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[kevboard]

Yes essentially this. How well this works is anyone's guess. PC is never a straight forward experience.

if basically all processes that aren't needed are off, and the Xbox team got the interface down, it could actually be a game changer, and something many people will try and install on Desktop PCs as well lol.

but yeah, it's gonna need to proof itself... it's promising tho.

 

[Orbital2060]

No sign of Steam app?

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

xbox-pc is a PC, the name xbox is a redundancy here

 

[adamsapple]

Now that's interesting to see how this unfolds.

You can use Geforce Now on the Edge browser app on Xbox.

Sony specifically blocked their games (God of War, Death Stranding back when they owned the IP) from being able to be streamed if it detects that it's being ran on Edge on Xbox.

GeForce Now works on Xbox again but Death Stranding is blocked - KitGuru

When Nvidia first launched the web version of GeForce Now, the service was accessible on Xbox consol

www.kitguru.net

 

[Topher]

nope.. the OS is completely modified as well, which was developed by the Xbox team.
although that version of Windows will probably in the future be made available to other Windows handhelds.

but for now it seems it's the only system to get it (probably easier to first work on 2 systems instead of every Windows handheld)

this version of Windows instantly boots into a game mode with a console like menu.
it completely deactivates most Windows processes, so not even the desktop environment is booted up unless you manually go into desktop mode (which is also how Steam OS works).
and apparently through these optimisations they massively improved battery life, and I assume also performance... as with no exporer.exe running, no start menu running (which is now an app in Win11), probably tons or related processes to these also not running, there should be way less bogging game performance down.

so this does seem to take a lot of inspiration from the Steam Deck

I was referring to the hardware side. I did miss where there is the Z2 Extreme version. Watching the OS improvements part now.

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

Not like this. Asus make very shoddy hardware. This is Xbox corp basically giving up, milking the last bit of juice out of the brand they can.

 

[poppabk]

xbox-pc is a PC, the name xbox is a redundancy here

Depends if the gaming version of the OS is purely OEM for these devices or becomes an option for regular windows.

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

Depends if the gaming version of the OS is purely OEM for these devices or becomes an option for regular windows.

regular windows is my bet

 

[Kacho]

if basically all processes that aren't needed are off, and the Xbox team got the interface down, it could actually be a game changer, and something many people will try and install on Desktop PCs as well lol.

but yeah, it's gonna need to proof itself... it's promising tho.

Agreed on this being promising, though more for the future. As a first generation device I expect a lot of growing pains. I do expect this to be a much less finicky experience with the Xbox team involved. Possibly better than the Steam Deck because it won't have all the compatibility issues which are fucking annoying.

 

[Dacvak]

There's theoretically nothing stopping us from dual booting SteamOS and Windows on this, right?

 

[CobraAB]

Looks good. I hope it's around 350-400 euro.

Stop smoking the hopium...

 

[Tunned]

Personally I am now looking forward to the Legion Go 2 even more, especially if it has this version of Windows on it... I just can't stomach the design of these Allys, plus I want a bigger screen after the SD OLED. Speaking of which the Go 2 should have an 120fp, 8.8(ish?) inch, OLED screen, with VRR...

 

[Killer8]

This is much more interesting than it initially seems because it's essentially a preview of what's to come for the next console.

The 'Xbox PC' hybrid with full Steam integration is as good as confirmed.

 

[jshackles]

There's theoretically nothing stopping us from dual booting SteamOS and Windows on this, right?

Depends on how much of an actual "PC" this is. The Steam Deck is open and lets you install your own operating system. The original ROG Ally does too. But it's entirely possible that this hardware is locked down to this version of Windows - just like an Xbox console. I don't think they said for sure, so we'll just have to wait and see I guess.

 

[yet_another_alt]

This is much more interesting than it initially seems because it's essentially a preview of what's to come for the next console.

The 'Xbox PC' hybrid with full Steam integration is as good as confirmed.

It would be interesting to see if gaming laptops will start shipping with this OS.

 

[Topher]

So you can still drop out of the handheld UI and do regular Windows things? Basically, Windows is getting a better PC gaming mode. Definitely needed.

 

[Timberwolf25]

What if you could install emulators? Would be an instabuy assuming it could run them well

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

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.

Well, that, and apparently they are working on getting native support for all Xbox games unto these devices at some point. Might take a couple years tho, lot of complications to work around.

But yeah, minimizing actively running system utilities and processes automatically for optimizing gaming performance (and for portables, battery life), just kind of a no-brainer thing to prioritize. Otherwise this initiative stood no chance.

