Xbox Handheld Console Finally Revealed, After Years Of Speculation
Microsoft ends years of speculation with a Switch-like device for its 34 million subscribers.
After more than a decade of speculation, Microsoft has finally unveiled its first handheld Xbox-branded console, the ROG Xbox Ally, developed in partnership with ASUS. The announcement came during the company's gaming showcase this past weekend, just days after Nintendo launched its new Switch 2.
Microsoft's long-rumoured handheld Xbox is finally official, with launch due later this year. (IMAGE: @geoffkeighley/X)
The Xbox Ally will be available in two versions: a base model and a higher-specification Xbox Ally X. Both are expected to arrive by the end of 2025, although Microsoft has not yet disclosed pricing.
Both models will run on Windows and offer access to the full Xbox Game Pass library, along with games from other PC platforms such as Steam, Battle.net, and Ubisoft Connect. Microsoft is pitching the device as much as a portable gaming PC as it is a handheld console, which could appeal to Game Pass subscribers and PC gamers seeking greater flexibility.
The base version features a 7-inch 1080p screen, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The X version upgrades this to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, along with a more powerful processor and a larger battery. However, the devices are somewhat heavier than the competition: the base model weighs 670 grams, while the X version weighs 715 grams. In comparison, the newly launched Switch 2 weighs 534 grams.
advetisement
Xbox head of gaming devices, Roanne Sones, told UK broadcaster BBC that the handheld lets users play natively, via the cloud, or by streaming from a console in another room. 'Whether you're at home or on the go, your favourite games should follow you," she said.
Microsoft also announced that 17 new titles will be available on Game Pass from their release date, including Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Outer Worlds
The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is also slated for Game Pass, although no support was mentioned for the Switch 2, despite a previous agreement between Xbox and Nintendo.
Fans also received a first glimpse of Persona 4 Revival, a remake of the 2008 PS2 classic. No release date was confirmed.
With the Xbox Ally, Microsoft hopes that Windows-level flexibility and Game Pass integration can give it a competitive edge in a market already dominated by Nintendo and Valve, the UK broadcaster noted in its report.
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June 09, 2025, 23:31 IST
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