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[Ozriel]

"Windows sucks for gaming" is such a dumb statement. Windows is the premier gaming platform in the PC space, no matter how hard Linux users want you to think otherwise. This review boils down to "well it's not a steam deck and I wanted a steam deck".

Listening to these people, you'd never know that Windows is the preferred OS for the overwhelming majority of PC gamers and millions use Steam big picture mode on Windows PCs.

That said, bugs and performance issues are not what a console should be shipping with on day 1, and that's on Microsoft. Embarrassing stuff.

 

[Mr Hyde]

I am curious why you thought it would be a game changer.

I thought it would shed much of the cumbersome shit that comes with Windows based handhelds, and while the UI is much more snappier and intuitive, it's still Windows underneath, with the same issues and glitches and overall headaches that comes with Windows gaming. I also thought it would have a proper sleep mode.

Honestly, seeing all the tepid reviews this device just comes off as bizarre. Microsoft doesn't seem to know what they are doing or what they want. They're just in panic mode and scrambling for anything that can put them back on the video game map.

 

[diffusionx]

Listening to these people, you'd never know that Windows is the preferred OS for the overwhelming majority of PC gamers and millions use Steam big picture mode on Windows PCs.

Windows has always been both popular and crappy, except for the XP-7 era when it was popular and good.

I thought it would shed much of the cumbersome shit that comes with Windows based handhelds, and while the UI is much more snappier and intuitive, it's still Windows underneath, with the same issues and glitches and overall headaches that comes with Windows gaming. I also thought it would have a proper sleep mode.

Honestly, seeing all the tepid reviews this device is just comes off as bizarre. Microsoft doesn't seem to know what they are doing or what they want. They're just in panic mode and scrambling for anything they that can put them back on the video game map.

I wasn't really optimistic because, honestly, I thought Windows 11 was ok when it came out, but it gets worse and more annoying to use with each update. So I figured the same people who have degraded Windows 11 are working on this new mode so of course it will suck.

 

[reinking]

The review also makes some scathing comparisons between the Ally UX and the Switch 2 UX, noting that Nintendo's handheld was a vastly better experience all-around.

It's exactly like comparing PC gaming vs console gaming.

 

[Bonfires Down]

I really, really want the kind of seamless integration of launchers and console-like experience that Microsoft seems to be envisioning on PC. But what they've delivered right now is so far below my lowest expectation that I don't expect their efforts will amount to anything useful.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Your "Invention of the Year" award winner, ladies and gentlemen.

Damnit. I wanted this to be good, but I had a feeling that buyers would be Beta Testers for this new Windows experience.

All Windows users on desktop and laptop have been beta users for decades. Is just how Windows is

 

[RoboFu]

"Windows sucks for gaming" is such a dumb statement. Windows is the premier gaming platform in the PC space, no matter how hard Linux users want you to think otherwise. This review boils down to "well it's not a steam deck and I wanted a steam deck

yeah it should have just been "Windows sucks"

 

[Audiophile]

Given their resources, you'd think they'd be able to wrangle together a tight, high quality UI/UX. Even if it is running on Windows, layering on a nice front-end that parses and controls what's relevant shouldn't be hard.

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

xbox is dead

 

[MrAlwaysRight]

Not at 13/17w, which is what I find optimal for a handheld. The Xbox device soundly bests the old one if you want more battery.

I only use my Ally at 30w plugged in, it's unuseable otherwise, the sort of games i'd be willing to play that run well enough at 13/17w i'd just play on the Switch 2 or my Phone or iPad.

 

[Fbh]

I'm no software engineer so maybe this is just ignorance. But I don't get why a trillion dollar software company seems to be struggling to make a decent Gaming interface that actually feels smooth and responsive on a $1000 device with the latest flagship mobile processor and 24gb of ram.

"Windows sucks for gaming" is such a dumb statement. Windows is the premier gaming platform in the PC space, no matter how hard Linux users want you to think otherwise. This review boils down to "well it's not a steam deck and I wanted a steam deck".

