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[nani17]

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Behind the scenes
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Specs

Meet the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Coming this holiday 2025.

Introducing the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X – two new premium handhelds that combine the power of Xbox with the freedom of Windows 11. This holiday, players can discover another way to play as we combine the power of Xbox with the freedom you expect from Windows 11, created together with ASUS. And this is only the beginning.

•ROG Xbox Ally: powered by the AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor - balancing performance and power consumption to maximize battery life without sacrificing gameplay quality - 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
•ROG Xbox Ally X: features the AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme processor - allowing us to bring new experiences to life including greater frames-per-second, sharp visuals and increased intelligence - double the storage to have more native games at your fingertips, and 24GB of high-speed RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.
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Hands-on impressions:



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[Gamezone]

With Windows? I'll buy it and install SteamOS.

 

[RoboFu]

its just a pc handheld xbox themed.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

The first of MANY gaming Windows PCs that will bear the "Xbox" name and logo.

This is just the beginning.

 

[Plies]

With Windows? I'll buy it and install SteamOS.

What is Microsoft's strategy here?
Are they afraid of Steam OS?

 

[R3TRO]

That looks great

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

Wonder what the specs will be

 

[KaiserBecks]

its just a pc handheld xbox themed.

Is that a bad thing though the question is: does it run my Xbox library natively?

 

[Liopleurodon]

Really, really like it.

 

[jorgejjvr]

What's the difference between both

 

[rodrigolfp]

"two new premium handhelds that combine the power of Xbox with the freedom of Windows 11."

Lol. This has nothing to do with power of Xbox.

With Windows? I'll buy it and install SteamOS.

Your loss.

 

[TrebleShot]

And the biggest thing was the xbox pc redesign software which looks great.

Issue with this device is the tiny screen. After switch 2 nah.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

With Windows? I'll buy it and install SteamOS.

If you want to pay the windows tax, be my guest.

Or you can save about $80 and get a Legion Go Steam OS version!

Unless MS subsidizes these for a lower cost.

 

[rapid32.5]

Wonder if GOG and Steam also will be available on series X/S.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

And the biggest thing was the xbox pc redesign software which looks great.

Issue with this device is the tiny screen. After switch 2 nah.

This thing mops the floor with that. No comparison needed.

 

[Moses85]

Copysoft

 

[RoboFu]

Is that a bad thing though the question is: does it run my Xbox library natively?

no .. didn't you see the "CLOUD STREAMING" its just like any other windows pc. You may be able to stream older xbox games but their obvious deal now to try to make every new third party game play anywhere.

 

[GHG]

You just have to laugh really.

 

[bender]

Your loss.

But also his performance gain.

 

[Hookshot]

When the cg graphics stretched out I though it would be their version of a Portal but it's a handheld pc.

 

[rodrigolfp]

But also his performance gain.

Except in everything that has worse performance or not even work at all. Dual boot is king.

 

[simpatico]

Windows is still the only path forward for one of these things garnering truly mainstream success. Lack of Fortnite, Call of Duty and other such titles is just too much to overcome. For me personally, it would be a hard decision. I haven't done serious homework on which I would buy, but I lean Windows just for the flexibility.

Ideally Steam Deck with all the missing games and emulators if we're talking dream systems. I just don't see how they make that happen.

Local hardware in gaming devices is dying soon for such reasons. Sony is actually furthest ahead on the correct path with the Portal. The other stuff is just a bandaid while we wait for fiber spread.

 

[TheMule1983]

They are definitely transitioning out of officially releasing hardware. OEM from now on and PC focused.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Lol that's it? SteamOS it is

 

[Crayon]

Oh they fucking better take aa batteries.

 

[KaiserBecks]

no .. didn't you see the "CLOUD STREAMING" its just like any other windows pc. You may be able to stream older xbox games but their obvious deal now to try to make every new third party game play anywhere.

They mentioned "natively" at some point though. But I wasn't paying attention first

 

[cireza]

Does this thing play Xbox BC games natively, like OG/360/One games ?

 

[Connificent]

NO thanks, already got a SD and S2

 

[Bry0]

Apparently this version of windows is "exclusive" to ally until sometime in 2026. What a farce

 

[jorgejjvr]

What's the difference

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

There's a new full-screen Xbox experience for Windows, which includes booting directly to an Xbox UI and not even loading lots of parts of Windows.

Welp, seems like they're on the right track with this as far as optimization is concerned. Console-like QOL experience is critical if it's going to stand any chance of success.

But I'm still curious how the Xbox library support works. Is it just Play Anywhere games from Xbox that got Windows versions at some point, or is it the entire library offering? If it's the entire library, is it native local emulation support or cloud streaming?

They still have a lot of questions to answer.

Does this thing play Xbox BC games natively, like OG/360/One games ?

That is still a question they've yet to answer.

 

[j0hnnix]

Welp, this got me from getting a switch 2. I'll hold off, it has the Z2.

 

[DanielG165]

I'll be keeping my eye on this. I'm quite content with my Z1E, but if this new ROG Xbox can make getting into my games easier across different platforms, I might just upgrade. The biggest thing will also be pricing.

 

[ReasonBeing]

Does this thing play Xbox BC games natively, like OG/360/One games ?

Don't think so. Rumors have that project being put on hold while they work on the gaming experience in Windows.

 

[Zathalus]

Booting directly into a dedicated interface and not loading parts of Windows will go a long way to enhance the user experience and increase battery life. Curious to see how it pans out.

 

[poppabk]

Hope they can make it work well on desktop as well, then there is a good chance I will use it.
I have been trying out Bazzite, Nobara and they are great but they always have limitations that mean eventually I end up going back to windows even though the user experience even with mainly using Steam Big Picture is a little clunky.
I have my doubts that they won't make stupid design decisions that make this unusable though.

 

[OverHeat]

GigaBowser where is your god now

 

[TrebleShot]

Following very closely looks fantastic..

 

[Davevil]

With Windows? I'll buy it and install SteamOS.

 

[Spukc]

No steam no sale

 

[OverHeat]

No steam no sale

Just install steam OS

 

[Spukc]

Welp, this got me from getting a switch 2. I'll hold off, it has the Z2.

No nintendo games so what the fuck is the point

You get nintendo consoles for exclusives

 

[Spukc]

Just install steam OS

Yeah let's wait until this really works… as native steam decks

 

[OverHeat]

Yeah let's wait until this really works… as native steam decks

I'm getting one for sure and I have an oled steam deck the power jump is gonna be huge

 

[sendit]

Ugly. Imagine playing this in a public setting.

 

[Arsic]

I want it for gamepass on the go honestly.

 

[Baemono]

 

[nani17]

I just got switch 2 the other day. It will be interesting to see what this system is like

 

[xrnzaaas]

The only interesting part is that it's supposed be a running only a "partial" version of Windows in the background. That's definitely a step in the right direction for someone allergic to Windows OS bloat and its annoying features.

 

[Paltheos]

I like how even for the trailer for their new hardware and the declaration Silksong specifically would be available at launch that Microsoft couldn't give a launch date. My head canon is that the hardware's already ready, but Silksong alone is holding it back.