Latest news with #ShawnYen
Business Upturn
12 hours ago
- Business Upturn
ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, Raising the Standard for Gaming Handhelds
KEY POINTS All-day comfort : Redesigned chassis is purpose-built to fit the hands like a real gamepad : Redesigned chassis is purpose-built to fit the hands like a real gamepad Seamless software experience : New Xbox ® software offers the best of Xbox and Windows PC gaming in one handheld : New Xbox software offers the best of Xbox and Windows PC gaming in one handheld Efficiency and performance: Two new processors offer incredible AAA and indie gaming experiences LOS ANGELES, June 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce an all-new series of Ally handhelds built from the ground up with improved ergonomics and a seamless player-first user experience. Developed in partnership with the incredible team at Xbox, the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X offer best-in-class ergonomics and a full-screen Xbox experience that marries the best of Xbox and PC gaming in one cohesive package. 'We wanted to take our handheld to the next level, but we could not do it alone.' said Shawn Yen, Head of the Consumer product team at ASUS. 'This revolutionary partnership with Microsoft allowed us to forge a brand new device with ROG muscle and the soul of Xbox.' The ROG Xbox Ally sports an AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor with incredible power efficiency, while the ROG Xbox Ally X offers the new AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme Processor for next-level gaming performance. Both launch holiday 2025 in select markets, with additional markets to follow. All-day comfort The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X feature a completely redesigned chassis. Gaming on handheld is a very personal experience, and comfort in the hand is a key pillar of a well-designed device. With years of feedback on the original Ally and Ally X, the ROG Xbox Ally series offers a more comfortable grip than ever, inspired by Xbox. With a redesigned palm rest and texturing patterns to keep gamers locked on target, the ROG Xbox Ally series truly raises the bar for comfort with a handheld gaming device. The ROG Xbox Ally X also features impulse triggers, improving the haptics in supported games. These triggers allow for more nuance and immersion and are a feature that Xbox gamers have come to expect with their controllers. These devices are the most comfortable and immersive handhelds ever built by ROG. Seamless software experience While the ROG Armoury Crate Special Edition software made the original Ally easy to use, ROG and Xbox aimed to make handheld gaming even more seamless on Windows 11. 'We wanted to create an authentic Xbox experience in a handheld form factor,' explained Roanne Sones, CVP at Xbox. 'With ROG, we made it happen on the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X.' As soon as players power on the device, they enter the full screen Xbox experience. Powered by Windows 11 underneath, this software has been optimized for the ROG Xbox Ally, reducing system overhead and offering easy joystick and button navigation. Quick access to settings and customizable widgets are available via Game Bar with a single press of the Xbox button. But with the full freedom of Windows 11 running under the hood, games and mods from other sources are still easily accessible. The ROG Xbox Ally series offers the power of Xbox, the craftsmanship of ROG, and the versatility of Windows, all in one cohesive device. Efficiency and performance The ROG Xbox Ally X features the new top-of-stack AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor, giving it plenty of horsepower even in AAA games. Combined with software optimizations from the new Xbox experience, the ROG Xbox Ally X stands ready to provide gamers with next-gen handheld performance. 'Battery life is paramount on handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X,' said Jack Huynh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMD. 'The Ryzen Z2 series improves efficiency over the previous generation while still offering excellent performance in modern games.' The ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance with its AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor. At the same time, its ultra-efficient design at low wattages and its 60Wh battery produce improved battery life. Meanwhile, the ROG Xbox Ally X takes performance to greater heights, offering more room for graphical fidelity at higher framerates with the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. Both chips are primed to take full advantage of AMD's latest software suite for graphics and performance improvements, including AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution (FSR), Radeon Super Resolution (RSR), and AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) frame generation, the latter of which can offer better framerates for improved smoothness. In a nod to the future, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme-equipped ROG Xbox Ally X features an NPU. With these next-generation chips, the ROG Xbox Ally X will be ready to power the latest AI features as they are introduced. At launch this holiday, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will be available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with availability to follow for other markets where ROG Ally series products are sold today. For more information, please visit Users can also sign up on the page to get notified when pre-orders go live. SPECIFICATIONS ROG Xbox Ally X (2025) Operating System Windows 11 Home Comfort & input Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU Processor AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme Processor Display 7' FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9120Hz refresh rateFreeSync Premium Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® + Corning DXC Anti-Reflection Memory 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 Storage 1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade Network and Communication Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth® 5.4 I/O Ports 1x USB4® with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt™ 4 compatible 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC; UHS-I with DDR200 mode) 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack Battery 80Wh Dimensions 290.8 (W) x 121.5 (D) x 50.7 (H) mm Weight 715 grams Included ROG Xbox Ally X 65W charger Stand ROG Xbox Ally (2025) Operating System Windows 11 Home Comfort & input Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R Hall Effect analog triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU Processor AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor Display 7' FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9 120Hz refresh rate FreeSync Premium Corning® Gorilla® Glass Vitus® + Corning DXC Anti-Reflection Memory 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 Storage 512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade Network and Communication WiFi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth® 5.4 I/O Ports 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® with DisplayPort™ 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC) 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack Battery 60Wh Dimensions 290.8 (W) x 121.5 (D) x 50.7 (H) mm Weight 670 grams Included ROG Xbox Ally 65W charger Stand NOTES TO EDITORS ROG Facebook: ROG X (Twitter): ASUS Pressroom: ASUS Canada Facebook: ASUS Canada Instagram: ASUS Canada YouTube: ASUS Global Twitter: About ROG Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an ASUS sub-brand dedicated to creating the world's best gaming hardware and software. Formed in 2006, ROG offers a complete line of innovative products known for performance and quality, including motherboards, graphics cards, system components, laptops, desktops, monitors, smartphones, audio equipment, routers, peripherals and accessories. ROG participates in and sponsors major international gaming events. ROG gear has been used to set hundreds of overclocking records and it continues to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world. To become one of those who dare, learn more about ROG at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
