Microsoft unveils ROG Xbox Ally handheld video game devices
USA - Microsoft on Sunday unveiled its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming devices, touting them as a way to play its vast library of titles anywhere.
Two "ROG Xbox Ally" models made in a partnership with Taiwan-based ASUS will be available by the year-end holiday season, Xbox president Sarah Bond said during an online event showcasing games heading for the platform.
"The Xbox Ally is an Xbox you can hold in your hands, bringing together the power of Xbox and the freedom of Windows," Bond said.
"On this Xbox, you can play games across your entire library, including all the Windows PC game stores from Xbox and Battle.net to Steam, GOG (Good Old Games platform) and Ubisoft Connect."
The peek at Xbox Ally came just days after the release of Nintendo's Switch 2, the handheld console that could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator.
The Nintendo device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as "Animal Crossing."
Microsoft promised to disclose pricing and release date details for Xbox Ally in the coming months.
Both Xbox handhelds appeared similar to Microsoft console controllers in terms of buttons, toggles and grips but looked elongated to provide room for center screens.
"When you power on your Xbox Ally, you'll boot directly into the Xbox full screen experience, a new feature optimized specifically for handheld gaming," Microsoft said in a release.
"The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are perfect for players looking to take an approachable gaming experience with you during travels - whether it's between airports, or between the comfiest chairs in the living room."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
7 hours ago
- eNCA
Microsoft unveils ROG Xbox Ally handheld video game devices
USA - Microsoft on Sunday unveiled its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming devices, touting them as a way to play its vast library of titles anywhere. Two "ROG Xbox Ally" models made in a partnership with Taiwan-based ASUS will be available by the year-end holiday season, Xbox president Sarah Bond said during an online event showcasing games heading for the platform. "The Xbox Ally is an Xbox you can hold in your hands, bringing together the power of Xbox and the freedom of Windows," Bond said. "On this Xbox, you can play games across your entire library, including all the Windows PC game stores from Xbox and to Steam, GOG (Good Old Games platform) and Ubisoft Connect." The peek at Xbox Ally came just days after the release of Nintendo's Switch 2, the handheld console that could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator. The Nintendo device, which features a bigger screen and more processing power, is an upgrade to the Switch that became a global phenomenon with hit games such as "Animal Crossing." Microsoft promised to disclose pricing and release date details for Xbox Ally in the coming months. Both Xbox handhelds appeared similar to Microsoft console controllers in terms of buttons, toggles and grips but looked elongated to provide room for center screens. "When you power on your Xbox Ally, you'll boot directly into the Xbox full screen experience, a new feature optimized specifically for handheld gaming," Microsoft said in a release. "The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are perfect for players looking to take an approachable gaming experience with you during travels - whether it's between airports, or between the comfiest chairs in the living room."
Daily Maverick
20 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
SA loses as its entrepreneurs move companies to Estonia
The Baltic country's e-Residency programme offers access to a highly efficient digital-first business environment with alluring prospects for local tech companies. Imagine being a very small country (a landmass about the size of Gauteng) with 1.3 million residents and a declining population rate, no significant natural resources except some shale gas, and a previously hostile neighbour in the form of the Soviet Union, which fell in 1991. That's Estonia, whose strategy to increase its tax base has involved establishing an e-residency programme to lure foreign businesses in return for exporting its world-leading digital government services. For a growing number of South African tech entrepreneurs, the key to unlocking global markets, EU-based investment and a bureaucracy-free future doesn't lie in Sandton or Stellenbosch – it's in Tallinn. Estonia's fabled e-Residency programme, once a curiosity for digital nomads and crypto-optimists, has found a surprising following in South Africa's start-up scene, and 436 of Mzansi's finest are already enrolled. But although the Baltic republic promises digital freedom and access to European capital, the decision to incorporate one's company offshore isn't as simple as clicking 'register' for the government's e-Residency programme. 'E-residency is just an access to our digital ecosystem,' says Katrin Vaga, a former journalist who heads PR for the programme. 'It's not tax residency, it's not a golden visa; it's not even about physically moving to Estonia. It simply gives entrepreneurs a secure way to operate in our digital-first business environment.' This digital infrastructure, built over two decades, allows foreign founders to register and run a European company entirely online – and in English. For software developers, marketing consultants and other knowledge workers, it's a frictionless gateway to EU business. 