Latest in Gaming: eGPUs, Gaming Routers, RX 9060 XT & Witcher 4

1. ROG eGPUs: Desktop Power on the Go

The ROG XG Station 3 — announced at Computex 2025—is ASUS’s next-gen external GPU dock using Thunderbolt 5 (80 Gbps). It accommodates full-sized NVIDIA RTX 50-series or AMD RX 9000-series cards, supports daisy-chaining, Aura Sync lighting, and multiple USB‑C ports. A built-in 675 W PSU powers both the GPU and your laptop, keeping setups clean with BTF cables .

Why it matters: With Thunderbolt 5 rolling out in laptops from ASUS, MSI, and Lenovo, the XG Station 3 is making eGPUs mainstream for creators and competitive gamers seeking desktop performance in a portable setup .

ROG XG Mobile (2025)

Targeted at on-the-go power users, the ROG XG Mobile houses an NVIDIA RTX 5090 Laptop GPU in a compact thunderbolt‑powered dock (~1 kg). It includes USB‑A, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, Ethernet, SD-card support, and delivers up to 27 W PD from a single cable. Launched early 2025 with a premium price tag (USD 1,199–2,199) .

2. ASUS ROG Strix GS-BE18000: The Ultimate WiFi 7 Gaming Router

ASUS has unveiled the ROG Strix GS-BE18000, a next-generation WiFi 7 gaming router built to deliver ultra-fast speeds, low-latency connections, and gamer-centric networking features.

Unparalleled Speed and Capacity

• Tri-Band WiFi 7 support delivers up to 18,000 Mbps across 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. It utilizes 320 MHz channels and 4096-QAM modulation for dramatically improved wireless performance.
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allows devices to connect simultaneously across different bands, ensuring stable and high-speed connections.
• With seven 2.5G LAN ports and a 2.5G WAN port, it provides up to 20 Gbps wired throughput, ideal for multi-device, high-traffic setups.

Learn more on the official ROG product page.

Engineered for Gaming

• Dedicated 2.5G Gaming Ports: Two LAN ports are optimized for gaming, automatically prioritizing traffic to reduce lag during gameplay.
• ROG Gaming Network: Offers traffic acceleration, QoS controls, and custom SSIDs tailored for online games.

This router is specifically designed for those who demand zero compromises in competitive scenarios.

Smart Home and Security Ready

• Smart Home Master Mode supports up to three dedicated SSIDs: one for gaming, one for IoT devices, and one for guests.
• AiProtection Pro with Safe Browsing and a one-click Security Scan keeps your network protected from online threats.

ASUS makes it easier than ever to segment and secure your home network without sacrificing control or speed.

Exceptional Coverage and Hardware

• Eight internal antennas with advanced copper tube tech and independent FEMs offer up to 3,300 square feet of coverage—ideal for large homes or gaming dens.
• A 2.0 GHz quad-core processor ensures smooth and responsive performance, even under the stress of concurrent gaming, streaming, and downloads.

For a full breakdown, read the ASUS press release.

3. AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT: Mid-Range Champion

Launched June 5, 2025, the RX 9060 XT (RDNA 4, Navi 48) boosts AMD’s mid-range lineup in two variants:

• 8 GB @ USD 299
• 16 GB @ USD 349
  • Features: 32 CUs, 2,048 stream processors @ 3.13 GHz, ~150–160 W TDP
  • Supports DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b.
  • ~6% faster than NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti at 1440p in raster performance .
  • ~31% faster Vulkan compute than RX 7600 XT .

Benchmarks & Reception

• 16 GB models sold out almost immediately at MSRP; 8 GB versions still available .
• TechSpot notes the 8 GB falls behind for longevity, while the 16 GB offers smooth 1440p gaming comparable to RTX 5060 Ti .
• Ars Technica labels the 16 GB version as “the new midrange GPU to beat” .

Ray‑Tracing & Efficiency
Capable of ray-tracing at 1080p, but 1440p will likely demand compromises. Power consumption is slightly higher than NVIDIA’s version, typical of RDNA 4 chips .

Conclusion: The 16 GB RX 9060 XT offers the best price/performance and future resilience—while the 8 GB is a budget pick with potential VRAM limitations.

4. The Witcher 4 Tech Demo: Ciri & Unreal Engine 5.6

At Epic’s State of Unreal 2025, CD Projekt Red debuted a stunning Witcher 4 tech demo built on Unreal Engine 5.6, demonstrated live at 60 FPS with ray tracing on a base PS5 .

Key Highlights:

• Protagonist Ciri was showcased exploring the lush region of Kovir—forest landscapes, port marketplaces (Valdrest) with dense crowds and foliage .
• Featured ML Deformer tech for lifelike muscle movement, Fast Geometry Streaming for smooth world loading, and Nanite foliage rendering for high environmental fidelity .
• Demonstrated cross-generation release support and a narrative shift—Ciri now leads the next Witcher trilogy .

Developer Remarks:

CDPR stressed the demo is a tech showcase, not representative of final gameplay . Despite that, tech animators confirm real-time running on PS5 using actual gameplay, not pre-recorded footage.

Why it matters: This demo signals a major leap in open-world RPG tech—demonstrating CDPR’s move to UE5 for better scalability, AI, world streaming, and cross-platform efficiency

5. What to Watch in 2025

• Thunderbolt 5 becomes standard across laptops—ushering in mainstream adoption of eGPUs via XG Station 3 and XG Mobile .
• Wi‑Fi 7 routers hit home networks, offering smoother gaming and seamless streaming experiences .
• Mid-range GPU arms race: RX 9060 XT 16 GB challenges NVIDIA’s 5060 Ti with more VRAM and better compute—AMD is pushing dominance in value .
• UE5-powered open worlds are taking flight—the Witcher 4 tech demo raises expectations for next-gen RPGs and how immersive future games will be.

TL;DR

• ROG XG Station 3: TB5 eGPU with desktop-grade power and sleek dock features.
• ROG XG Mobile: Compact powerhouse for creators and portable gamers.
• ASUS Wi‑Fi 7 Routers: Ultra-low latency and high bandwidth—choose BT BE86U for value or BE92U for maximum performance.
• AMD RX 9060 XT 16 GB: Best mid-tier GPU with future-ready VRAM.
• Witcher 4 Tech Demo: UE5.6 showcase brings Ciri into a vast, ray-traced world—exciting RPG visuals, but still just a proof-of-concept.