The Verge
15 hours ago
- The Verge
Microsoft and Asus announce two Xbox Ally handhelds with new Xbox full-screen experience
Microsoft and Asus have been working together over the past year to create not one, but two new ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Both of these Xbox Ally devices, part of the Project Kennan effort I reported on earlier this year, include a new full-screen Xbox experience on Windows that's designed to be more handheld-friendly and hide away the complexity of Windows to focus on gaming instead. The white ROG Xbox Ally is designed for 720p gaming, and the more powerful black ROG Xbox Ally X targets 900p to 1080p gaming on the go. Like the existing ROG Ally and Ally X, the new Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X share the same 7-inch 1080p screen, complete with a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support. The Xbox Ally uses a previously unannounced AMD Ryzen Z2 A chip, combined with 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM and 512GB of M.2 2280 SSD storage. The Xbox Ally X upgrades the chip to AMD's Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory, and a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD. All of these specs make them very similar to Asus' existing Windows-powered handheld gaming PCs at heart, but there are some much-needed changes to the software side that could make the Windows handheld experience a lot better. 'We know that to take this handheld experience to the next level, we cannot do this alone,' says Shawn Yen, vice president of consumer at Asus, in a briefing with The Verge, admitting that some gamers have found it 'frustrating and confusing' to navigate Windows with joysticks and button until now. Microsoft and Asus have been collaborating closely on these two new Xbox Ally devices over the past year, and Yen says Microsoft and Asus 'share a joint obsession' on these new handhelds. That joint obsession includes Microsoft making good on its promise to combine ' the best of Xbox and Windows together,' thanks to a new Xbox full screen experience on Windows that's designed specifically for handhelds. Not only can the Xbox Ally devices boot directly to this interface, the companies claim you can easily get back to it using a new dedicated Xbox button on these handhelds — much like an Xbox console. Microsoft doesn't load the full Windows desktop or a bunch of background processes in this full screen Xbox experience, putting Windows firmly in the background and freeing up more memory for games. Instead, you launch straight into the Xbox PC app, which includes all of your PC games from the Microsoft Store, and what Microsoft calls 'other leading storefronts.' This aggregated gaming library means you'll see games from Xbox, Game Pass, and all your PC games installed from Steam, Epic Games Store, and elsewhere in a single interface much like what the GOG launcher offers. Earlier this week we started seeing parts of this unified library appear in the Xbox PC app, and Microsoft says you'll be able to access your full Xbox console library through Xbox Cloud Gaming or Remote Play to an Xbox console. The idea is that you should be able to seamlessly launch any game you own, whether it's actually installed on your handheld, streaming from your Xbox Series X over home Wi-Fi, or streaming from the cloud, though we have yet to try that ourselves. Microsoft has also made some additional tweaks to the Xbox PC app and Game Bar to make this all more handheld-friendly, including the ability to log in via the Windows lockscreen with your controller, no touchscreen taps required. You'll also be able to use this handheld-friendly Game Bar interface to easily launch apps like Discord, or alt-tab between apps and games, or adjust settings without having to fiddle with the touchscreen. You can read all about all the Windows changes in my deep dive look at this new Xbox PC experience right here. These two Xbox Ally devices also have Xbox-like contoured grips. It's as if Microsoft and Asus have taken an Xbox controller and squeezed a screen between the grips, similar to what Sony did with its PlayStation Portal. The grips have been designed like this to make it easier to wrap your hands around the entire controls, so you access all the buttons and triggers. The Xbox Ally X even has impulse triggers like all modern Xbox controllers, so you'll feel things like terrain of roads during racing games or the impact of bullets in a shooter, all thanks to the haptics on the triggers. Asus is also using a USB-C 4 connector that supports Thunderbolt 4 on the more powerful Xbox Ally X, offering the possibility of connecting a powerful external GPU to it, alongside a single USB-C 3.2 port and a UHS-II microSD card reader. The Xbox Ally uses two USB-C 3.2 ports instead. Microsoft and Asus aren't providing any benchmarks or a real sense of performance for these handhelds yet, and both use chips we haven't tested. But interestingly, they appear to be focusing on battery life this time around. 'For this generation the most important thing to us is efficiency. Efficiency is our new superpower,' says Yen. 'The games will be able to play cooler and quieter, and at the same time offer you a longer battery life for gameplay.' AMD told us in January that the Z2 Extreme would be both its most powerful and most efficient handheld chip yet, while the Z2 A is rumored to be based on the Steam Deck's less powerful but battery sipping Van Gogh-based chip. Importantly, the Xbox Ally is using a 60Wh battery, 50 percent larger than the pack that shipped in the original ROG Ally, while the more powerful Xbox Ally X uses an 80Wh battery, tied with the Ally X and the largest you can find in a handheld today. The Windows tweaks may also improve battery, with Microsoft claiming it's already seeing 1/3rd the drain when these Xbox Full Screen Experience systems are idle and asleep. If you want extra performance, you'll also be able to dock these Xbox Ally devices to Asus' XG mobile device that offers up an RTX 5090 laptop GPU to overhaul how games play on these handheld devices. These new Xbox Ally handhelds will launch during the holiday season later this year, and Microsoft and Asus are planning to share pricing and preorder information in the coming months.
