Playstation has announced they'll no longer produce physical discs for games at the start of 2028. While it might no seem like a big deal, for gamers in developing and smaller regions, it kind of sucks. Here's why.

On this episode of Loading In with ASUS ROG, we are joined b Jamppi! Currently the IGL for Team Vitality's Valorant squad, Jamppi’s journey is a fun one. From his early days as a rising prodigy in Counter-Strike to competing on the world stage at Valorant Masters, he has seen it all.We dive deep into his roots in Finland, how his family shaped his gaming career, the exact moment he decided to transition from CS to Valorant, and what it really takes to lead a world-class esports team. Whether you are a die-hard Counter-Strike fan or a Valorant enthusiast, Jamppi’s insights on hardware, team dynamics, and the future of both games are worth the watch. Powered by ASUS ROG.Timestamps: 00:00 - Meet Team Vitality’s Jamppi!00:54 - Powered by AMD00:57 - From Finland to the Global Stage03:44 - The Early Days: How Family Shaped a Gaming Prodigy06:52 - Falling in Love with PC Gaming & Counter-Strike09:53 - Going Pro: Parental Support & The Esports Grind12:53 - LAN Culture: Why Finland Breeds Esports Champions18:50 - The Moment I Realized I Could Go Professional20:07 - Why I Swapped Counter-Strike for Valorant22:50 - Inside the Mind of an IGL: Leading Team Vitality26:03 - Burnout & Balance: Life Outside of the Server28:49 - ASUS ROG Hardware & Setup Preferences31:27 - Brutal Lessons Learned Early in My Career34:20 - Dealing with Toxic Fans & Social Media Pressure35:37 - Counter-Strike vs. Valorant: Which is Better?

In this episode of Loading In with ASUS ROG, the legendary  @BanKseSports  joins me fresh from the IEM Cologne Major. After working an incredible 9 Counter-Strike Majors in a row, James experienced this one purely as a fan. We dive deep into his thoughts on Cologne, the grind of the competitive scene, and take a nostalgic look back at the legendary games, from Counter-Strike to Metal Gear Solid, that completely shaped his life and career.Timestamps00:00 - Loading In: Welcoming James Banks!01:13 - Advanced by AMD01:16 - Breaking the 9-Major Streak: IEM Cologne From a New Perspective04:15 - Consoles to PC: The Games That Started It All07:05 - Navigating the Esports Grind: Passion vs. Burnout10:25 - Life Lessons Learned from Lifelong Gaming13:26 - The Unmatched Power of the Counter-Strike Community16:09 - The Evolution of Gaming & Esports Culture24:03 - Overcoming Obstacles: Gaming with Diabetes28:41 - The Grind: Going from Casual Player to Competitive CS32:13 - Behind the Scenes of an Esports Career36:23 - Mechanics & Mindset: How Gaming Skills Evolve40:29 - Industry Regrets & Hard Career Choices45:37 - Why Metal Gear Solid is the Ultimate Masterpiece

IEM Cologne Major 2026 is officially wrapped. To make sense of the absolute madness, Thorin and Hawka join me on this episode of Feed the Trolls to recap everything that went down in the LANXESS Arena. Did your Pick'ems survive? Recorded 25/06/2026Timestamps:00:00 The Hype Is Real: Cologne Major Kickoff03:00 Ruining My Pick'ems (Bold Predictions Time)05:53 The Karrigan Effect: Big Brain Leadership08:51 Absolutely Nobody Could Have Predicted This Tournament11:57 Is Vitality’s Legacy In Trouble?14:58 Well... That Grand Final Was A Letdown18:02 The Mental Game Is Everything18:34 Why Personality Actually Matters In-Game19:55 Fake It 'Til You Make It? Confidence Vs. Competence21:49 Are The CS Boomers Aging Out?23:58 The Roster Shuffle Chaos26:07 Looking Into My Esports Crystal Ball 29:51 What Do Coaches Actually Do Behind The Scenes?32:06 The Brutal Rise And Fall Of Top CS Teams36:10 MOUZ And The Absolute Headache Of Roster Management41:28 Where Are Team Dynamics Heading Next?44:03 Let's Talk Money: Insane Buyouts & Budgets44:58 The IGL Dilemma: Is Kyxsan Being Slept On?51:01 Can A Good Coach Actually Save A Player?56:03 Strict Vs. Chill: Which Coaching Style Actually Works?58:55 What To Expect Next Season (Final Thoughts)#CS2 #IEMCologne #TeamFalcons #Esports #CounterStrike

How much does the hardware inside your rig actually change the way you experience games and life? In this episode of LOADING IN, I sit down with Andrew Batu from NVIDIA to unpack the evolution of gaming technology. From growing up with retro classics to working at the forefront of the GPU revolution, Andrew shares his accidental career path into the gaming industry, how he balances a demanding job with actual playtime, and why AI integration is completely shifting the landscape of modern gaming.Whether you're a hardcore PC builder in South Africa, a console fan, or just curious about the future of tech, this deep dive into the hardware that powers our passion is for you!Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:19 Advanced by AMD01:22 Introduction to NVIDIA and Gaming Background03:36 Growing Up with Games07:27 Balancing Work and Gaming09:27 Interest in Gaming Hardware12:11 Accidental Career Path in Gaming14:16 Significant Moments in Gaming Technology15:55 AI Integration in Gaming18:07 Impact of Industry Insight on Gaming Experience20:06 Joy of Watching Others Play21:35 Accessibility of Gaming Hardware24:39 Future of Gaming Hardware27:07 Personal Gaming Preferences and Nostalgia#NVIDIA #GamingHardware #LoadingInPodcast #SouthAfricaGaming #AIGaming #TechPodcast #PCGamingJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9gK16bcMwoh_ldmhhR0xg/joinFind me on the socials:Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlzaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlzaFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlzaTwitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlzaDiscord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA Powered by ASUS ROG.

What was the first video game Nasty C ever played? 🎮 In Episode 2 of Loading In, Sam "Tech Girl" Wright sits down with South African hip-hop royalty, Nasty C, to explore his secret life behind the controller. From playing Snake and Sega as a kid to becoming the official face of Call of Duty Mobile, Nasty C opens up about how gaming serves as his ultimate mental escape from fame.

In this unscripted conversation, Nasty C reveals how access to technology in South Africa shaped his creative journey, the unexpected intersection between hip-hop and gaming culture, his legendary rage quits, and why gaming is vital for his mental health.

Loading In is a long-form interview series exploring the human stories behind the games we love, powered by ASUS ROG South Africa.

Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction02:50 AMD call out02:53 Tech Troubles and Nostalgic Beginnings05:51 Gaming Origins: From Snake to Sega08:47 The Evolution of Gaming in South Africa12:00 Empowering Young Gamers: Nasty C's Initiatives14:56 Gaming as a Social Experience vs. Isolation17:53 The Intersection of Music and Gaming20:53 Becoming the Face of Call of Duty Mobile23:54 The Gaming Obsession25:01 Fame and Gaming as an Escape27:51 The Tech Journey31:35 Balancing Gaming and Life33:28 The Fun of Gaming36:11 Gaming as a Mental Escape37:52 Rage Quits and Tech Frustrations40:23 Nostalgia in Gaming

I originally made a video for ASUS ROG to promote their new OLED Gaming Monitors, but it made me realise a lot of the issues we have with these monitors aren't discussed. So here's a bit about burn in and how ROG tries to circumnavigate it. Hopefully you find some use in it.

Is North American Counter-Strike officially dead? In this episode of Feed The Trolls, @Thooorin and I are joined by @vooCSGO to dissect the current state of NA CS. We dive deep into Team Liquid's recent downfall, why NRG has been a disappointment, and the controversial take on why Siuhy might be the problem. With NA CS talent at an all-time low, who is to blame? More importantly, we discuss the path forward for NA teams, the current state of esports investment, and how to create a pipeline for future competitive talent. Timestamps:00:00 The state of NA CS03:07 Liquid's downfall & NRG's disappointment06:01 Siuhy is the problem10:13 NA CS Talent at an all time low15:04 Blame Game22:21 Path forward for NA teams49:40 Investment in NA Esports55:33 Creating a path for future talent#NACS #CounterStrike #Esports #TeamLiquid #NRG #Thooorin #vooCSGO #FeedTheTrollsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9gK16bcMwoh_ldmhhR0xg/joinFind me on the socials:Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlzaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlzaFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlzaTwitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlzaDiscord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA Powered by ASUS ROG.

Episode 1 of Loading In is here. First guest in Sonic. I'm really excited for where this series is going to go and I hope you enjoy it. A few audio issues & Elgato Cam Link issues, but I'm working on getting those rectified for the next episode. #cs2 #asusrog Timestamps: 00:00 What is Loading In? 02:16 AMD Advanced02:20 Sonic on NRG's Major loss07:02 The game that started it all12:36 Lack of hardware in South Africa17:29 Sonic's nickname lore20:17 Sonic on cheating allegations21:41 The impact of Shaz on South African Counter-Strike25:00 Giving it all up for Counter-Strike31:44 Sonic's run at the CS Majors36:47 The other games he playsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9gK16bcMwoh_ldmhhR0xg/joinFind me on the socials:Blog - http://www.techgirl.co.zaInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlzaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlzaFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlzaTwitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlzaDiscord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA Powered by ASUS ROG.

Cologne Major preview but its really just  @Thooorin  trolling  @teddcs  while I giggle. #cs2esports #iemcologne Recorded 28 May 2026Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & Fashion Choices00:58 Stage 1 Cologne Major Preview12:38 Can Spirit beat Vitality?20:29 NAVI current strengths and challenges30:25 Karrigan's impact on Falcons40:13 Psychology of beating Vitality46:20 FURIA50:15 Upset teamsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9gK16bcMwoh_ldmhhR0xg/joinFind me on the socials:Blog - http://www.techgirlblog.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/techgirlzaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/techgirlzaFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/techgirlzaTwitch - http://www.twitch.tv/techgirlzaDiscord - https://discord.gg/SKvCd82nv4TikTok - http://www.tiktok.com/@TechGirlZA Powered by ASUS ROG.