What makes Windows great for gaming other than the superior compatibility with games/launchers stemming from it being the default OS on PC?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

polygon is clown, the ROG was Time's magazine best invention.

 

[The Mad Draklor]

"Windows sucks for gaming" is such a dumb statement. Windows is the premier gaming platform in the PC space, no matter how hard Linux users want you to think otherwise. This review boils down to "well it's not a steam deck and I wanted a steam deck".

Nah, Windows still sucks and being the "premier" gaming platforms means squat with Microsoft's penchant of e-shit-ification.

At least Linux's problems are easily identifiable: mainly NVidia compatibility and anti-cheat on multiplayer games. Depending on the person, like if you're on an all-AMD build and play only singleplayer games, Linux is the better PC gaming platform.

 

[jm89]

polygon is clown, the ROG was Time's magazine best invention.

Mikel stop being sarcastic

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

Bad move for a brand that's already tarnished. Good move for the 500k early adopters. Lifetime sales of 500k. Won't translate to mainstream.

 

[memoryman3]

I only use my Ally at 30w plugged in, it's unuseable otherwise, the sort of games i'd be willing to play that run well enough at 13/17w i'd just play on the Switch 2 or my Phone or iPad.

Which games do you play?

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Oli is not just making comparisons to Steam Deck, he's weighing up Windows vs the Switch 2. Nintendo actually comes out on top, and they're considered a backwards company in many ways.

The Windows compatible library is a tad larger than Switch though.

 

[EN250]

"Windows sucks for gaming" is such a dumb statement. Windows is the premier gaming platform in the PC space, no matter how hard Linux users want you to think otherwise. This review boils down to "well it's not a steam deck and I wanted a steam deck".

It's not like there were many options before, there's a reason MS used to get dragged to courts for monopoly accusations

Apple don't care, Linux is super niche, the only hope for some is Valve stepping up, but why would they if themselves are an oligopoly lol

 

[ChoosableOne]

A father like Bill Gates, who's so tolerant of mistakes, is every young person's dream.

 

[cinnamonandgravy]

It doesn't seem to be the game changer I thought it would be.

what do you guys use stuff like this for?

its massive so it doesnt fit in a pocket
battery life probably sucks too
use it in bed or something?

 

[Mr Hyde]

what do you guys use stuff like this for?

its massive so it doesnt fit in a pocket
battery life probably sucks too
use it in bed or something?

I don't have a Xbox ROG Ally but I have the regular Ally X and a Switch 2. I use them everywhere. On the couch. In the bedroom. Hooked up to a tv and monitor. When I travel. When I'm outside I put them in a carrying case with a strap on so I can carry it around, or I have it in my backpack. I've never had any of my handhelds in my pockets, not even Game Boy Advance SP, which is the smallest handheld I've ever owned. Seems uncomfortable to carry a handheld gaming device in your pockets. Regarding battery life, it's excellent on both Ally X and Switch 2. Ally X is a bit better though but Switch 2 wins as an overall handheld with its convenience and outstanding pick up and play factor. Has a great 8 inch screen too which pretty much killed my ROG Ally X usage.

 

[graywolf323]

All the doom and gloom Xbox anrticles are getting tiresome. It's all speculation and feeding the drama.

Xbox only has themselves to blame for the situation they're in

 

[Humdinger]

"It's not quite a disaster."

They should put that on the box. High praise.

 

[Karim]

If the Xbox Ally is the future of Xbox, Microsoft is in trouble

The new handheld makes a compelling case for Microsoft’s platform-agnostic vision, but Windows still sucks for gaming

www.polygon.com

Can't say I am surprised by this review. I was always a supporter of the walled garden, subsidised consoles from Xbox and the Xbox Series X/S was genuinely the firm's best console to date with some of the best third party support to date. Will MS truly throw this away for a sluggish Windows interface and spotty compatibility?

The review also makes some scathing comparisons between the Ally UX and the Switch 2 UX, noting that Nintendo's handheld was a vastly better experience all-around.

