Asus’s Kojima Collab Deserves a Better Laptop
▼ Summary
– Asus announced a collaboration with Hideo Kojima’s Kojima Productions at CES 2026, featuring custom-designed gaming peripherals and a laptop.
– The collaboration’s aesthetic is white and gold, prominently featuring the company’s Ludens mascot designed by artist Yoji Shinkawa.
– The product lineup includes a custom ROG Delta II headset, Keris II mouse, Scabbard II mouse mat, a carry case, and the ROG Flow Z13 laptop/tablet.
– The article criticizes the inclusion of the ROG Flow Z13, stating its GPU is underpowered for gaming compared to its high price and alternatives.
– The collaboration uses a special tagline, “for Ludens who dare,” and while no release date or price is confirmed, it is expected to be expensive.
The recent collaboration between Asus and Hideo Kojima’s studio has produced a visually stunning collection of gaming peripherals, though the choice of centerpiece hardware feels like a missed opportunity for serious players. Announced at CES 2026, the partnership outfits several ROG products in a distinctive white and gold color scheme, heavily featuring the iconic Ludens mascot designed by Yoji Shinkawa. The aesthetic is undeniably sharp, extending to a custom carry case inspired by Death Stranding, but the inclusion of the ROG Flow Z13 as the flagship device is a puzzling decision for a gaming-focused lineup.
This collaboration spans the ROG Delta II gaming headset, Keris II gaming mouse, Scabbard II mouse mat, and the special carry case. The unifying design philosophy draws directly from Kojima Productions’ identity, with Shinkawa noting the intent was to create tech that feels like it belongs to the Ludens character. Every item is emblazoned with a mashup of the companies’ taglines, reading “for Ludens who dare.” While the presentation is lavish and cohesive, the core problem lies with the chosen laptop. The ROG Flow Z13 is a hybrid tablet-laptop powered by a Ryzen AI Max processor. In our previous testing, we found that while its CPU performance is robust, its integrated GPU struggles to deliver compelling gaming power for its high price tag. It occupies an awkward middle ground: it lacks the convenience of a dedicated handheld gaming PC and falls short of the performance offered by traditional gaming laptops at a similar cost.
For creative professionals or developers, the Flow Z13 serves as a capable productivity tablet. However, Kojima Productions is first and foremost a game developer, and this collection is ostensibly for fans who want to play those games. There are simply more suitable devices within the Asus ecosystem that could have better honored this partnership. A ROG Zephyrus or Strix G16 laptop, or even a ROG Ally handheld, wrapped in this premium gold and white livery would have been a more logical and powerful centerpiece for gamers.
Pricing and specific release dates for the collection are still pending, though a launch in the first quarter of the year is anticipated. Given that the standard model of the ROG Flow Z13 AI Max 390 retails for around $2,000, the special edition will likely command a significant premium. For enthusiasts captivated by the Ludens aesthetic but wary of the Z13’s gaming limitations, the alternative might just be a set of tactical stickers and a careful application of gold paint. The collaboration excels in style but stumbles on substance, leaving one to wish the daring Ludens spirit had been paired with hardware truly worthy of it.
(Source: PC Gamer)
