ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the latest gaming devices and gear at the FPS-themed For Those Who Dare: The Rise of Gamers virtual launch event during CES 2022. ROG unveiled multiple first-mover product premiers, several powerhouse gaming laptops with the newest chips, new peripherals to maximize gaming experiences, an updated ROG Citadel XV with an expanded map and new story, and several new ROG bags. This extensive lineup of gaming innovations includes the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16, ROG Zephyrus G14, ROG Strix SCAR and ROG Strix G gaming laptops; the ROG Flow Z13 gaming tablet; the ROG Fusion II 500 and 300 gaming headsets; the ROG Strix Flare II Animate and Strix Flare II gaming keyboards; the ROG Chakram X gaming mouse; the ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN, ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ and PG48UQ gaming monitors; the ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 gaming router; and multiple ROG Archer bags.

With this year’s comprehensive gaming lineup, ROG is continuing to drive future trends while leaving nobody behind. Embodying this approach, several first-mover products are raising the bar. In the connectivity realm, ASUS has been widely recognized as the best router brand, a legacy that continues with ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, the world’s first quad-band AXE16000 WiFi 6E gaming router. For gaming-grade visuals, ROG created the world’s first 360 Hz gaming monitor two years ago and continues to lead the pack this year with ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN — the world’s first ever 360 Hz display with 1440p resolution. In addition, understanding all the advantages of OLED displays, ROG developed the world’s first 42-inch and 48-inch OLED gaming monitors with Micro-texture coating, ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ and PG48UQ.

The manifesto for 2022 ROG gaming laptops is to push the limits of performance with leading innovations that empower gamers. Each laptop is equipped with Windows 11, brand-new CPUs from AMD® or Intel®, the latest GPUs from AMD or NVIDIA®, and all-new ROG innovations — including a MUX Switch for optimizing discrete GPU performance, the exclusive ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal design and Liquid Metal Conductonaut Extreme on flagship models.

In true ROG fashion, the launch event took the entire experience to a new level with a refreshed version of ROG Citadel XV, developed in collaboration with Aim Lab and specially created for CES 2022. This year’s edition pushes the envelope for FPS gaming with an entirely new storyline, new characters, enhanced graphics, and new mini games. It also features an impressive map 18 times bigger than the previous version, special Easter eggs, and much more to explore. Taking place in a rebel armory filled with next-gen ROG armaments, attendees can discover all the new innovations and gear from CES 2022 in the virtual medium that they know and love.

Aim Lab is the training platform of choice for over 20 million gamers around the globe, designed using performance data to help all players get better at the games they love. Beginning with this year’s ROG Citadel collaboration, the partnership between ROG and Aim Lab will include the co-creation of additional gaming products, hardware and software integrations, and the synchronization of in-game interactive lighting ecosystems, among other potential areas of innovation, all allowing gaming communities to improve and get better together.

Onstage gaming innovations

ROG Fusion II 500 and 300 gaming headsets

The ROG Fusion II 500 gaming headset provides users with unmatched gaming audio with its high-resolution ESS 9280 with Quad DAC™ technology. It offers immersive virtual 7.1 surround sound and 50 mm ASUS Essence drivers for thumping bass and true-to-life sound. In-game communication gets a boost, too, thanks to industry-leading AI Beamforming Microphones with AI Noise Cancelation. The Fusion II 500 features Game Chat volume control, allowing gamers to prioritize in-game audio or chat to communicate clearly with teammates in the heat of battle. It includes a 3.5 mm connector, as well as USB-C® and USB Type-A connectors for compatibility with PCs, Macs, PlayStation®, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox and mobile devices. The Fusion II 300 is identical to the Fusion II 500, minus the 3.5 mm connector and Game Chat volume control.

The comfortable and lightweight Fusion II series headsets include ergonomic ear cushions for a perfect fit. Both offerings provide exciting customization options with multi-color RGB lighting with over 16.8-million colors available for a unique look.

ROG Strix Flare II Animate and Strix Flare II gaming keyboards

The ROG Strix Flare Animate II gaming keyboard is the first keyboard to feature the AniMe Matrix™ LED display, and it allows users to express themselves with customizable images and animations for a unique look. This stylish keyboard offers users metal media keys and volume controls at its top-left corner, plus an ergonomic detachable wrist rest with built-in light diffuser.