 

[MisterXDTV]

Xbox doesn't have a future at all

So I don't see any problem

 

[IntentionalPun]

Zero testing of the perf difference with the Xbox mode that disables windows desktop… anyone done that yet? Like an actual tech site? Lol

 

[Drew1440]

A PC, even one as mature and streamlined as the Steam Deck will never have the frictionless gaming experience of consoles. Weird restarts, inability to restore gaming session on wakeup, unexpected stuttering are all pack of the package. I do not know why the reviewer expected the Ally to not behave like a PC and compared it to the Switch. This is the reason why I do not recommend the Steam Deck to family or friends who are not tech savvy (I hate being an unpaid tech support guy).

That's up to Microsoft to introduce the require API calls, and to work with Intel/AMD and motherboard manufacturers to ensure the required power states are also implemented.

 

[riko]

I genuinely cannot imagine a handheld gaming experience without suspend/resume in 2025. This has been the norm for literally 20 years of handhelds now. Suspend works well enough on the SteamDeck, literally only a few games with audio issues upon resume, and it's rare.

Had MS wanted to differentiate this from the other Windows handhelds, fixing this seems like the killer feature. Handhelds that aren't pick up and play is a 90s problem and even then the games didn't have long load times.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

what do you guys use stuff like this for?

its massive so it doesnt fit in a pocket
battery life probably sucks too
use it in bed or something?

I haven't had the need to put devices like these in my pockets. If I travel, which is a perfect use case, it goes in the backpack with my iPad

I usually play in bed to decompress. Typically play JRPGs, strategy games, or indie games to unwind.

Sometimes I play on the couch when my wife and I are watching sports or whatever, or I'll play it at my desk for a few minutes when I'm taking a break from editing.

I don't usually play for more than an hour, and if I do, there are outlets in my house near where I play. I also have charging docks that I drop them into, so they're always charged.

Sometimes I'm just too busy to game on the big TV, so it's nice to have another way to enjoy my favorite hobby.

 

[bender]

What future?

 

[IntentionalPun]

A PC, even one as mature and streamlined as the Steam Deck will never have the frictionless gaming experience of consoles. Weird restarts, inability to restore gaming session on wakeup, unexpected stuttering are all pack of the package. I do not know why the reviewer expected the Ally to not behave like a PC and compared it to the Switch. This is the reason why I do not recommend the Steam Deck to family or friends who are not tech savvy (I hate being an unpaid tech support guy).

The reviewer is doing that because Microsoft talked about this device as having a console experience, pretty sure they outright called it a console.

It's also called an Xbox lol

It's not only fair to compare it to consoles it is absolutely what any reviewer should be doing. Xbox is full of shit.

The "Windows sucks for gaming" thing is being overblown in this thread. The reviewer is talking about the experience vs a console because that's how MS has positioned this device.

 

[Durin]

Some ok points, but the "windows sucks for gaming" thing is a weird broad statement that makes little sense. I don't like Microsoft for its direction with the increased spying & ads, or the growing background resources that hurt its performance, but it's still the one OS where out of the box I can pretty easily play 10,000+ games going back to my childhood, and no other platform completely replicates what it does (Linux at least making progress).

The real problem is Microsoft still hasn't create a compelling storefront of their own for Windows (vs Steam, GoG or even Epic), and this new interface being less smooth than SteamOS with consistent lag when the hardware is objectively stronger than the Steam Deck is an embarrasing oversight. They also really need to create an actual suspend state like their own consoles, which Valve showed could be done on these devices well enough, and Windows sleep in general is just not that consistent.

Otherwise, this still feels like a beta product only for enthusiast curiosity.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

"Microsoft is in trouble" oh sure...those 5% revenue they get from Xbox is gonna ruin them. It's over for MS.

 

[NickFire]

I don't think this product has much to do with MS future. Maybe they will ship that rumored high end console, maybe not. But their future seems to be primarily software regardless. Any hardware tied to the walled garden is probably just a stop gap measure while they try figuring out how to preserve it via the cloud. Just my opinion.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

What future?

 

[Gilgalaad]