'It's a 15-minute process,' Vaga explains. 'From application to launching a company. It's all remote, all online, all verified with a secure digital ID.' One standout feature is Estonia's 0% corporate tax on reinvested profits. 'It's built for start-ups,' she says. 'If you're reinvesting into growth, you don't pay corporate tax until you distribute dividends.' Next stop, EU funding Access to European venture capital is the big draw. 'If you want to raise funding from European sources, it derisks the project to be based in the EU,' says Dr Armid Azadeh, founder of the Namibian medtech solution company OnCall. '[Venture capital funders] are more comfortable when the intellectual property is domiciled in a jurisdiction they understand and trust.' This isn't just about Estonia. It's about a broader initiative by African start-ups to move their intellectual property (IP) offshore to investor-friendly territories – from Mauritius to the Netherlands – so that global funders will take them seriously. Renier Kriel, founder of The Founder Collab and a stalwart of the local start-up scene, says all South African company founders who have to raise venture capital want to take their IP offshore because funders are typically 'not comfortable for IP to stay in South Africa'. The trend is driven less by tax arbitrage and more by South Africa's cumbersome exchange controls and employment legislation. 'Moving money out of South Africa is a major pain,' Kriel says. 'You need approval. It slows down everything.' Add to this labour regulations that, though protective of workers, can be punitive for start-ups. 'The cost of 'mishiring' is massive,' Kriel adds. 'We need specific reform for hi-tech or early-stage businesses. The current laws create less employment because of the cost of hiring.' The combination of local friction and global opportunity makes Estonia's promise deeply appealing. 'You get to tailor your lifestyle,' says one Estonian e-Resident entrepreneur quoted in Vaga's documentation. 'I pay more taxes than I maybe would have back home, but I have a bigger market and more business opportunity. And I save so much time that actually I still win.' But Estonian e-residency isn't a silver bullet. 'It doesn't make sense for everyone,' Vaga cautions. 'If you're bootstrapped, already have reliable banking, or you want a physical shop in Europe, it's probably not for you.' How Estonia stacks up Estonia is now part of an elite club of favoured offshoring destinations, each with distinct strengths and pitfalls. London offers prestige, investor networks and familiarity. But it also comes with high operational costs, post-Brexit trade frictions and looming tax changes for non-domiciled founders. Delaware is ideal for US expansion and venture capital fundraising, thanks to flexible corporate laws and low state-level taxes. But the complexity of US federal tax and substance rules can trip up founders. Amsterdam provides full EU access, a deep talent pool and vibrant start-up culture, but it is costlier than Estonia and requires a more involved set-up process. Mauritius remains a go-to for African-facing businesses with its 3% effective tax rate and strong treaty network – though it requires real substance (offices, local directors) to stay compliant. Estonia, through its e-residency programme, wins on speed, cost and digital ease. 'You can run a company entirely remotely from anywhere,' says Vaga. 'And your encrypted digital signature is accepted across the EU.' That said, it's not perfect. 'Banking can still be a hurdle,' she concedes. South Africa risks losing more than tax revenue when founders go offshore. It loses jobs, IP and long-term innovation. 'If we want to compete with Mauritius or Estonia, we need to reform exchange controls and court major investors – show them we can be a real partner in building wealth,' says Kriel. 'Cut the red tape, combine the SDL [skills development levy], UIF, PAYE and income tax into one simplified system. If we want to compete with the places [venture capital funders] like, we need to make it easier to build here.' For the right type of business, mostly digital, lean and global in mindset, Estonia offers a near-frictionless way to plug into the EU economy. The e-Residency programme isn't for everyone. But for the increasing number of South African entrepreneurs stuck between red tape locally and global opportunity, it might just be the digital lifeline they've been waiting for. 'It's not about escaping,' says Vaga. 'It's about enabling.' DM
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
MTN backs Starlink's South African operations, contingent on B-BBEE compliance
EFF rejects Minister Malatsi's unlawful attempt to bypass South Africa's 30% local ownership law for Elon Musk's Starlink, saying legal compliance and transformation must be upheld to protect jobs, sovereignty, and national security. Image: AP Photo/Francois Mori Giant digital communication network service provider, MTN, whose chairperson is South Africa's special envoy to the United States of America, Mcebisi Jonas, has expressed support for Starlink being licensed to operate in the country. However, this is only if one of the world's richest men, Elon Musk's satellite internet service licence, complies with black economic empowerment regulations. The company, which is originally from South Africa but operates in various countries across the continent, described US-based Starlink as one of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communication providers that could significantly accelerate connectivity, 'particularly in rural and underserved areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or costly to deploy'. 