra preset – n/a
Fortnite
1080p – Ultra preset – 151
1440p – Ultra preset – 132
2160p – Ultra preset – 88
Fortnite RTX
1080p – Ultra preset – 55
1440p – Ultra preset – 36
2160p – Ultra preset – 18
CS:GO
1080p – Ultra preset – 210
1440p – Ultra preset – n/a
2160p – Ultra preset – n/a
Rocket League
1080p – Ultra preset – 250
1440p – Ultra preset – 250
2160p – Ultra preset – n/a
Performance comparisons
We used a range of computers and GPUs for comparison, ranging from the RTX 2060 of the Acer Predator Helios 300 to the powerhouse RTX 3080 16GB in the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo SE. This should give you an idea of how it compares against a wide range of processors and system configurations at differing price points. We find these comparisons useful for consumers looking for not only the best overall performance but also the best value, too.
Laptop/PC
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo SE
Acer Predator Orion 5000
ASUS ROG Strix G15
Acer Predator Triton 500
ASUS TUF Dash F15
Acer Predator Orion 3000
Acer Predator Triton 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Model
GX551QS (2021)
PO5-615s
G513QR
PT515-52
FX516PR (2021)
PO3-620
PT315-52
PH315-53 (2020
Processor
R9 5900HX
i7-10700K
R7 5800H
i7-10875H
i7-11370H
i7-10700
i7-10750H @ 2.60 GHz
i7-10750H
GPU
RTX 3080 16Gb
RTX 2070 Super
RTX 3070 8GB
RTX 2080 Super MaxQ 8Gb
RTX 3070 8Gb
RTX 2060 6Gb
RTX 2070 Max-Q 8Gb
RTX 2060 6Gb
GPU TGP/TDP
115W/130W Dynamic Boost
115W/130W Dynamic Boost
80W/85W Dynamic Boost
Ram
32GB DDR4-3200 (16+16)
16GB DDR4-3200 (8+8)
16GB DDR4-3200 (8+8)
32GB DDR4-3200 (16+16)
16GB DDR4-3200 (8+8)
16GB DDR4-2666 (8+8)
16GB DDR4-3200 (8+8)
20GB DDR4-3200 (16+4)
SSD
2 x 1TB M.2
1TB M.2 (WD PC SN730)
1TB M.2
1Tb M.2
512GB M.2
512GB
1Tb M.2
512GB M.2
HDD
n/a
1TB WD Blue
n/a
n/a
n/a
1Tb
n/a
n/a
Display
2160p 120Hz Pantone
n/a
1080p 300Hz IPS
1080p 300Hz G-Sync
1080p 144Hz
n/a
1080p 144Hz
1080p 144Hz
Price
£3,499
£1,999
£1,699
£2,199
£1,299
£1,299
£1,399
£1,299
System Benchmark Results:
This is the first AMD Ryzen 7 5800H equipped laptop we’ve had for testing, and the results have been impressive. It fared very well against even the mighty Ryzen 9 5900HX, whilst against its Intel competition, with the likes of the i7-10750H and i7-10875H, it significantly surpassed them in our tests, and even outperformed a desktop i7-10700K in some tests. Needless to say, the ROG Strix G15 will handle productivity and multitasking effortlessly. In everyday usage scenarios, I found the laptop to respond instantly to inputs, helped along by the speedy SSD.
Running PCMark10 on battery, performance is roughly halved if you are using extreme power-saving, however, running in performance mode only lowers performance slightly, giving you enough power for most tasks. It does correlate with a significant drain on the battery, though, so expect just a few hours of use if you’re using the Strix G15 to its fullest.
