Microsoft has finally revealed its highly-anticipated handheld console, years after it was first rumoured.
The ROG Xbox Ally will let gamers access their Game Pass subscription library on-the-go, in effect meaning members will start off with hundreds of games.
It is being made in partnership with Asus, which has been making handheld gaming devices since 2023, and will be released at the end of 2025 – though it is unknown what it will cost.
Speculation over Microsoft making a handheld Xbox has been widespread for more than a decade, with the company starting and scrapping various efforts over the years.
Microsoft’s new handheld will comes in two flavours, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.
After years of speculation, Microsoft has finally confirmed the release of its eagerly awaited handheld console.
Although the price is unknown, it will be released at the end of 2025 and is being produced in collaboration with Asus, a company that has been producing portable gaming devices since 2023.
Since Microsoft has started and abandoned several projects over the years, there has been much conjecture that the company will produce a portable Xbox for over ten years.
The announcement from Microsoft was made just three days after the Switch 2 was released.
The Switch 2 is a hybrid gaming device, similar to its predecessor, which means it can be used to play games on the go and connect to a TV.
Because of its popularity, Valve created the Steam Deck, a portable PC that allows users to access the full library of games they have purchased through the game distribution service Steam, though not all of them are compatible with the device.
The benefit of native support for Game Pass will probably allay many worries for its 34 million subscribers, even though Microsoft may be accused of being a little late to the game when competitors are already in the market.
The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X are the two flavors of Microsoft’s upcoming handheld.
“Your favorite games ought to accompany you wherever you go,” stated Roanne Sones, head of gaming devices at Xbox.
Players can play natively on either handheld, through the cloud, or remotely from a different room using their Xbox console. “.
A 7-inch screen with 1080p resolution is seen in both versions.
The “X” model has twice as much storage and 24GB of memory as the base model, which has 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
The handheld’s more powerful model also boasts a larger battery and a more potent processor.
Xbox will try to persuade gamers that it provides something unique that its competitors do not—namely, Microsoft’s operating system—in both situations.
Ms. Sones explained, “You can enjoy the full freedom and versatility of PC gaming because these handhelds run Windows, which gives you access to games you can’t get elsewhere.”.
That is to say, users can exit the Xbox app and use the device to access other gaming platforms like Steam and EA Play.
The weight, however, is a price for all that capability.
While Nintendo’s new Switch 2 weighs 534g, the base and X versions of the Xbox Ally weigh 670g and 715g, respectively, which may be heavier than handheld gamers are accustomed to.
One significant question is still unresolved, and that is the cost.
Although Microsoft chose not to disclose the price of its upcoming handheld, it is obvious that the more powerful X model will cost more.
While the Steam Deck ranges in price from £349 to £569, depending on the specifications, the Switch 2, which has a similar screen, retails for £395 in the UK.
Microsoft revealed a number of new games at its showcase event, which also included the announcement that 17 new games would be available on Day 1 for Game Pass PC and Ultimate.
Ninja Gaiden 4, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, and Outer Worlds 2 are just a few of the eagerly awaited games.
When Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is released, which is probably later this year, it also includes the new game.
It will be a follow-up to the highly regarded Black Ops 2 game, which came out in 2012.
The Switch 2 was not mentioned at the event, which is interesting because Nintendo had previously signed a 10-year deal to bring the series to its consoles in 2022, even though the game was confirmed for multiple consoles.
A lot of gamers, however, will have been thrilled to see something else finally made public.
The highly anticipated Persona 4 remake, titled Revival, is scheduled to be made seventeen years after its initial PlayStation 2 release.
