Microsoft and ASUS have joined forces to unveil the ROG Xbox Ally X, a new handheld gaming PC that brings Xbox branding to the portable gaming market. The announcement, made during the recent Xbox Games Showcase, marks a big step in Microsoft’s strategy to expand the Xbox ecosystem beyond traditional consoles.
The ROG Xbox Ally X is an upgraded version of ASUS’s existing ROG Ally, featuring a new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and redesigned ergonomic grips. What makes this device special is its customized version of Windows 11, specifically tuned for handheld gaming with a dedicated “Xbox mode” interface.
This new Xbox mode is a big plus for Windows-based handhelds. When turned on, it hides the regular desktop and cuts out background tasks you don’t need, letting more of the system’s power go straight to your games. You can jump into this mode anytime using the dedicated Xbox button, which pulls up a full-screen interface that feels just like what you’d find on an Xbox console.
“It is a handheld Xbox, as far as Xbox is concerned,” noted one early viewer of the announcement. The interface brings together games from different platforms—including Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net—so they all show up in one, simple library.
Even though the device rocks Xbox branding, it’s good to know the limits. The ROG Xbox Ally X runs PC games you can get through Xbox Game Pass and other PC storefronts, but it won’t play Xbox Series console-only titles. The big difference: you can install games right on the device instead of streaming everything.
Fans got especially hyped by the confirmation that Team Cherry’s long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong will be ready to play on the ROG Xbox Ally X from day one. This news sent fans into a frenzy, especially since there’s been so little info about Silksong since its first tease in 2019.
With this partnership, the ROG Xbox Ally X is configured as a genuine “handheld Xbox” and supports Microsoft’s strategy to make Xbox available everywhere. Instead of only worrying about new consoles every few years, Microsoft is out to make sure your games and your library move seamlessly across all your devices, no matter what you’re playing on.