System Tests:
Cinebench R15
CineBench – CPU (Single)(cb)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 224 cb
CineBench – CPU (Multi)(cb)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 2127 cb
CineBench – GPU (OpenGL)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 148.38 fps
MP Ratio
9.47 x
Cinebench R20
CineBench – CPU (Single)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 545
CineBench – CPU (Multi)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 4948
MP Ratio
9.08 x
Cinebench R23
CineBench – CPU (Single)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 1381
CineBench – CPU (Multi)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 12688
MP Ratio
9.19 x
3DMark – Time Spy (DX12)
Time Spy Score – 10379
Gaming Score – 10703
CPU Score – 8860
3DMark – Fire Strike (DX11)
Fire Strike Score – 23101
Graphics Score – 26147
Physics Score – 24053
Combined Score – 11953
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 – 6875
Essentials – 10108
App Start-up – 14665
Video Conferencing – 7732
Web Browsing – 9108
Productivity – 9257
Spreadsheets – 10641
Writing – 8054
Content Creation – 9423
Photo Editing – 15397
Rendering and Visualisation – 11414
Video Editing – 4762
PCMark 10 – Battery power
Settings: Silent, maximum power saving
PCMark 10 – 3537
Essentials – 5885
App Start-up – 5880
Video Conferencing – 5772
Web Browsing – 6008
Productivity – 4401
Spreadsheets – 5765
Writing – 3360
Content Creation – 4640
Photo Editing – 7937
Rendering and Visualisation – 4498
Video Editing – 2800
PCMark 10 – Battery power
Settings: Performance
PCMark 10 – 5141
Essentials – 8010
App Start-up – 9381
Video Conferencing – 7024
Web Browsing – 7800
Productivity – 7003
Spreadsheets – 9350
Writing – 5246
Content Creation – 6575
Photo Editing – 11692
Rendering and Visualisation – 5711
Video Editing – 4257
Bright Memory Infinite RTX Benchmark
Very High – DLSS Setting: Quality
1080p: 64 fps
1440p: 35 fps
2160p: 19 fps
High – DLSS Setting: Performance
1080p: 97 fps
1440p: 65 fps
2160p: 35 fps
UserBenchMark
Gaming – 119% UFO
Desktop – 97% Nuclear Submarine
Workstation – 122% UFO
CPU – Gaming – 92.60%
Graphics – 129%
Boot Drive – 289%
Storage
The 1TB SK hynix M.2 NVMe SSD that ASUS has fitted into the G15 performs superbly. Sequential read and write speeds in particular are very good. 1TB of storage space gives ample room to keep a healthy rotation of games installed, and it’s a simple task to add another M.2 SSD if you want to further increase capacity.
CrystalDiskMark
The following are the results recorded in CrystalDiskMark, with figures measured in MB/s
SEQ1M Q8T1 Read
3601.68
SEQ1M Q8T1 Write
3111.57
SEQ1M Q1T1 Read
1910.47
SEQ1M Q1T1 Write
2255.49
RND4K Q321T1 Read
344.71
RND4K Q321T1 Write
504.64
RND4K Q1T1 Read
62.49
RND4K Q1T1 Write
141.39
Cooling and temperatures
ASUS’s cooling is exemplary on the Strix G15. Surface temperatures can creep up quite high, especially on the underside, but the CPU and GPU remain well within levels that would affect performance or lifespan. This also helps reduce the need for the fans to spool up to full speed, keeping the system volumes down. Although they are quite loud at full speed, they rarely need to reach those speeds, even in Turbo mode with GPU overclocking working overtime.
During a 30 minute looped run of Cinebench 23, which keeps the CPU at 100%, the maximum temperature was just 92℃. Whilst gaming, the GPU never surpassed 77℃, averaging around 74℃ under heavy load, and the CPU stayed under 90℃. Very impressive.
Battery Life
Considering the power of the Strix G15, battery life is very good, and some useful power management settings help stretch the battery life out considerably. It’s well above what you’d have expected from a high-powered notebook a few years ago. Even though gaming will see your battery drained in about an hour, you can get significant video watching hours in. If you are using the G15 regularly throughout the day, you can expect 5 hours with a mixture of video watching, web browsing and light productivity which is above average.
Note: Running the battery completely down on your system can significantly affect the lifespan of the cells, so we only test from 100-25%.
Video playback
100 – 50% – 6 hours 43 minutes
100 – 25% – 8 hours 6 minutes
(In this test, we play Futurama until the battery reaches 25% life remaining. Screen brightness is set to 50%, iGPU mode is activated (which uses the integrated GPU and deactivates the discrete GPU), power-saving is turned on and flight mode is activated.)
