ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X launch October 16

It is a Windows PC device created by a partnership between ASUS and Xbox. It plays the exact same games as any of the non-Xbox branded Windows handheld devices do. The only difference is this one launches into big picture mode which comes to all of the others next year. Nobody says they can't use Xbox branding, that is what partnerships are for. However, it does not make it any less confusing to a lot of people that do not follow this stuff.
Well, when trying to create a paradigm shift, there's bound to be confusion. Xbox branding sure beats the "ROG Ally Gamepass device"

MS just wanted something they could use in marketing promos when advertising Gamepass and Xbox ecosystem. Asus loves the free marketing they get, it's a win win.

This is purely a device meant for Gamepass users first and foremost, rest are secondary to that.
 
The DF guys make it sound pretty meh. Doom running in the 50s. Expedition 33 running in the high 20s.

Maybe after couple years of OS improvements and better hardware these things will be more appealing.
This whole thing feels a bit like a rushed prototype, with good ideas & intentions, that they've fast tracked to market to try and combat the general mindshare SteamOS is getting in the efficient gaming OS space.

But to pull this off they need to go balls deep and commit to make it a great experience for gamers. MS has the deepest of pockets and can pull it off, but they're also a slow moving mega-corporation. So yeah, a couple of years down the road I think we might see the intended experience.
 
MS has the deepest of pockets and can pull it off, but they're also a slow moving mega-corporation. So yeah, a couple of years down the road I think we might see the intended experience.
In principle I agree, although execution isn't guaranteed. But companies don't get to release products attached to a brand without those products partially defining the brand. This is definitely a beta product, literally designed as a test bed but with full RRP.

Personally I think they would be better waiting and releasing the next generation without a confusing bridge product, when they can release something fully formed for the future vision.
 
The DF guys make it sound pretty meh. Doom running in the 50s. Expedition 33 running in the high 20s.

Maybe after couple years of OS improvements and better hardware these things will be more appealing.

This needs to be tighten up by 2026 to be honest. MS isn't going to get too many shots at this.
 
It shouldn't be the media's job to explain what the hardware does. The Xbox marketing is suppose to do that.
Since when? It's always been the Media's job to explain hardware, that's why they exist. The media isn't there to cheerlead one side or the other. Their job has always been to inform the consumer about products of any kind. This hasn't changed since magazine print, E3 days and now internet! Marketing should always try to explain hardware. However, Media gets early reviews of the hardware/software etc. so, they can talk about what they've learned! It's very much the Media's job to cover products otherwise why are they needed?
 
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Since when? It's always been the Media's job to explain hardware, that's why they exist.
I think you'll find the marketing department has primacy on explaining hardware..... that literally is their job. Media's role should be to test Marketings claims. Although thats a little out of vogue these days, their role is mainly to get clicks.
 
This needs to be tighten up by 2026 to be honest. MS isn't going to get too many shots at this.
Its already pretty good, no?

Next gen will get more powerful, but games will also move on that much further.

Pointless to play latest UE5 titles on handheld, if you have any other way to do it.
 
In home streaming or geforce now.
I think there will always be a delta in how handhelds perform, WRT home systems and laptops.

All new games work well on systems that consume about 100 watts, (5060 laptop for example).

Playing it on 15-20 watts will always be a compromised experience comparatively.
 
I think there will always be a delta in how handhelds perform, WRT home systems and laptops.

All new games work well on systems that consume about 100 watts, (5060 laptop for example).

Playing it on 15-20 watts will always be a compromised experience comparatively.
100% but extremely cool to play your games anywhere at full fidelity streaming has come a long long way
 
The DF guys make it sound pretty meh. Doom running in the 50s. Expedition 33 running in the high 20s.

Maybe after couple years of OS improvements and better hardware these things will be more appealing.
The base model or the X ?
 
The DF guys make it sound pretty meh. Doom running in the 50s. Expedition 33 running in the high 20s.

Maybe after couple years of OS improvements and better hardware these things will be more appealing.
Yeah, I was "watching" the video in the background while I played some Halo MP and it took me a moment to realize they were talking about the X and not the base model. None of them sounded excited at all about them and the performance sounded terrible for what is no doubt going to be a $900 device in 2025.
 
Oh snap! I thought what Wario posted WAS the official price. Wow! What's the hold up?
Article:
Xbox exec Jason Ronald explained that it's difficult to "find the right balance between affordability and price point" in a "challenging" macro-economic climate, and therefore the team needs more time.

"This is always a challenge... and you always try to find the right balance between affordability and price point, and I think especially in a mobile form factor that also adds in dimensions such as battery life in as well. And then, as you said, the macro-economic climate is challenging."
"I think we will have to... we need more time to figure the macro-economic impact to pricing, and that's why we'll be sharing more later, in September and October."


Guess they want to price it as low as possible for the US market, while still staying in the green, but that they're nervous about tariff changes. They would ideally want the reveal price to stick for at least a couple of months.
 
Article:
Xbox exec Jason Ronald explained that it's difficult to "find the right balance between affordability and price point" in a "challenging" macro-economic climate, and therefore the team needs more time.

"This is always a challenge... and you always try to find the right balance between affordability and price point, and I think especially in a mobile form factor that also adds in dimensions such as battery life in as well. And then, as you said, the macro-economic climate is challenging."

"I think we will have to... we need more time to figure the macro-economic impact to pricing, and that's why we'll be sharing more later, in September and October."


Guess they want to price it as low as possible for the US market, while still staying in the green, but that they're nervous about tariff changes. They would ideally want the reveal price to stick for at least a couple of months.

It's 1,000% insane to me that they even mention that they'll share the pricing "maybe" in October. Like bro!.........how well thought out is any of this? It feels more like they want to hide the sticker shock in their biggest and best market to me. There's no way Microsoft of all companies are nervous and shaking over if they should add an additional $50 or not to this device.

The tariff situation is what it is. Even as 2 Federal courts state that the America President broke the law implementing tariffs globally in the first place. If the Supreme Court agrees with the 2 lower federal courts, then Microsoft will reap the benefits. But that shouldn't change what they price it in 4 weeks.
 
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