'By providing high-speed, low-latency internet, leveraging LEO capabilities could bridge the digital divide, supporting South Africa's national goals of broader digital inclusion, economic development, and innovation,' said MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo. MTN advocates for partnerships with LEO communication providers, including Starlink, as these can enhance service resilience, extend reach, and improve customer experience, especially in challenging geographical areas. 'MTN welcomes cooperation and competition in the telecommunications space, provided there is regulatory parity,' said Morafo. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It has been reported that Starlink currently operates in 18 of the 54 countries in Africa, and it would expand to 10 more states before the end of the year. MTN's Digital Infrastructure Chief Executive Officer, Mazen Mroué, had, on December 14, 2023, while he was still the group's chief technology and information officer, revealed that there were engagements with SpaceX's Starlink, with enterprise-grade trials under way in Rwanda and Nigeria. When asked if those MTN engagements with Starlink had been expanded to involve the latter coming to South Africa, the group said it did not comment on confidential market-specific discussions. 'MTN embraces the value of LEO satellite systems and remains open to partnerships that support the extension of connectivity across Africa, including South Africa, in compliance with applicable regulations,' Morafo said. It was reported in 2013 that President Cyril Ramaphosa's Shanduka Group had paid $335 million for a stake in MTN's Nigerian business. Soon before being appointed state deputy president, Ramaphosa disinvested from Shanduka to focus on his government responsibilities to avoid a conflict of interest. Former finance deputy minister Jonas was appointed MTN Group chairperson on June 1, 2018, and on April 14, 2025, Ramaphosa appointed him as his special envoy to the United States of America with the responsibility of advancing South Africa's diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities. This entailed fostering strategic partnerships and engaging with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote South Africa. Currently, Starlink does not have an operating licence in South Africa after its attempts to get one failed due to Musk's disagreement with the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirement that foreign telecommunication companies must sell 30% of their stake to local historically disadvantaged groups for them to operate in the country. Trump signed an Executive Order on February 7, which sought to isolate South Africa, following allegations that white Afrikaners were subjected to orchestrated genocide and anti-white black employment policies, and that South Africa had taken a hostile stance against the US and its allies, including Israel. This was attributed to Musk's fightback against B-BBEE regulations using Trump. Ramaphosa led the delegation to Washington to negotiate with Trump on May 21 to save South Africa/US trade agreements and recruit new investors. The Presidency had listed Jonas as among the delegation, but he did not go due to his business commitments, although he had contributed to the preparation of that meeting. Before the two leaders held a private meeting at the White House, there was a media briefing in which the issue of genocide and crime was discussed. It was in that briefing that South African billionaire Johann Rupert pleaded with Trump to assist South Africa with modern technology to fight crime and even suggested, in the presence of Musk, that Starlink should come to the country. The negotiation took place before it was reported that Trump had fired Musk as his senior advisor and Department of Government Efficiency head. When asked if Jonas had in any way participated in negotiations to bring Starlink to the country, Morafo said 'no'. 'In his capacity as MTN Group chairperson, Mr Mcebisi Jonas does not participate in operational negotiations relating to Starlink or any other specific vendor or technology partner. 'His responsibilities are focused on providing strategic oversight and governance at the MTN Group level, in line with the role of a non-executive chairperson,' she said. When called, Jonas declined to comment, saying he does not talk to the media as he works in the background. Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi raised eyebrows when, on May 23, two days after the White House meeting, issued a statement announcing the relaxation of the B-BBEE Act in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector to 'allow qualifying multinationals to meet empowerment obligations through alternatives to 30% ownership'. This opened the floodgates of reaction, including from politicians and civil society groups who believed that Malatsi was facilitating the licensing of Starlink by bypassing B-BBEE requirements. MTN said all communication companies should be treated the same and without favour. 'We advocate for a regulatory framework based on the principle of 'same service, same rules'. 'All service providers, whether terrestrial or non-terrestrial, should adhere to the same legal, regulatory, and socio-economic obligations, including those relating to customer registration, data protection, localisation, spectrum access, lawful interception, rural coverage, and B-BBEE compliance,' Morafo said.
