Archives by Day

June 2025
SuMTuWThFSa
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930

ROG Xbox Ally

Platform(s): ROG Xbox Ally
Genre: Hardware
Release Date: Holiday 2025

About Rainier

PC gamer, WorthPlaying EIC, globe-trotting couch potato, patriot, '80s headbanger, movie watcher, music lover, foodie and man in black -- squirrel!

Advertising

As an Amazon Associate, we earn commission from qualifying purchases.





Microsoft Introduces ROG Xbox Ally Handheld, Unifies Storefronts, Coming In Holiday 2025 - Trailer

by Rainier on June 8, 2025 @ 10:25 a.m. PDT

Announcing the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, two new handhelds crafted in collaboration with ASUS that combine the power of Xbox with the freedom you expect from Windows.

Everything at Xbox starts with the player. That’s why we’ve dedicated years to reimagining how to make it easier to enjoy the games you love—wherever you are—through Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), Remote Play, and more. Whether you’re at home or on the go, your favorite games should follow you.

ASUS shares that same commitment. Known for pushing the boundaries of handheld gaming, ASUS is similarly driven by innovation that delivers high-performance experiences that put players first.

Together, we’ve combined our strengths and technical expertise to introduce something entirely new: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. These handhelds are built to make it easier than ever to access your favorite games—from Xbox, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts—all from a single device.

This holiday, with ASUS, players can discover another way to play as we combine the power of Xbox with the freedom you expect from Windows. And this is only the beginning.


Meet the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X

  • ROG Xbox Ally: The essential handheld at a great value for everyone from the casual player to the avid enthusiast.
  • ROG Xbox Ally X: The ultimate high-performance handheld, built for the most demanding players.

Both handhelds allow players to play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room.

Next-Level Features Designed for Play Anywhere

With the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, players can look forward to an approachable gaming experience that travels with you wherever you go, featuring several new and first-of-their kind features on both devices—from an immersive Xbox full screen experience, an aggregated gaming library with access to installed games from leading PC storefronts, and more.

We’ve optimized Windows 11 to be easy to use on the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X from the moment you power on. Game Bar makes it easy to return home, browse your library, launch or quit games, chat with friends, open apps, adjust settings, and more. Now, with the integration of ASUS’s innovative Armoury Crate, Game Bar also gives you streamlined access to advanced device and input controls. Details like the lock screen and task switcher have also been adjusted for easy navigation with a controller.

Because these handhelds run Windows, you have access to games you can’t get elsewhere, so you can enjoy the full freedom and versatility of PC gaming—download games from your favorite storefront, run apps like Discord, watch your favorite streamers on Twitch, and play with your favorite mods—all straight from the Xbox experience. The choice is yours.

Introducing the Xbox Experience for Handheld

When you power on your Xbox Ally, you’ll boot directly into the Xbox full screen experience, a new feature optimized specifically for handheld gaming. With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay. That means more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players—all made possible by the versatility and freedom of Windows.

The Xbox Ally has more familiar Xbox touches, including:

  • Xbox button: With a dedicated Xbox button, players have access to chat, apps, and settings through an enhanced Game Bar overlay, allowing you to quickly switch between running apps and games.
  • Contoured grips: Created with player comfort in mind, and using the same design principles as Xbox Wireless Controllers, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X feature contoured handgrips to accommodate a wider range of hand sizes.
  • Accessibility features: Game Bar and the Xbox app have also been optimized for handheld use, bringing along familiar accessibility features from Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, with much more to come in future.

Easy Access to Games from Xbox, Leading PC Storefronts, and More

Locating and accessing games across multiple channels can be a challenge —navigating through various browsers, storefronts, and login credentials can sometimes make gaming feel anything but fun. But with the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, getting into the fun is easier and faster than ever.

Within the Xbox full screen experience, players will see their aggregated gaming library, giving them quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts. With this new feature, your Xbox library, hundreds of Game Pass titles (membership required), and all your installed games from other PC game stores are always at your fingertips.

We’re also making handheld gaming more seamless through our investment in Xbox Play Anywhere. With support for over 1,000 games, a single purchase means you can play with Xbox, including your progress and achievements, across Xbox console, PC and Xbox Ally—at no additional cost. And when you power on your Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X, your favorite games are already there, ready to play. Whether you’ve been gaming on Xbox console, Xbox PC, or in the cloud, everything syncs effortlessly. With Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) or Remote Play, you can access your full Xbox console library and keep playing—wherever you are.

And yes…there’s still even more to come:

  • We’re excited to partner with Roblox for the launch of Xbox Ally. For the first time ever, Roblox will be playable natively and optimized for gaming handhelds, enabling players to play with millions of people and discover a variety of immersive games on day one.
  • We are working closely with our game developer partners on a brand-new program designed to help players easily identify which games have been optimized for handhelds, including the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. We will share more details soon. 
  • Players who purchase an Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X and are new to Game Pass will also be able to get started at no additional cost, accessing hundreds of games like Balatro, Gears Tactics, Vampire Survivors and more, straight from your device.
  • Players on either device will be able to tap into Gaming Copilot via Game Bar, a personalized gaming companion that helps you get to your favorite games faster, improve your skills, and connect you with your friends and communities.

Two Great Choices & A First Look at Specs

The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are perfect for players looking to take an approachable gaming experience with you during travels— whether it’s between airports, or between the comfiest chairs in the living room.

Both handhelds run on AMD processors that deliver premium gaming performance, immersive visuals, and more.

The Xbox Ally offers great value for anyone looking to take their favorite games wherever they want to play, whether it’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Gears of War: ReloadedLies of PSouth of Midnight, or many more. It’s 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.

The Xbox Ally X offers more for players looking to get the best level of performance and visual settings from their favorite games on a handheld. It features the AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme processor—allowing us to power the latest AI features as they are introduced— double the storage to have more native games at your fingertips, and 24GB of high-speed RAM that more demanding games crave. The Xbox Ally X also features impulse triggers for more immersive play.

Here’s how the specs compare between the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X:

   ROG Xbox Ally  ROG Xbox Ally X  
Operating System  Windows 11 Home  Windows 11 Home  
 Comfort & input   Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort. ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R Hall Effect analog triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU  Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control.  ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU  
Processor  AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor  AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme Processor  
Memory  16GB LPDDR5X-6400  24GB LPDDR5X-8000  
Storage  512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade  1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade  
Display  7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9  
120Hz refresh rate  
FreeSync Premium  
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection 
7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9  
120Hz refresh rate  
FreeSync Premium  
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection 
I/O Ports  2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0  1x USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt™ 4 compatible  
1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC)  1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0  
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack  1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC; UHS-I with DDR200 mode)  
   1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack  
Network and Communication  Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4  Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4  
Dimensions  290.8*121.5*50.7mm  290.8*121.5*50.7mm  
670g  715g  
Battery  60Wh  80Wh  
Included  ROG Xbox Ally  65W charger  Stand  ROG Xbox Ally X  65W charger  Stand  

Pre-orders, Pricing, Accessories and More – Coming Soon

At launch this holiday, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will be available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with availability to follow for other markets where ROG Ally series products are sold today.

But that’s not the only thing to look forward to. In the coming months, we’ll share even more details about the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, including pricing, compatible accessories, and pre-orders.


More articles about ROG Xbox Ally
blog comments powered by Disqus