The Strix Flare Animate II delivers almost instantaneous response with its 8000 Hz polling rate providing a 0.125 ms response time – up to 8X faster than the competition. It is equipped with swappable ROG NX Mechanical Switches for all keys to allow users to change and install their preferred switch type for a customized feel. The durable ROG PBT Doubleshot Keycaps have a mid-height profile and shorter stems to reduce key wobble, and feature translucent ROG script to enable RGB lighting to brightly shine through. The ROG Switch Stabilizer mechanism reduces friction to ensure smooth keystrokes and helps to stabilize longer keys. There’s also built-in sound-dampening foam to reduce pinging for better typing acoustics. Lastly, the Strix Flare Animate II includes a USB passthrough port for a convenient connection to other devices.

The Strix Flare II gaming keyboard is similar to the Strix Flare Animate II, but does not feature the AniMe Matrix LED display, swappable switches and light diffuser for the wrist rest. It has a color-customizable ROG logo and is equipped with ROG NX Mechanical Switches with ROG PBT Doubleshot Keycaps.

ROG Chakram X gaming mouse

The Chakram X wireless gaming mouse is the first to feature ROG AimPoint — an ROG-developed optical sensor that delivers a new level of speed and accuracy with up to 36,000 dpi and true 8000 Hz polling rate. The AimPoint sensor offers unmatched precision with a CPI deviation of less than 1% — well below the 3% industry average. The sensor sensitivity level can be adjusted via the DPI button on the underside of the mouse, or while in play with DPI-on-the-Scroll. The Chakram X features tri-mode connectivity via wired USB, low-latency 2.4 GHz RF and Bluetooth®.

The Chakram X has a new concave joystick design that provides a more comfortable grip and is easier to reach than its predecessor. It gives the user gamepad-like levels of control: the joystick can be programmed and used in analog or digital mode, along with four buttons to mirror the A, B, X and Y buttons. The left and right mouse buttons on top feature a pivoted mechanism to ensure rapid response with a tactile feel. The updated Push-Fit Switch Socket II design is now hot-swap compatible with both 3-pin mechanical and 5-pin optical switches to allow gamers to customize click force and extend the lifespan of the mouse.

The screw-less magnetic top cover and buttons provide easy access to the switches, customizable logo and wireless RF receiver bay. The Chakram has 100% PTFE mouse feet and includes the ROG Paracord for smooth, unrestricted movement, even while charging. For added convenience, the rechargeable battery can be topped up via USB or wireless Qi.

ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ and PG48UQ gaming monitors

The ROG Swift OLED display range includes the Swift OLED PG42UQ – the world’s first 42-inch OLED gaming monitor with Micro-texture coating, and the larger 48-inch Swift OLED PG48UQ for users looking for a more immersive experience. Both displays showcase 4K visuals at 120 Hz, and make full use of OLED technology features such as 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 0.1 ms response time, plus true 10-bit color and 98% DCI-P3 color coverage. These displays are also factory pre-calibrated to Delta E < 2 color accuracy.

Unlike other OLED displays, ROG Swift OLED series monitors feature the new anti-glare Micro-texture coating on the panel surface to reduce glare, allowing viewers to see more precise onscreen colors. These displays also boast a unique thermal solution with a custom heatsink and internal airflow layout designed to optimize heat exchange. These keep operating temperatures below 50˚ C (up to 16% lower than competitor models) and still reach a peak brightness of 900 nits[1].

The Swift OLED displays include HDMI® 2.1 FRL to offer gamers full 48 Gbps bandwidth to support native 4K 120 Hz visuals without chroma subsampling. Console gamers can also take advantage of variable-refresh-rate technology and auto-low-latency mode for super-smooth, lag-free gaming visuals. In addition, the Swift OLED displays have an array of connectivity features including two HDMI 2.1 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort™ 1.4 and a USB hub.

ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN NVIDIA esports monitor

The ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN NVIDIA G-SYNC® esports monitor with NVIDIA Reflex technology features the world’s first 1440p, 360 Hz display for a no-compromise, crystal-clear, ultra-responsive competitive gaming experience. It features Ultra-fast IPS technology, giving it extremely fast response time for an LCD monitor. This technology leverages a new kind of liquid crystal that offers higher birefringence and lower viscosity, enabling the shutter to switch faster and reflect light from the backlight. The liquid crystal molecules have also been arranged for greater efficiency, ultimately boosting responsiveness and speed.

Conventional displays have a single-layer voltage driver to switch the liquid crystals from the upper-left to the bottom-right corner of the display. The ROG Swift PG27AQN uses a dual-layer voltage driver, enabling the liquid crystals to switch from the upper-left and bottom-right corners simultaneously for a smoother, more consistent image.