Gaming
100% – 25% – 1 hour 12 minutes
(In this test, we played Minecraft RTX in power-saving mode, screen brightness at 50%, WiFi on, with frame rate limited to 60 fps, though it peaked at 30 fps due to reduced performance on battery.)
Typical usage
100% – 25% – 5 hours 26 minutes
(In this test, we stream video on Netflix and browse the internet, whilst writing articles and carrying out minor photo editing. Maximum power saving was turned on, which didn’t cause any noticeable slowdown. Of the three tests, this is most representative of our typical non-gaming usage but may vary significantly from other tests or your own, depending on usage patterns. As such, this test is only a guide to what you can roughly expect.)
Summary
The ROG Strix G15 is an exceptionally good notebook for the price. With the new Ryzen 7 5800H and RTX 3070 (115/130W TDP), it is capable of being a genuine desktop replacement. The incredible display, impressive cooling, great speakers and stylish design are the icing on a deliciously powerful cake.
Normally, there’s usually a couple of things that stand out as glaring negatives or omissions, but aside from the lack of webcam and maybe the inclusion of a couple more ports, it’s hard to find any fault here. The Strix G15 outperforms many laptops of the last 12 months that cost significantly more, and it looks and feels every bit a premium device. ASUS has knocked it out of the park with this one.
The Orion 5000 has been around in various guises for several years, but the revision we have here is the brand new 2021 edition, the PO5-615S. It’s instantly recognisable, as the basic design is largely unchanged bar some slight cosmetic changes, but if you dig beneath the surface they have made some significant and welcome additions. Packing in a GeForce RTX 2070 Super, Intel Core i7-10700K and 16 Gb DDR4-3200, it’s certainly got enough grunt to reach impressive frame rates on all but the most demanding of games and even manages 4k gaming if you’re prepared to lower a few settings to hit 60 FPS. A frequent request from fans of the old Orion 5000 was factory-installed liquid cooling, and Acer listened. CoolerMaster liquid cooling now sits atop the CPU and helps rein in the temperatures when you are running the CPU in Turbo (overclocked) mode.
You can also pick up models fitted with more RAM, and/or the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 GPUs, and the more potent Intel i9-10900K. Interestingly, only the RTX 2080Ti has the i9-10900K, with all other models sharing the i7-10700K of our review model.
Design and build
The new Orion 5000 has been toned down subtly compared to the older models, but it still cuts an aggressive profile. This is highlighted by the customisable RGB light bars flanking the front panel and individually addressable RGB fans below, placed behind a frosted panel that diffuses the light.
On either side of the light bars are a pair of pop-out headset hangers, which are extremely convenient. Between the light bars, there is a fold-down panel that houses a DVD-RW drive (do people still use DVDs?) and a quick-swap drive bay. The easy-swap bay is very simple to use and lets you install any 2.5” SATA drive in seconds. Simply unclip and slide out the swap cage, slot in your drive and slide it back into the PC.
Another welcome addition, especially if you like to keep your PC on the floor under your desk, is an easy-to-access PSU dust filter. It’s attached with a simple clip and slides out for cleaning.
It’s solidly built, with an all-metal chassis complemented by sturdy plastic front and top panels. Weighing in at around 17kgs it’s a chunky monkey, but the integrated carrying handle makes it easy to move around if needed.
Our review model shipped with both the clear tempered glass side panel and the honeycomb mesh options. I prefer to see the insides of my PCs, so I naturally went with the glass panel. I would have preferred controllable RGB lighting inside the case, but the soft blue-ish white LED strips still cast a pleasing glow that highlights the quality of the installation.
Internals and upgrades
It’s a very tidy installation, but it does lack a touch of panache. The PSU shroud helps maintain the simple aesthetic, hiding both the SATA HDD bay and power supply, and the cabling is very neatly assembled, but aside from a couple of angular heat-sinks and the Predator branded CoolerMaster liquid CPU cooling and its imposing braided cables, there’s not much in the way of focal points. I was especially disappointed that more attractive RAM wasn’t used, considering the numerous far more stylish options available.
