So right off the bat, say hello to Microsoft and Asus’ brainchild in the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, two variants on a specialized gaming handheld much like the Steam Deck and many Windows gaming handhelds that have popped up over the last few years.

Except for this time it will be running specialized software made in conjunction with Microsoft’s Xbox team, essentially a stripped-down version of Windows 11 closer to the software you get on an Xbox ( minimal, optimized for gaming) with access to very specific third-party game stores like Epic Games, GOG and Steam. It will also have direct integration into shared Xbox libraries along with their cloud saves between PC and Xbox, as well as Xbox’s game streaming function. So while it’s not a portable Xbox Series S for example, it’s pretty much the closest thing possible while keeping the best parts of both console and PC gaming by being as easy to use as a console, but with the freedom PC gaming offers.

As I said before, the Xbox Ally comes in two variants, namely the basic Xbox Ally, and the more powerful Xbox Ally X. The latter version will have more RAM, a bigger battery, faster USB C options with Thunderbolt 4, Better triggers, and a better processor, all which make it optimized for up to 1080p gaming off power as compared to the regular Ally’s 720p, which may seem odd for most but these are essentially the current standards for gaming AAA games on a handheld, including Valve’s Steam Deck which many consider the gold standard for the category. The only unknown area about these devices is their pricing, which many are afraid of considering previous ASUS ROG Ally devices were above $700 and stretching up to $1000. Perhaps Microsoft could incentivize ASUS to drop these prices ( after all who wants a portable Xbox device that costs twice as much as an actual Xbox), though that seems unlikely. The good part, however, is that this may not matter that much.

This is just the beginning.

If both journalistic reports, leaked Windows info and Microsoft/ the Xbox team’s own words are to be believed, it’s very likely that these new ROG Ally devices are just the start in a new class of gaming handhelds, i.e. Xbox gaming handhelds that will be made by pretty much anyone who wants a shot. Microsoft isn’t just making this new modified version of Windows for Asus but is instead aiming to make this the default operating system for all gaming handhelds, especially in a world where Valve is now shipping STEAMOS, the Steam Deck’s operating system, to the same handheld makers that were making Windows devices. This is important because just last week a lot of reports and YouTube videos showed just how inefficient regular Windows 11 is for a handheld, and with enough time, Microsoft’s own partners could ditch the company for Valve’s OS if enough customers demand it. As such, the ROG Xbox Ally is not just a showcase of Microsoft’s capabilities for gamers, but also for its own partners as well, meaning they definitely don’t want to screw this up.

And that’s before considering the Official Xbox Handheld

Ending all this however, is the fact that these devices, or any coming out this year, aren’t actually the official Xbox handheld, aka one made by Microsoft and Xbox themselves. And yes, that device is very much coming. Microsoft seems to be taking the same approach it does to PCs and laptops here where it of course supplies software to the likes of ASUS, HP, and others, but also provides the Microsoft Surface range, which offers some of the best Windows machines available. They likely won’t mind ASUS and friends creating the Xbox gaming handheld space before releasing its own definitive handheld around 2027 likely at a more accessible price point (as better processors will be cheaper) and offering a more definitive experience of how the Xbox team would want a handheld to work. This however means the Xbox Allys and other devices are going to be more than enough for most people for at least the next two years, and should be a great alternative even when the official Xbox handheld comes out.

As such, here’s to hoping these machines are as awesome as they seem when they come out. After all, they seem outright more powerful than the competition, both in the Switch 2 and Steam Deck, while perhaps offering the best experience Xbox could possibly offer on a handheld at the moment. We’ll definitely be letting you know how good they are as soon as they get released. Until then, at least we already know they’re better than the joke that is the PlayStation Portal.

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