Microsoft has announced an Xbox takeover of Asus’s Rog Ally Handheld Gaming -PC: Meet ROG Xbox Ally.
This version of ROG Ally appears on two variants that appear on the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, and comes in two variants. While both machines have a 7-inch 1080p screen with a 120Hz update speed, a white Xbox Ally version is targeting 720p games, something like the Ventildamp deck, and a Black Xbox Ally X consolence aims at 900p to 1080p games.
Both of these Allies consoles-Meet-PCs use AMD Ryzen chipset; The more powerful black machine has Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Chip, while Xbox Ally uses Ryzen Ryzen Z2 A. The latter comes with 16 GB LPDDR5X-6400 RAM and 512GB of M.2 2280 SSD storage, while Xbox Ally X comes with 24 GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Unlike Asus’ current ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, the Xbox version has a fine -tuned design with contoured grips that repeat the shape of the current Xbox Wireless Controller. And as one would expect, sports both Xbox Ally’s Xbox ‘Abxy’ Button Layout and a dedicated Xbox home button.
Like the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Ally’s Hall-Effect Impulse Triggers, which should feel well known for the Xbox Series X and Series S players and give the handheld machines some of the best analog game controllers trigger around (at least in my humble opinion).
⬛ ROG XBOX ALLY X ◻ ROG XBOX ALLY PIC.TWITTER.com/inosak2esfJune 8, 2025
With regard to gates, Xbox Ally has to USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports that support DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery 3.0, and uses an UHS-II MicroSD card reader for storage expansion.
Xbox Ally X has one of the above USB-C ports, but also has a USB4 Type-C port with DisplayPort 2.1, Power Delivery 3.0 and Thunderbolt 4 support. It also comes with a MicroSD card reader.
Both handhelds have a 3.5mm headphone jack and offer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 connection.
Windows 11 Meets Xbox -Facing
While ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are attention grabbing, the current crop of handheld PCs already has Xbox Game Support via Windows 11 and Xbox Cloud Gaming. But the experience has not always been smooth, where there is a solid argument that Windows can hold the hand, especially compared to the steam deck.
But Microsoft has worked to optimize Windows to work particularly well on Xbox Allys, with the operating system that started in new full-screen Xbox experiences drawing Xbox games as well as those from other big front/PC playing platforms such as Steam and Epic Games Store.
Tweaks to the Xbox app and the game line has been made to help them be more handheld friendly, and the latter to integrate Asus’ Armory Crate.
All this should make it easier to access Xbox games, other PC games, Sky streaming and apps like Discord from a light interface.
If Xbox Allys can deliver solid handheld performance, we could look at an impressive alternative or in some cases a complementary console to the steam deck.
And these Allys will have to impress in view of the Nintendo Switch 2 holds a lot of the handheld game line; Check out our Nintendo Switch 2 Restocks cover for a taste of how it is a little difficult to get Nintendo’s console. But a portable Xbox in this Allied cover is definitely worth stealing some brief attention from Switch 2.
Right now we have no details of ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X’s release date or price, but expect the latter to be in line with what the current Ally’s costs.
Are you interested and eager for an Xbox Ally? Tell me that in the comments.