While the Orion 5000’s internals may not win any beauty contests, it is possible to upgrade this PC, although there are a couple of panels that need to be removed to gain access to the HDD bay: Once inside, you’ll find accessible hard drive mounting, an additional M.2 slot (connections are available for 2 x SATA HDDs and 2 x M.2 NVMe SSDs*) and accessible RAM slots (4 x DDR4 U-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB). It can be tricky to swap out some of the components, as the tight cable routing means you may have to squeeze your hands into gaps or remove other components.
If you want to swap out the GPU, there’s just a couple of screws to remove to facilitate this. Although our review model comes with the RTX 2070 Super, the Orion 5000 PO5-615s is available with both the RTX 3070 and 3080. If stock finally becomes available or you manage to beat the scalpers and bitcoin miners, you should have no problem slotting in one of the new 30-series GPUs.
*Acer recommends removing the GPU before installing or changing the SSDs
Keyboard and mouse
It’s actually quite rare that manufacturers bundle a mouse and keyboard with their PCs, but the peripherals bundled with the Orion 5000 are pretty decent.
The keyboard is a full-sized, slimline, wired and RGB backlit offering. The keyboard only has one colour, Predator Blue, but it casts an attractive glow around the keys and they are easy to see in both a dark and light room. It’s not a mechanical keyboard, and there’s a slightly mushy feel to the keys, but it’s quiet and comfortable enough for general typing and light gaming. For a bundled peripheral it’s still a decent keyboard, and unless you’ve been spoiled with high-end mechanical keyboards, chances are you will be very happy with it.
Acer has included a Predator MOM2UO gaming mouse, and it’s very competent. It’s very similar in appearance to the Logitech G502, which is one of my all-time favourite mice, and it has a reassuringly familiar hand feel. It is considerably lighter, which took me a little time to adjust to, but once I had it was very enjoyable to game with. It only has the bare minimum of buttons, but they have good resistance and are responsive. Three DPI presets can be switched with the button below the scroll wheel, ranging from 1200 DPI to 3200 DPI.
Connectivity
Desktop PCs are always generous with their IO ports, and the Orion 500 has plenty to suit most users. 10 USB ports are available in total (1x USB-C 3.1, 4x USB-A 3.1 Gen1, 3x USB-A 3.1 Gen2 with power-off charging, 2x USB-A 2.0) along with HDMI 2.0 and multiple DisplayPort connections for multi-screen gaming, streaming or productivity.
At the rear of the PC:
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DisplayPort 1.4
4x USB 3.1 Type-A ports (inc 2x power-off charging)
2x USB 2.0 Type-A ports
RJ-45 Ethernet LAN port
On the top of the PC are some easy access ports:
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack (for headsets or headphones)
1x 3.5mm Microphone input
3x USB 3.1 Type-A (inc 1x power-off charging port)
1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
Wired network connections are handled by the 2.5 Gbps Killer Ethernet E3100G, which has excellent performance, as well as useful features such as network traffic prioritisation that dedicates bandwidth to gaming and lowers lag and latency, and Gamefast, which pauses processes that aren’t needed while gaming.
If you prefer wireless connections, the Intel AX201NGW WiFi 6 NIC provided a solid connection. Although the signal wasn’t as stable as other devices at the furthest distance from our router (two rooms with lots of interference), as long as you can keep it within a reasonable range it’s great for gaming and general streaming or downloading software.
Finally, BlueTooth 5.0 is available, which I found fast and reliable to connect to, with excellent range. I had BlueTooth headphones, speakers, a keyboard and two controllers connected simultaneously without any dropped connections or perceivable latency problems. Conveniently, a recent Windows update auto-prompts connections for Xbox controllers as soon as you press the pairing button on the gamepad (as long as BlueTooth is turned on).
Gaming Performance
The Orion 5000 is a fantastic gaming machine. The RTX 2070 Super is designed for 1440p gaming, and the performance at this resolution is above average. However, if you are a competitive gamer who favours maximum frame rates and responsiveness, 1080p performance was way above expectations. I was playing games well into triple-digits at 1080p, and it’s a wonderfully smooth experience.
