Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on your handheld!
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has finally arrived, bringing with it an epic campaign, intense multiplayer action, and the return of fan-favorite Round-Based Zombies. As PC gamers eagerly get into the latest installment of this iconic franchise, those with Windows gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X are in for a treat. Here are our top tips on you can maximize your Black Ops 6 experience on this powerful portable device.
Black Ops 6: A New Era of Call of Duty
Before we get into the handheld gaming experience, let’s recap what makes Black Ops 6 so exciting. Set in the early 1990s, the game offers a thrilling spy thriller campaign that ties into the Black Ops universe. The multiplayer mode features 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps. And for Zombies fans, two new Round-Based maps await, promising hours of undead-slaying action.
One of the most significant additions to Black Ops 6 is the new Omnimovement system. This innovative feature allows players to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction, as well as rotate 360 degrees while prone. This added mobility brings a new level of tactical flexibility to all game modes.
Playing on the ASUS ROG Ally X
The ASUS ROG Ally X, the latest iteration of the popular Windows gaming handheld, is an excellent platform for experiencing Black Ops 6 on the go. With its powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and 16GB of RAM, the ROG Ally X is more than capable of running the game smoothly. In my experience, the game plays at 70fps to 75fps at low settings with FSR 1.0. The game plays steading around 60 to 70fps at medium settings, balanced with FSR 3.0.
While we have preference on playing this game on the ROG Ally X, there are other Windows-based handheld gaming devices where you can play this game. I’ll mention some of it in a little bit.
System Requirements and Optimizations
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been optimized for AMD-based systems, which is great news for ROG Ally X owners. While they did not specifically say that it is optimized for handheld, the game’s minimum system requirements fit the bill:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest update)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1400
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 470
- Storage: SSD with 149 GB available space
The ROG Ally X easily meets and exceeds these requirements, ensuring a smooth gaming experience. Additionally, Black Ops 6 supports AMD FSR 3.1 (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which can significantly boost performance without sacrificing image quality. This technology is particularly beneficial for handheld devices like the ROG Ally X, as it helps maintain good frame rates at higher resolutions.
Optimizing Your Settings
To get the best performance on the ROG Ally X, consider the following tips:
- Use AMD FSR 3.1: Enable this feature in the graphics settings to improve frame rates.
- Adjust resolution: The ROG Ally X’s 1080p display is great, but lowering the resolution to 720p or (even 900p, which is my personal favorite) can significantly boost performance.
- Customize graphics settings: Experiment with medium to low settings to find the right balance between visuals and performance.
- Enable AMD FidelityFX Contrast Adaptive Sharpening (CAS): This feature can enhance image clarity without a significant performance hit.
The Handheld Advantage
Playing Black Ops 6 on the ROG Ally X offers unique advantages:
- Portability: Take your Black Ops 6 experience anywhere, from your couch to your commute.
- Versatility: The ROG Ally X’s Windows OS allows you to easily switch between gaming and other tasks.
- Comfort: The ergonomic design of the ROG Ally X makes extended gaming sessions more comfortable compared to traditional handheld devices.
- Performance: With its powerful hardware, the ROG Ally X can deliver a console-like experience in a portable form factor.
Comparing to Other Handhelds
While the ROG Ally X is an excellent choice for Black Ops 6, it’s worth mentioning other options in the Windows gaming handheld market:
- ROG Ally: The original model, while slightly less powerful than the X version, is still capable of running Black Ops 6 well.
- GPD Win Mini (2024): This compact device offers a unique clamshell design and full keyboard, which could be useful for in-game chat.
- Lenovo Legion Go: With its detachable controllers and large screen, the Legion Go provides a different take on handheld PC gaming.
Each of these devices has its strengths, but the ROG Ally X’s balance of power and portability makes it a top contender for Black Ops 6 on the go.
Looking Ahead: Our Upcoming Benchmark Article
For those interested in the nitty-gritty performance details, our PC Review Lead, Grant Soriano, will be penning an in-depth benchmarking article for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This piece will dive deep into how the game performs on a desktop system with Intel Core 9 Ultra and NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU. Stay tuned for a comprehensive look at frame rates, graphics settings, and overall performance across different scenarios in Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on the ASUS ROG Ally X offers an exciting blend of high-octane action and portable convenience. With its powerful hardware, optimized performance for AMD systems, and support for technologies like FSR 3.1, the ROG Ally X provides an excellent platform for experiencing all that Black Ops 6 has to offer. Whether you’re infiltrating enemy bases in the campaign, competing in intense multiplayer matches, or surviving waves of zombies, the ROG Ally X ensures you can enjoy the full Black Ops experience wherever you go.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is now available worldwide.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