And I'm still not certain how committed they are to bespoke APUs covering performance tiers that can be licensed out & customized to some extent by OEMs, with standardized spec baselines and driver support universal across the packages. Because that's going to be pretty important, and I'm sure Valve are already on it for their own initiative.

Maybe that's a specific reason MS have partnered with ASUS first, so the Rog Ally serves as an initial reference they can build a more bespoke platform standard around for performance tiers? Well that's a decent starting point I guess, tho considering this involves Windows it'd make sense to get the Big 3 (Intel, AMD, Nvidia) involved on setting that platform standard at different performance tiers, too (and more importantly, standardized drivers that universally work & can still have customized extensions implemented by OEMs if desired).

 

[poppabk]

regular windows is my bet

Thats my hope. Like I said earlier, none of the Linux steamdeck ports have worked out for me, but windows is functional but clunky.

 

[StereoVsn]

Boy that thing looks ugly. Also it's curious that they went with 24GB on the Z2E version.

Wonder what the price will be on that, $900ish?

 

[MikeM]

Do I get complete access to my Xbox library? If not, I don't see the point of the naming scheme.

 

[Baemono]

They literally said it's not tied to a store and will support steam and gog.

thanks; I changed my post

 

[Topher]

Boy that thing looks ugly. Also it's curious that they went with 24GB on the Z2E version.

Wonder what the price will be on that, $900ish?

I had to dig deep to find the difference between this thing and my Rog Ally X. Same 7" screen. 24GB ram. 80wh battery. Oh.....there it is Z2E. And a Xbox button with impulse triggers.

Underwhelmed. Considering they just boosted the price of Ally X, I think there is no way this comes in under $1k

 

[poppabk]

Boy that thing looks ugly. Also it's curious that they went with 24GB on the Z2E version.

Wonder what the price will be on that, $900ish?

I dont get the 'ugly' stuff. All these handhelds including Switch/Switch2 look like tablets with controllers stuck on the side to me.
I am also non-plussed with the people saying 'x' phone looks ugly - when they are all just black rectangles - so maybe its just me.

 

[Kacho]

I dont get the 'ugly' stuff. All these handhelds including Switch/Switch2 look like tablets with controllers stuck on the side to me.
I am also non-plussed with the people saying 'x' phone looks ugly - when they are all just black rectangles - so maybe its just me.

Yeah they're all ugly. Such a non-complaint.

 

[Trilobit]

I dont get the 'ugly' stuff. All these handhelds including Switch/Switch2 look like tablets with controllers stuck on the side to me.
I am also non-plussed with the people saying 'x' phone looks ugly - when they are all just black rectangles - so maybe its just me.

I see where you're coming from. Phones today all look so similar so I can't take people seriously who buy a new one because it looks more rectangularly delicious and has a slightly more sophisticated curve.

When it comes to portable gaming handhelds though I think Switch 1 & 2 look slightly more elegant. Mostly because the controllers are slick and not big slabs. But there's only so much one can do to differentiate themselves in that niche. Easiest way is to have a striking color which is why I find Switch 2 so boring.

 

[CrustyBritches]

$900?

 

[GigaBowser]

GigaBowser where is your god now

i ask he say still never heard bouts no rog alley ahaha

 

[Mr Moose]

The 2024 Ally X is £799.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

I dont get the 'ugly' stuff. All these handhelds including Switch/Switch2 look like tablets with controllers stuck on the side to me.
I am also non-plussed with the people saying 'x' phone looks ugly - when they are all just black rectangles - so maybe its just me.

Huh? Every Windows gaming handheld is hideous. The Steam Deck is the only one that's not completely ugly simply down to the fact it's not flashy. Steam Deck looks nice because it's just a matte black slate with controls on the side (I could do without the tiny bits of blue/"red" but it's literally a sliver so it's whatever).

Just look at these monstrosities. The Lenovo Legion Go S looks better because it at least doesn't have these try hard angles all over it.

PC Gaming in general is gaudy as fuck (this has almost always been a thing. I remember people having acrylic PC cases with light strips inside of them when I was a kid) with RGB fucking everywhere and ugly ass fucking cases that either look like cyborgs or fish tanks. There are obviously exceptions as Lian Li, and Fractal the it comes to cases but even stuff like monitors have become edgy and ugly as fuck.

 

[Minsc]

Why are people saying this is just a rebranded Ally / Ally X when that's Z1E and this has a Z2E processor?

This will also work with FSR4, which the Z1E does not.