My personal preference is for sharper image quality, as I play more single player or co-op games, and for me 1440p is my sweet spot. Forza Horizon 4 at 1440p and 120 fps is a pretty special experience. I first played it on the Xbox One X at 30 fps, and remember thinking the Series X version at 60 fps was as good as it gets. Well, when you’re doing 200 mph around the English countryside, 120 fps makes a monumental difference to your ability to dart in and out of traffic.
Borderlands 3 is another game I’ve been playing a lot of recently, and I was getting frame rates in the high 50s. As I cover later in the review, I overclocked the GPU which had my frames constantly in the mid 60s. Previously I’ve had to dial down a lot of settings to hit a steady 60 fps, but the Orion 5000 crushed it.
Control at 1440p with RTX on is a very demanding game. I’ve tried playing with RTX off, but it’s just not the same. I was using an adaptive sync monitor for my testing, and the 45-55 fps average was very playable and graphically stunning.
If esports are your jam, the Orion has you covered. Even though CS:GO isn’t a technically demanding game, I was staggered that I hit a 271 fps average at 1440p. Rocket League also motors along: Even with everything in the graphics settings on full, it comfortably sat at the frame rate cap of 250 fps at both 1080p and 1440p. Fortnite performs very well, too, but only if you don’t use RTX. I had averages of 180 fps at 1080p and 138 fps at 1440p. RTX dropped this to 70 fps at 1080p and 46 fps at 1440p.
You can play games at 4k, but you’ll have to reduce lots of settings to hit 60 fps on many AAA titles. Unless you plan on playing on a very large display or already have a 4k monitor, I would strongly recommend a 144Hz 1440p display for cinematic games and single-player experiences, or a 240 Hz+ 1080p monitor if you love competitive titles.
Ray tracing has a tendency to tank frame rates below acceptable limits at anything above 1080p, so opting for an RTX 30-series would be advisable if ray-tracing is important to you. For standard rasterised graphics, though, especially if you overclock the GPU, the Orion 5000 meets expectations and then some.
Benchmarks
All benchmark tests were carried out with power management and fan control set to Turbo in the Predator Sense software, unless indicated otherwise.
Gaming Benchmarks
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
1080p – Highest preset – 110
1440p – Highest preset – 88
2160p – Highest preset – 47
Shadow of the Tomb Raider RTX
1080p – Highest preset – 75
1440p – Highest preset – 51
2160p – Highest preset – 26
Forza Horizon 4
1080p – Ultra preset – 137
1440p – Ultra preset – 119
2160p – Ultra preset – 85
Gears 5
1080p – Ultra preset – 97.5
1440p – Ultra preset – 70
2160p – Ultra preset – 39.4
Gears Tactics
1080p – Ultra preset – 110.7
1440p – Ultra preset – 81.7
2160p – Ultra preset – 43.9
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (RTX On)
1080p – Ultra preset – 178
1440p – Ultra preset – 144
2160p – Ultra preset – 91
Total War Saga: Troy (average across all three scenarios)
1080p – Ultra preset – 108.7
1440p – Ultra preset – 76.7
2160p – Ultra preset – 40
Borderlands 3
1080p – Ultra preset – 80.34
1440p – Ultra preset – 57.88
2160p – Ultra preset – 33.18
Control
1080p – Ultra preset – 120
1440p – Ultra preset – 89
2160p – Ultra preset – 50
Control RTX
1080p – Ultra preset – 67
1440p – Ultra preset – 50
2160p – Ultra preset – 29
Destiny 2
1080p – Ultra preset – 133
1440p – Ultra preset – 90
2160p – Ultra preset – 50
Minecraft RTX
1080p – Ultra preset –
1440p – Ultra preset –
2160p – Ultra preset – 45
Fortnite
1080p – Ultra preset – 180
1440p – Ultra preset – 138
2160p – Ultra preset – 90
Fortnite RTX
1080p – Ultra preset – 70
1440p – Ultra preset – 46
2160p – Ultra preset – 24
CS:GO
1080p – Ultra preset – 291
1440p – Ultra preset – 271
2160p – Ultra preset – 182
Rocket League
1080p – Ultra preset – 250
1440p – Ultra preset – 250
2160p – Ultra preset – n/a
Star Wars Battlefront 2
1080p – Ultra preset – 127
1440p – Ultra preset – 90
2160p – Ultra preset – 63
Performance comparisons
We’ve listed a range of computers and GPUs for comparison, ranging from the RTX 2070 MaxQ of the Triton 300 to the powerhouse RTX 3080 (mobile) from the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo SE. This should give you an idea of how it compares against a wide range of processors and system configurations. We find these comparisons useful for consumers looking for not only the best overall performance but also the best value, too.