The PG27AQN is an NVIDIA G-SYNC display that offers super-smooth visuals and faster response with variable overdrive, making it perfect for competitive play. It also includes the NVIDIA Reflex Analyzer to measure end-to-end system latency when paired with an NVIDIA Reflex mouse.

ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 gaming router

The ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 is the world’s first quad-band WiFi 6E gaming router. ASUS engineers have unlocked the full potential of four bands — 2.4 GHz, two 5 GHz bands, and 6 GHz — with 160 MHz channels in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands to deliver the fastest speeds possible. It features a flagship next-gen Broadcom WiFi chipset and CPU to improve maximum network throughput by 18%[2] for lightning-fast, accelerated data transfers and an optimized gaming experience. With ASUS RF technology and other exclusive ASUS technologies, RangeBoost Plus leverages multiple upgraded ASUS features that improve WiFi signal range and overall coverage by up to 38%[3].

The Rapture GT-AXE16000 offers numerous connections including dual 10 Gbps ports, a 2.5 Gbps WAN port and four 1 Gbps LAN ports. The quad-band capabilities of the Rapture GT-AXE16000 also provides users with more choice when connecting to an AiMesh system. For users with WiFi 6E devices, one of the 5 GHz bands can be used as a dedicated backhaul to the central router, so the other three bands are free for device connections. Additionally, the 6 GHz band can be used as a backhaul when used with another WiFi 6E router to provide cleaner and faster transmission between two routers for an optimized mesh experience.

Powerhouse gaming laptops

ROG Zephyrus Duo 16

Reaching new heights of innovation for dual-display laptops, ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 delivers a ScreenPad Plus™ secondary screen. This panel rises up and slides back to meet the primary display as the laptop opens via a new 4-directional hinge. Compared to the previous generation, this closes the gap between the two displays, providing a near-bezel-less experience for true immersion.

For the main display, there are two groundbreaking panel choices. The first is a new ROG Nebula HDR display — a QHD, 16:10 mini-LED panel that boasts a refresh rate of 165 Hz and is VESA DisplayHDR™ 1000 certified with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. The second option is a brand-new ROG-exclusive display co-developed with BOE called a Dual Spec panel, which is able to switch between 4K 120 Hz and Full HD 240 Hz for greater control over resolution versus framerate. Pixel Acceleration Technology ensures lightning-fast upscaling in the Full HD mode, for crystal clear images at competitive framerates.

This Windows 11 machine is powered by an AMD Ryzen™ 9 6980HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150 W with Dynamic Boost for high-end horsepower, bolstered by an upgraded Liquid Metal Conductonaut Extreme solution that decreases CPU temperatures by up to 15° C compared to traditional thermal pastes. The AAS Plus 2.0 air intake from the raised secondary screen creates 30% more airflow above the fans for keeping these top-tier components cool, and a MUX Switch ensures that users get every frame possible in competitive scenarios.

This incredible device also delivers a keyboard with 1.7 mm of travel and per-key RGB, six speakers with Dual Force-Cancelling Woofers, Dolby Atmos, and Hi-Res audio to round out ROG’s flagship for 2022, all housed in a smaller footprint than the previous generation.

ROG Zephyrus G14

The critically-acclaimed ROG Zephyrus G14 is a powerful gaming machine in a stylish, ultraportable form factor with a host of new improvements for 2022. The new Zephyrus G14 comes with Windows 11 onboard, an AMD Ryzen 9 6000 Series processor and AMD Radeon™ RX 6000S Series mobile graphics with a MUX Switch for the best possible performance. ROG Intelligent Cooling with Liquid Metal and a custom vapor chamber ensures excellent sustained performance from these high-end components, while DDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe® SSD enable responsive multitasking across the system.

Designed to offer premium power in an ultraportable package, the sleek Zephyrus G14 is available in Eclipse Gray or Moonlight White, featuring a Prismatic Logo nameplate with a holographic, reflective hue that is sure to turn heads. The lid is also covered with 14,969 precision CNC milled holes with 1,449 mini LEDs on models with the now-iconic AniMe Matrix™ display — more LEDs than last year’s model to deliver new animation possibilities.

Zephyrus G14 is also one of the first ROG laptops to feature ROG’s brand-new Nebula display, which offers 120 Hz at QHD with 500 nits of peak brightness, 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and a 3 ms response time — with Dolby Vision, Adaptive Sync, and Pantone® validation for a stunning, color-accurate experience that minimizes stuttering and tearing.

Dolby Atmos, a 3D mic array with two-way AI noise canceling, and blazing fast Wi-Fi 6E round out this portable powerhouse.

