Microsoft and Asus are altering what handheld gaming means with the ROG Xbox Ally

Again at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany, I got to experience the ROG Xbox Ally series in a hands-on capability for the very first time. This all-new handheld gaming PC line — which consists of the usual ROG Xbox Ally and the premium-tier ROG Xbox Ally X — is a joint shopper product push from each Asus and Microsoft.

Externally, these new Xbox-branded ROG Ally handhelds seem like iterative upgrades over Asus’ current ROG Ally and Ally X PCs, however there’s way more underneath the floor than meets the attention. Enhanced by barely extra performant inside {hardware} elements and a extra comfy grip design, a pivotal retooling of the software program expertise has additionally occurred.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 group has labored carefully with its Xbox group to institute a set of overarching platform optimizations that ought to lead to higher efficiency per watt, longer stamina, much less warmth technology, extra dependable standby, and a extra seamless gaming expertise from begin to end. In different phrases, the corporate has taken the required measures to strip Home windows again, consolidating its interface and energy profile to attain parity with different purpose-built consoles like Valve’s Steam Deck and Nintendo’s Switch 2.

“…it is form of a big step in a course the place folks can get and really feel a little bit bit extra nearer to their gaming experiences that they are searching for, particularly if you happen to come from console and also you’re used to UIs in gaming, the place you are capable of say: “I can now go straight from turning it on, into gaming.” So, I really feel like these are vital enhancements within the expertise,” says Gabriel Meng, Director of Product, Gaming at Asus.

• Dimensions

  290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

  Model

  Asus

  Weight

  23oz (670g)

  Chipset

  AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor

  RAM

  16GB LPDDR5X-6400

  Storage

  512GB M.2 2280 SSD

  
  

• 

  Dimensions

  290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

  Model

  Asus

  Weight

  25oz (715g)

  Chipset

  AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Excessive Processor

  RAM

  24GB LPDDR5X-8000

  Storage

  1TB M.2 2280 SSD for simpler improve

  
  

The very best of ROG and Xbox in a single, highly effective bundle

Asus’ {hardware} prowess and Microsoft’s software program aptitude are an formidable power to be reckoned with

When talking about Asus’ choice to collaborate with Microsoft particularly, Meng says the great half concerning the partnership is the power to protect the advantages of versatile PC gaming whereas on the go, whereas additionally intuitively becoming in with the present Asus mantra of “play all of your video games.”

“What I’ll say is, I do suppose this can be a main step for us. We admire the partnership. We perceive its worth. As firms, we’re very like-minded, and we all know that the longer term gadgets we need to deliver, we need to deliver the power for folks to do what they love with their system. Now, ROG as a model is massive about customizability, proper? We such as you to open your system, improve your issues. And so these are great tenants that we share with Microsoft that we need to deliver to those gadgets,” says Meng.

On the time of writing, we do not but have concrete particulars on pricing for the ROG Xbox Ally and its premium Ally X counterpart. We do, nonetheless, know that the gadgets are primed for launch on October 16 this yr, with broad availability throughout quite a lot of areas and territories.

It is troublesome to say whether or not Asus and Microsoft will strike lightning in a bottle with the ROG Xbox Ally sequence — the decision remains to be out on simply how efficient the latter firm’s software program optimizations are at facilitating a gaming-first expertise — however I certain have my hopes up.

Microsoft, for its half, has been pretty tight-lipped with regards to its roadmap for unleashing this new Xbox-enhanced Home windows 11 variant into the gaming PC market. Xbox Company VP of Gaming Gadgets and Ecosystem Roanne Sones beforehand confirmed that “related full-screen Xbox experiences shall be rolling out to different Home windows handhelds, beginning subsequent yr,” (via The Verge), which could properly be alluding to rival Home windows-based PC handhelds just like the Lenovo Legion Go S and the MSI Claw.

Asus, too, has confirmed plans to deliver “related updates” to its broader ROG Ally portfolio “over time,” however the firm has no extra particulars to share on the timing of any potential software program rollouts. Moderately, all palms are at the moment on deck to showcase Home windows 11’s up-and-coming gaming mode by way of the {hardware} vessel that’s the ROG Xbox Ally.

“…collectively, ASUS and Microsoft are working exhausting to push handheld gaming ahead by bringing collectively ASUS {hardware}, Xbox companies, and Home windows 11. I imagine we’ve created one thing that feels each acquainted and utterly new. Our collaboration is concentrated on delivering actual advantages for gamers from day one and persevering with to evolve the class collectively,” says Meng.