Acer has packed some high-performance components into the Predator Orion 5000 (PO5-615s). The Octa-core i7-10700K may be technically last-gen now and has been leapfrogged by the newer AMD Ryzen chips, but it’s still a potent gaming CPU and handles most productivity tasks with ease. Paired with the speedy SSD it’s a very responsive system that’s a pleasure to use.
System Tests:
Cinebench R15
CineBench – CPU (Single)(cb)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 238 cb
CineBench – CPU (Multi)(cb)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 2277 cb
CineBench – GPU (OpenGL)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 164.59 fps
MP Ratio
9.58 x
Cinebench R20
CineBench – CPU (Single)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 571
CineBench – CPU (Multi)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 5545
MP Ratio
9.58 x
Cinebench R23
CineBench – CPU (Single)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 1458
CineBench – CPU (Multi)
(High-performance mode / Auto Fan): 13898
MP Ratio
9.53 x
3DMark – Time Spy (DX12)
Time Spy Score – 9778
Gaming Score – 9840
CPU Score – 9447
3DMark – Fire Strike (DX11)
Fire Strike Score – 21553
Graphics Score – 23589
Physics Score – 26013
Combined Score – 11318
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 – 7037
Essentials – 10971
App Start-up – 15531
Video Conferencing – 9105
Web Browsing – 9340
Productivity – 8217
Spreadsheets – 10636
Writing – 6349
Content Creation – 10489
Photo Editing – 13515
Rendering and Visualisation – 13712
Video Editing – 6228
Bright Memory Infinite RTX Benchmark
Very High – DLSS Setting: Quality
1080p: 69 fps
1440p: 42 fps
2160p: 21 fps
High – DLSS Setting: Performance
1080p: 106 fps
1440p: 73 fps
2160p: 37 fps
UserBenchMark
Gaming – 139% UFO
Desktop – 101% UFO
Workstation – 142% UFO
CPU – Gaming – 92.70%
Graphics – 143%
Boot Drive – 421%
Storage
Our review unit came with a WesternDigital PC SN730 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD, which is suitable for storing a healthy library of AAA games. The SSD achieved speeds comparable with the best SSDs we have tested so far. Peak sequential read and write speeds were 3367 and 3088 MB/s respectively.
In addition to the SSD, we also had a 1 TB SATA HDD, giving the Orion 5000 a healthy and easily expandable 2 TB of storage. The HDD speeds were markedly slower than the SSD, naturally, but it’s more than sufficient for storing videos, music, photos and documents, or games that aren’t in your regular rotation.
CrystalDiskMark
The following are the results recorded in CrystalDiskMark, with figures measured in MB/s
SEQ1M Q8T1 Read
3367.95
SEQ1M Q8T1 Write
3088.45
SEQ1M Q1T1 Read
2293.8
SEQ1M Q1T1 Write
2799.21
RND4K Q321T1 Read
464.58
RND4K Q321T1 Write
305.52
RND4K Q1T1 Read
49.62
RND4K Q1T1 Write
118.29
Cooling
During a prolonged gaming session, the maximum GPU temperature reached just 76°C, while the CPU peaked at 94°C.
Whilst carrying out our benchmarking tests, I recorded a peak of 100°C a couple of times, which is a lot higher than you’d want to run for extended periods of time. This was an anomaly, though, and only lasted for a few seconds. You are extremely unlikely to ever have the CPU run this hot while gaming – Averages were more consistently around 90°C.
At full speed, the fans are very noisy, but with automatic fan control they rarely reach peak volume, and as mentioned, the system, CPU and GPU remain well-within acceptable limits. On the whole, this is a very quiet PC.