 

[Sooner]

This is like me naming someone else the same as me, so after I die people will think I'm not actually dead.

This isn't an Xbox.

 

[Kurt]

The first handheld that prob have stronger specs as switch 2. But amd is still behind in upscaling tech. The good thing is that it would not be too different from what can be done on switch 2 already as we see when comparing cyberpunk with the ps5 version.

The thing i'm more lile to see is battery life and price. The bulky device again looks like an ergonomic nightmare. But i'm sure the dpad would be miles better as my steamdeck one. Lets see.

 

[Baemono]

The "cheapest" option is 720p with a CPU (and rest of the specs close to the one of the Steam Deck) - they basically reinvented the Steam Deck

 

[Crayon]

I started the xbox showcase late and stuff is still autoplaying after. Ryan McCaffrey is sitting here fawning over this thing. He's really trying to sell it as "the next xbox". "This is the box handheld". etc.

 

[David B]

No sign of Steam app?

Steam is on there. Even if not you can install it anyway. Just close the Xbox app and it's Windows anyway. Steam runs on Windows. So Valve CEO can't do anything about it.

 

[skneogaf]

I want the xbox button on my controller to sleep everything but the game software on my gaming pc like linus shown, that must do wonders for gaming.

 

[Calverz]

This thing is gonna be over a thousand bucks.

 

[StereoVsn]

I had to dig deep to find the difference between this thing and my Rog Ally X. Same 7" screen. 24GB ram. 80wh battery. Oh.....there it is Z2E. And a Xbox button with impulse triggers.

Underwhelmed. Considering they just boosted the price of Ally X, I think there is no way this comes in under $1k

That is certainly underwhelming considering that you are looking at maybe 20% performance uptake at most and that not in every title.

 

[StereoVsn]

Why are people saying this is just a rebranded Ally / Ally X when that's Z1E and this has a Z2E processor?

This will also work with FSR4, which the Z1E does not.

Z2E is RDNA 3.5, so no FSR 4. Performance should be similar to the "AI" mobile line so anywhere from 0% to maybe 20% (if that).

 

[Topher]

That is certainly underwhelming considering that you are looking at maybe 20% performance uptake at most and that not in every title.

I was definitely expecting a larger or better screen at the very least.

 

[Codiox]

no touchpads no buy. these are the real game changers on the deck to make all PC games playable.

 

[Aguero9320]

Xbox Ally X will be mine day one. Can't wait. Just fixed my Ally X - love that thing.

 

[Kacho]

$900?

With the new processor it will likely be that or higher.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

If it really is just a regular ROG Ally with Xbox branding it's going to make zero impression and nobody will care about it any more than any of the other PC handhelds

Switch 2 will probably exceed the lifetime sales of all PC handhelds combined (including Steam Deck) in it's first month

 

[hououinkyouma00]

I started the xbox showcase late and stuff is still autoplaying after. Ryan McCaffrey is sitting here fawning over this thing. He's really trying to sell it as "the next xbox". "This is the box handheld". etc.

That shouldn't surprise anyone. Ryan is a knowledgeable guy and he's been in the industry for a long time but he's a known Xbox fanboy.

Why are people saying this is just a rebranded Ally / Ally X when that's Z1E and this has a Z2E processor?

This will also work with FSR4, which the Z1E does not.

FSR4 is not gonna be available. It's not RDNA 4.

The "cheapest" option is 720p with a CPU (and rest of the specs close to the one of the Steam Deck) - they basically reinvented the Steam Deck

Yeah... when I saw the description of the Z2A any hope for it dissipated. It sits below the Z2 Go and the Z2 Go was what? 10-20% faster then the Steam Deck? This chip will probably be on pair with the Steam Deck or maybe slightly above. The Steam Deck can't really run some modern titles very well and if the Legion Go S is any indication Windows takes a good hit on performance so...

 

[kevboard]

The "cheapest" option is 720p

it's not 720p, they both have a 1080p 120hz VRR screen. the cheaper one is just designed to play modern games at 720p (plus FSR), while the expensive one is designed to run closer to 1080p natively

 

[Coconutt]

If I already have the original rog ally z2 extreme is there any reason to upgrade to this, can this play games at a higher quality?

 

[hououinkyouma00]

If I already have the original rog ally z2 extreme is there any reason to upgrade to this, can this play games at a higher quality?

There is no original ROG Ally with the Z2E. It only has the Z1E so it would be an upgrade chip wise yes.

 

[kawiLo]

Windows NT ?