Microsoft Finally Gets Into the Handheld Game With ROG Xbox Ally

Microsoft is finally taking its changeable for handheld gaming. During Summer Game Fest connected June 8, nan institution debuted nan console pinch a flashy trailer: a floating artifact of crystal forming into nan handheld earlier nan Xbox logo cracks done and nan strategy comes to life. Not conscionable one, but two—the ROG Xbox Ally and its much powerful variation, nan ROG Xbox Ally X—essentially a group of halved controllers comically strapped to a wide screen. Both are expected to get this vacation season, though specifications for illustration pricing, accessories, and preorders still haven’t been announced.

It’s been a agelong hold for a existent Xbox handheld. While competitors for illustration Nintendo, Sony, and Valve person already established handheld aliases hybrid consoles successful immoderate form, Microsoft has been slower to perpetrate to gaming connected nan go—a move that has cost it a competitory separator against nan Switch aliases Steam Deck. For a institution that’s put dense accent connected “Xbox anywhere,” its deficiency of a console you could really play anyplace has been a awesome oversight.

The Ally consoles, which are being made pinch physics shaper ASUS, will yet fto group play games done distant play, unreality gaming, aliases nan handheld itself. Both will tally Windows 11, wherever your mileage whitethorn alteration depending connected your feelings astir nan divisive OS, which critics person described arsenic annoying because of things for illustration pop-up ads and a bad commencement menu. It will springiness players entree to PC games, mod use, and apps specified arsenic Discord and Twitch, and see accessibility features recovered connected Xbox. Fans will besides beryllium capable to play games from Xbox, PC storefronts, Game Pass, and Battle.net, which will each sync betwixt consoles, PC, and unreality gaming.

In an question and reply pinch The Verge past year, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said nan institution has been “learning from what Nintendo has done complete nan years pinch Switch.” He’s besides expressed admiration for nan Steam Deck, ROG handheld, and Lenovo handheld Legion Go. Prior to that, a leak from Microsoft itself successful September 2023 included accusation connected a “hybrid crippled platform,” past expected successful 2028. Back erstwhile X allowed users to spot different likes connected posts, Xbox fans took statement of Spencer-liked tweets that declared an Xbox handheld “inevitable.”

The title to make consoles much powerful than they’ve ever been—or to compete pinch PCs—hasn’t been arsenic exciting, arsenic nan tech has steadily improved successful nan past decade. Instead, it’s nan console you tin play connected a level aliases from bed—anywhere without a TV setup, really—that feels genuinely appealing. My Xbox Series X has spent astir of its life languishing connected my support and collecting particulate while my Switch is simply a must-have for each travel I take. Breakout titles for illustration Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 pulled maine backmost to my Xbox briefly, but I, for illustration galore different gamers, want that action connected nan go.

Impressions of nan handheld truthful acold person been mostly positive. “It ran nicely, felt bully successful my hands … nan controls felt for illustration Xbox controller grips,” wrote GameFile. “The gameplay was crisp and clear.” IGN praised its gameplay experience, but besides noted that nan personification interface could beryllium much intuitive. A writer from The Guardian said they “can easy spot it becoming a superior competitor for some nan Switch 2 and Valve’s Steam Deck.”

Microsoft is entering nan marketplace astatine a clip erstwhile you tin play astir awesome video games connected 1 handheld aliases another. With nan Switch 2 retired now, Nintendo already has a jump connected nan vacation season—and immoderate potential tariffs aliases accumulation problems that whitethorn occur.

But Microsoft has nary shortage of games. During Xbox’s Summer Gamefest showcase, nan institution besides showed disconnected its upcoming merchandise schedule, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outerworlds 2, a Persona 4 remake, and Hollow Knight sequel Silksong. The Ally will motorboat pinch nan massively celebrated Roblox, nan first clip nan crippled has ever been disposable connected a handheld. That beardown room of games could springiness Xbox nan limb up it needs—or astatine slightest a fighting chance.