ROG Strix SCAR and Strix G

The brand-new ROG Strix SCAR is designed with esports enthusiasts in mind, powered by top-tier components, Windows 11, a high-refresh display, and ROG Intelligent Cooling with Liquid Metal. Sporting up to a 12th Gen Intel Core™ i9-12900H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150 W with Dynamic Boost, the Strix SCAR is designed for high-refresh gaming. A MUX Switch ensures top-tier GPU performance, PCIe Gen 4x4 storage boosts lightning-fast load times, and DDR5 4800 MHz RAM provides plenty of memory for multitasking.

ROG Strix SCAR is available in 15-inch and 17-inch models, with the 15-inch offering three IPS display choices: QHD 240 Hz, Full HD 300 Hz, and QHD 165 Hz. The 17-inch SCAR offers QHD 240 Hz or Full HD 360 Hz. The Strix SCAR models all support Dolby Vision® HDR for full-spectrum visuals, together with Adaptive-Sync in the display, delivering stunning picture quality without tearing or stuttering. A 3 ms response time assures clear movement so gamers can make pixel-perfect decisions in frenetic firefights.

A larger trackpad ensures fine-grained control over precision movements when not using a traditional mouse. Sporty dot matrix styling, Aura Sync-compatible per-key RGB lighting on the keyboard and lightbar, and customizable armor caps ensure gamers can flex their own personal style.

The new ROG Strix G15 and G17 are powered by up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3080 Ti laptop GPU at 150 W with Dynamic Boost for similarly high-end horsepower. The G15 offers Full HD 300 Hz and QHD 165 Hz display options, while the G17 offers Full HD 360 Hz and QHD 240 Hz for competitive gaming. All of the Strix G models support Dolby Vision. All displays come with 3 ms response times, and Adaptive Sync. The Strix G also comes in Eclipse Gray as well as two neon color choices that will stand out from the crowd.

All Strix models are equipped with a quad-speaker design and Dolby Atmos spatial sound, which brings soundstages to life with immersive crystal-clear, and lifelike realism in the heat of battle. Two-way AI Noise Cancelation filters out background noise for both ingoing and outgoing communications, so everyone’s voice comes through loud and clear.

In addition, Strix models come with a 90 Wh battery, plus 100 W Type-C charging for on-the-go usage. Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5G LAN provide cutting-edge networking for minimal lag on both wired and compatible wireless networks.

ROG Flow Z13 and XG Mobile

As the world’s most powerful gaming tablet, ROG Flow Z13 packs plenty of gaming horsepower in an ultra-thin, light chassis — with Windows 11, up to a 14-core Intel Core™ i9-12900H CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti GPU, a MUX Switch and 5200 MHz LPDDR5 memory. All this is housed in a retro-futurist design inspired by the 20th-century Space Race, but encompassing ROG’s vision for the future of gaming: ultimate portability.

There are two display options: a 4K 60 Hz display with 85% DCI-P3 coverage, or a Full HD 120 Hz screen with 100% sRGB coverage. Both are 16:10 and offer Dolby Vision for incredible picture quality, Corning® Gorilla® glass protection, Adaptive Sync, 500 nits of peak brightness, and Pantone validation.

Flow Z13 can be played multiple ways, from traditional mouse (using the included screen cover keyboard) to touch input or gamepads, and a built-in kickstand can be opened up to 170° for optimal usage in nearly any scenario. Since the tablet form factor includes all the powerful components behind the screen, rather than under the keyboard, the ROG Intelligent Cooling solution gets plenty of fresh air for high sustained performance.

For extra gaming horsepower and I/O expansion, Flow Z13 and the updated 2022 Flow X13 are compatible with the XG Mobile family of external GPUs. Gamers can connect it to the 2021 XG Mobile with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3080, or this year’s new addition to the XG Mobile family, which includes an AMD Radeon™ RX 6850M XT GPU. With additional USB ports, DisplayPort and HDMI, and Ethernet, the XG Mobile is ready for anything.

ROG accessories

Laptops are designed to go everywhere with gamers, which is why ROG is also introducing brand new accessories in the Archer series of bags and backpacks. The Archer Messenger 14 is built to carry essential electronics with plenty of small pockets and enough room for up to a 14-inch laptop. The Archer Backpack 15.6 carries a day’s worth of gear, while the Backpack 17 uses modular compartments to carry gaming, photography, or content creation equipment, including a dedicated tripod strap. The Archer Weekender 17 includes extra padding for larger trips away, and can be carried like a backpack or a duffel to fit any scenario. All Archer backpacks use lightweight, durable, and water-repellent materials to withstand heavy use, alongside subtle but striking ROG design elements for a unique style.