This restricted version Death Stranding-inspired pill is the good pc I’ve ever touched

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 was already a singular beast. It’s a chunky gaming pill with spectacular AMD Strix Halo built-in graphics. I used to be actually into it once I reviewed it round this time final 12 months. But simply take a look at it now, clad within the stylings of Hideo Kojima’s recreation studio and his longtime collaborator, artist Yoji Shinkawa.

This is the Asus ROG Flow Z13-KJP, a collaboration between Asus and Kojima Productions introduced at CES. It’s formally impressed by Kojima Productions’ mascot Ludens, although it feels very Death Stranding, which is sensible, since Yoji Shinkawa designed each. Shinkawa is famed for designing legendary characters and gadgetry with Kojima, going again to the Metal Gear Solid sequence, and extra not too long ago the Death Stranding video games.

The ROG Flow Z13-KJP is predicated on essentially the most highly effective configuration of the usual mannequin Z13, with an AMD Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus APU and 128GB of reminiscence. It prices $3,699.99, $400 greater than the MSRP of that model (although $900 greater than the present sale value), and it’ll embody a Steam code for Death Stranding 2: On the Beachon PC, delivered through Asus’ Armoury Crate app. It’s up for preorder now, direct from Asus and at retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo. The restricted version isn’t individually numbered, and Asus isn’t disclosing what number of it’s making, however just like the earlier restricted editions it’s prone to promote out. Accompanying the pill are an identical ROG Delta II-KJP headset ($269.99), ROG Keris II Origin-KJP mouse ($169.99), and a ROG Scabbard II XXL-KJP desk mat ($69.99). All in, the restricted version assortment prices $4,209.96 — bought a la carte within the US. It could also be obtainable as a bundle in some areas. As bonkers as that value is, I urge you as soon as once more: Look. At. This. Thing.

Shinkawa’s affect is obvious throughout the design of your entire assortment. The pill’s anodized “decennium gold” chassis has a smoother and nicer really feel than the common ROG Flow, and there’s a carbon fiber panel on the highest left of the pill’s rear, simply because. And subsequent to that may be a ornamental design combining gold traces and the damaging house of a fan vent to look a bit like a mountain peak — the form of hostile terrain frequent in Death Stranding. Even the in any other case boring energy provide is adorned with a Ludens mascot design. Meanwhile, the mouse and headset characteristic a mixture of black and white with gold accents, plus Kojima Productions iconography like the corporate’s Ludens brand illuminated in RGB mild.

Everything is roofed in sci-fi navy jargon and iconography. Some are purposeful labels, just like the M.2 SSD storage, however most of it’s only for seems and laughs. The “For Ludens Who Dare” phrase is in all places (a remix of ROG’s “For Those Who Dare” motto), as is the phrase “Extra-vehicular Creative Activity Device.” The identify comes from Ludens’ spacesuit, the “Extra-vehicular Creative Activity Suit.” (Ludens isn’t in any video games, however does seem as a 1:1 statue in the company office and has its own line of merch.) Another of my many favorites is a black-on-black “Caution: Actuator cycles: 100M exceed prohibited” on the left mouse button, referring to its rated lifespan of clicks. It’s such a enjoyable little contact. Maybe extra specs ought to be proudly worn as design components on on a regular basis issues?

The further touches lengthen to all of the Z13-KJP’s equipment, just like the attaché case it is available in, which is impressed by the a lot bigger model mounted on Ludens’ again. The pill even comes with a remove before flight-style keychain, however sadly there’s nowhere to connect it to the case. Each merchandise comes with a bunch of stickers and a printed thank-you observe from the Asus ROG and KJP groups. The greatest a part of that thank-you card is the reverse facet, which reveals a few of Shinkawa’s authentic idea artwork for the collaboration {hardware}. I nonetheless haven’t performed both Death Stranding recreation but, however I’m a longtime Metal Gear Solid fan, and seeing a glimpse of Yoji Shinkawa paintings all the time sends the great chemical compounds flowing to my mind.

Asus additionally went the additional mile with software program. Boot up the Z13-KJP and also you’re greeted by a Kojima Productions brand animation with a suspenseful audio stinger, harkening again to the studio’s founding and its original logo trailer. I used to be not anticipating to listen to a sound like that once I booted up the pill, so it gave me a strong bounce scare. Once in Windows, the Armoury Crate and MyAsus apps present a render of the KJP pill of their machine settings, and Armoury Crate has an identical KJP theme. None of those little touches are mandatory, however the thoroughness is appreciated.

The KJP version you should purchase will include a keyboard that makes use of a brand new faux-leather palm relaxation and plastic keycaps in white, black, and gold with futuristic-looking legends. But Asus additionally made a small batch of keyboards with metallic keycaps: 50 of them for Kojima and his staff, and round 30 for Asus employees members and promotional functions.

Asus despatched me each the usual and metallic keyboards to check out, partially as a result of I’m a wee little bit of a keyboard sicko. The metallic keycaps have an analogous type to the common plastic set, however with metallic silver keys rather than the white ones. There’s a delicate luster to them, they usually catch the sunshine in a singular approach. They sound a little bit nicer, with an ever-so-slightly deeper bottom-out sound than the plastic caps. Both the plastic and metallic units look fashionable as hell, although, so don’t get an excessive amount of FOMO for not having the ability to personal the identical one as Kojima.

I can’t bear in mind the final time I’ve been this enamored of a pc. There are after all numerous wild customized PCs on the market. The annual Dream Machines that Maximum PC used to make had been the stuff of legends. And Asus has carried out its justifiable share of zany restricted editions earlier than, just like the last-gen ROG Flow Z13 ACRNYM. But this one undoubtedly speaks to me — therefore my private motivation to hike it up a snowy mountain Sam Porter Bridges type. (And nothing broke or shorted out from water ingress. Thankfully this pill isn’t Fragile.)

The newest incarnation of the ROG Flow Z13 was already a reasonably forward-looking machine, with its cutting-edge built-in graphics and versatile type issue, and this KJP version additionally makes it a factor of sci-fi magnificence. It’s costly as all hell, however the care and a focus put into it makes it really feel like a gem of a contemporary pc — one from the longer term, even.

Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge