ASUS ROG partners with BMW DesignWorks to create the gaming laptop of the future

ASUS Republic of Gamers wanted to reimagine what the future of gaming laptops could look like, so it decided to partner with BMW Group’s design innovation studio. Together with DesignWorks, the two came up with the ROG Face Off. The goal was to create a premium machine that can cater to all needs of a gamer. This means, it’s something that can handle all your gaming requirements, while also being able to use these as a productivity tool. Taking inspiration from the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 motorcycle concept, the ROG Face Off has a less rigid form. It features more elaborate lines that still has the feel of an ROG laptop.

Outside, you get the offset slash and ROG logo emblazoned on the lid. Distinctive cuts provide contrast for the matte and polished surfaces, which is a nod to the ROG aesthetic. Unlike the usual crop of ROG laptops, though, this concept features a silver coat with a jade green tint. Gills that sweep across the back of the chassis also flank the side of the keyboard. These not only create a distinct look, but these also provide extra ventilation. And it won’t be an ROG laptop if there were LED lights that create a customizable glow that illuminates the raised ridges. You see more areas illuminated here actually through the smoked X-ray panel that covers the keyboard. This gives you a peek inside the components of the machine, while also letting the lights run through them.

Gamers will appreciate the different texture and feel of the WASD cluster and left side of the keys. It’s covered by smooth metal skin and a rubberized cover, making it immediately recognizable by touch alone.

ASUS ROG and DesignWorks explored the idea of bringing concepts like projection and tracking technology into the ROG Face Off. They think about how augmented reality can be used to float virtual elements from the laptop, allowing users to interact with these objects using gestures.  

While the ROG Face Off in its current form won’t become a consumer product, it has served as inspiration for ROG designers when it comes to actual products. ASUS’s new ROG Strix G laptop features raised ridges that run across the chassis, providing more ventilation. The ROG Strix G also features offset cut-out under the display for more room for airflow, which was an idea taken from another concept design explored during this project.

Meanwhile, the ROG Strix Scar III and Hero III lines added the ROG Keystone. It’s a physical device that docks into the laptop and reinforces a physical connection with the user. It can trigger changes to lighting and system settings that match their personal preferences. The development of the ROG Keystone was driven by the same motivations that produced the concept’s spring-loaded switch and mode-specific lighting effects.