Microsoft and Asus are changing what handheld gaming means with the ROG Xbox Ally

Back at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany, I got to experience the ROG Xbox Ally series in a hands-on capacity for the very first time. This all-new handheld gaming PC line — which consists of the standard ROG Xbox Ally and the premium-tier ROG Xbox Ally X — is a joint consumer product push from both Asus and Microsoft.

Externally, these new Xbox-branded ROG Ally handhelds appear to be iterative upgrades over Asus’ existing ROG Ally and Ally X PCs, but there’s far more under the surface than meets the eye. Enhanced by slightly more performant internal hardware components and a more comfortable grip design, a pivotal retooling of the software experience has also occurred.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 team has worked closely with its Xbox team to institute a set of overarching platform optimizations that should result in better performance per watt, longer stamina, less heat generation, more reliable standby, and a more seamless gaming experience from start to finish. In other words, the company has taken the necessary measures to strip Windows back, consolidating its interface and power profile to achieve parity with other purpose-built consoles like Valve’s Steam Deck and Nintendo’s Switch 2.

“…it’s kind of a significant step in a direction where people can get and feel a little bit more closer to their gaming experiences that they’re looking for, especially if you come from console and you’re used to UIs in gaming, where you’re able to say: “I can now go straight from turning it on, into gaming.” So, I feel like those are significant improvements in the experience,” says Gabriel Meng, Director of Product, Gaming at Asus.

• Dimensions

  290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

  Brand

  Asus

  Weight

  23oz (670g)

  Chipset

  AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor

  RAM

  16GB LPDDR5X-6400

  Storage

  512GB M.2 2280 SSD

  
  

• 

  Dimensions

  290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm

  Brand

  Asus

  Weight

  25oz (715g)

  Chipset

  AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor

  RAM

  24GB LPDDR5X-8000

  Storage

  1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade

  
  

The best of ROG and Xbox in a single, powerful package

Asus’ hardware prowess and Microsoft’s software aptitude are an ambitious force to be reckoned with

When speaking about Asus’ decision to collaborate with Microsoft in particular, Meng says the wonderful part about the partnership is the ability to preserve the benefits of flexible PC gaming while on the go, while also intuitively fitting in with the existing Asus mantra of “play all your games.”

“What I will say is, I do think this is a major step for us. We appreciate the partnership. We understand its value. As companies, we’re very like-minded, and we know that the future devices we want to bring, we want to bring the ability for people to do what they love with their device. Now, ROG as a brand is big about customizability, right? We like you to open your device, upgrade your things. And so these are wonderful tenants that we share with Microsoft that we want to bring to these devices,” says Meng.

At the time of writing, we don’t yet have concrete details on pricing for the ROG Xbox Ally and its premium Ally X counterpart. We do, however, know that the devices are primed for launch on October 16 this year, with broad availability across a number of regions and territories.

It’s difficult to say whether Asus and Microsoft will strike lightning in a bottle with the ROG Xbox Ally series — the verdict is still out on just how effective the latter company’s software optimizations are at facilitating a gaming-first experience — but I sure have my hopes up.

Microsoft, for its part, has been fairly tight-lipped when it comes to its roadmap for unleashing this new Xbox-enhanced Windows 11 variant into the gaming PC market. Xbox Corporate VP of Gaming Devices and Ecosystem Roanne Sones previously confirmed that “similar full-screen Xbox experiences will be rolling out to other Windows handhelds, starting next year,” (via The Verge), which might well be alluding to rival Windows-based PC handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go S and the MSI Claw.

Asus, too, has confirmed plans to bring “similar updates” to its broader ROG Ally portfolio “over time,” but the company has no additional details to share on the timing of any potential software rollouts. Rather, all hands are currently on deck to showcase Windows 11’s up-and-coming gaming mode through the hardware vessel that is the ROG Xbox Ally.

“…together, ASUS and Microsoft are working hard to push handheld gaming forward by bringing together ASUS hardware, Xbox services, and Windows 11. I believe we’ve created something that feels both familiar and completely new. Our collaboration is focused on delivering real benefits for players from day one and continuing to evolve the category together,” says Meng.