Today, Microsoft’s announcement of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally hardware line looks like it fulfills almost all of our wishes for Microsoft’s biggest foray into portable gaming yet.
The Windows-11-powered Xbox Ally devices promise access to “all of the games available on Windows,” including “games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts [read: Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, etc].”
Asus and Microsoft have announced two Xbox Ally configurations so far.
The base ROG Xbox Ally sports an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16 GB of memory, 512 GB of storage, and a 60 Wh battery.
The Xbox Ally’s 670 g weight will match the original Steam Deck almost exactly, while the Xbox Ally X adds an additional 45 g on top of that.
In March of last year, we listed six features we hoped to see on what was then only a Windows-powered handheld gaming device with an Xbox brand. With the release of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally hardware line today, Microsoft appears to have fulfilled nearly every one of our expectations for the company’s largest portable gaming venture to date.
In addition to “games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle . net, and other leading PC storefronts [read: Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, etc.],” the Xbox Ally devices running Windows 11 promise access to “all of the games available on Windows.”. All of these games will be accessible through what Microsoft is referring to as an “aggregated gaming library,” rather than requiring you to install and launch them using the standard Windows interface, as you frequently do with handheld devices like the original ROG Ally line. “.
With “access to games you can’t get elsewhere,” Asus and Microsoft are emphasizing how to use that integrated experience with games across a variety of Windows-based launchers. That might be interpreted as a subtle jab at SteamOS-powered devices, such as the Steam Deck, which suffer greatly from games that are incompatible with Linux and/or Steam for various reasons. Additionally, Microsoft emphasizes how Discord, Twitch, and downloadable game mods will be accessible directly through the Windows backbone of the Xbox Ally.
Additionally, in addition to running Windows 11, the Xbox Ally devices will boot to what Microsoft is referring to as the “Xbox Experience for Handheld,” a custom full-screen interface that by default conceals the intricacies of the Windows desktop. As per Microsoft, the interface designed for gaming will “minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks,” resulting in “more [and] higher framerates” for the games. Additionally, a rhombus-shaped Xbox button next to the left stick will activate an Xbox Game Bar overlay that provides fast access to features like performance metrics, settings, and title switching. Additionally, Microsoft claims to be developing a program similar to “Deck Verified” that will identify Windows titles that “have been optimized for handhelds.”. “..”.
To date, Microsoft and Asus have revealed two Xbox Ally configurations. In addition to a 60 Wh battery, the base ROG Xbox Ally has an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. The more expensive Xbox Ally X has the same impulse triggers as Xbox console controllers, along with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, and an 80 Wh battery. Both versions will feature a 7-inch, 120 Hz, 1080p, IPS screen with adjustable refresh rate. With a weight of 670 g, the Xbox Ally will nearly exactly match the original Steam Deck, and the Xbox Ally X will add an extra 45 g.
Although Microsoft claims that details will be released “in the coming months” prior to a scheduled holiday release in North America, Japan, Australia, and other European and Asian markets, pricing is still a major unanswered question. But regardless of cost, it’s intriguing to see Microsoft putting so much emphasis on a customized version of Windows that caters to the expanding portable PC gaming market.