Adventures in Overclocking
With the GPU managing its heat so well, we tried out some simple overclocking with MSI Afterburner to see if we could eke out a few more frames. The RTX 2070 Super turned out to be very responsive to overclocking. After an hour or so of fine-tuning and checking for stability, we reached a stable overclock. Keeping the fan speed control set to automatic, which kept the system nice and quiet, the GPU temps maxed out at just 78°C. This is an excellent result, and won’t impact the lifespan of the GPU.
Compared to other results on UserBenchmark, this put the Orion 5000 in the 100th percentile, with one of the fastest GPUs on record.
In gaming terms, this resulted in some significant increases to frame rates. Average increases were between 10-15%. For gamers using 1440p or even 2160p displays, these extra frames make a significant difference when aiming for a stable 60 fps on more demanding games.
I haven’t included these figures in the standard benchmark results, as overclocking is not normally attempted by most users buying a prebuilt system. It’s a very straightforward procedure, though, and well worth the effort.
For those interested in our OC settings, we raised the memory clock by 875 MHz and increased the core clock by 210 MHz.
Pricing
At £1999 in the spec we received, the price is above average for a PC with an i7-10700K and RTX 2070 Super. This additional cost isn’t just for the Predator name, though. This is a highly-engineered PC, and the overall build quality and quality of life improvements are far better than you’ll get from cheaper systems. Additions like the liquid CPU cooling, DVD-RW drive, quick-swap drive and top mounted IO all add value to the system.
Summary
I’ve loved using the Orion 5000, and I adore the styling and diffused RGB, even if the internals would benefit from a little flair (those generic RAM DIMMs are ugly). There are loads of ports that should suit most people, ample high-speed storage, a great CPU, and excellent cooling. It certainly ticks all the right boxes.
Gaming performance is very strong, although ray-tracing significantly tanks the frame rate on the RTX 2070 Super compared to 30-series RTX cards. 1080p gaming stands out on the Orion 5000, and 1440p gaming is also possible well above 60 fps. You can play on a 4k display, but you’ll have to lower many settings to hit 60 fps.
The only major negative is that the RTX 2070 Super has been superseded now, so I would be very tempted to hold out for the 3070 or even 3080 model if the price isn’t much greater. Considering how hard they are to get hold of at the moment, though, this is a great compromise and you will be very pleased with the overall experience, and can comfortably upgrade down the line if you wish.
Empire of Ember has been created by Kevin Jenkins and his studio, Poleaxe Games.
At its heart, it’s a first-person action RPG. Character archetypes include melee, bow, and staff equipped warriors, with different gameplay styles depending on your choice. Multi-level dungeons and villages you can attack or defend, as well as bespoke locations, are found all through the game world. So far, so familiar.
The unique selling point of Empire of Ember lies in the city-building tools at your disposal and the large scale combat. Cities you build are fully destructible, and can be shared amongst the community, played and rated by other gamers.
In large scale battles, you have the ability to switch between RTS style control of your troops and dropping into the battle in first-person mode. Each of the combatants on the field utilises the same AI you will face in the single-player dungeons, which means battles should have a far more organic feel than you would find in a typical RTS game.
None of these elements alone is particularly unique, but the way Poleaxe Games has blended these genres together looks like a tantalising proposition.
A secret enemy launches a surprise attack on your home, viciously murdering your wizard master and leaving your city in ruins. No longer an apprentice, you must take charge of a magical kingdom and rule as you see fit.
Fight
Use the environment to crush, trip, impale, or explode enemies.
Raise up fallen enemies and command the undead to fight on your behalf.
Fully destructible cities. Use catapults to fire from afar, or blast through the walls and lead your troops through the breach.
Command
Lead your army in first person, in battles of up to a hundred units.
Tactics matter. Order your men to hold the line with a shield wall while archers rain death from above. Teleport behind enemy lines to wreak havoc.
Build
Design, decorate, and defend your own fully destructible 3D city. Strategically place spawn points to rain fire from high towers while melee units defend the gates.
Integrated sharing. Download, destroy, and rate other players’ cities.
Rule
Make decisions that can change the story and lead to different game endings. Features a story written by Patrick Kevin Day, a former lead writer from Telltale Games.
Hold court and pass judgement on daily events in the lives of your subjects.