Latest news with #ROGXboxAlly
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft Debuts ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds, Marking Entry into Portable Gaming
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the best Dow stocks to invest in. The company is entering the handheld gaming market for the first time with the upcoming launch of the ROG Xbox Ally devices. Created in partnership with ASUS, these handhelds are designed to deliver a full Xbox gaming experience in a portable format. Users will be able to play Xbox titles, stream content, and use cloud gaming features while on the move. A development team working together to create the next version of Windows. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) made the following comment: 'Players can look forward to an approachable gaming experience that travels with you wherever you go, featuring several new and first-of-their kind features on both devices,' The announcement comes shortly after Nintendo revealed its Switch 2, signaling a new phase in the competition for portable gaming dominance. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) described this move as part of its broader strategic vision. A Microsoft spokesperson made the following statement in an email to CNBC: "Everything we do starts with the player. We're continuously pushing ourselves to innovate and bring new product offerings and choice to players." While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure. None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft Debuts ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds, Marking Entry into Portable Gaming
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the best Dow stocks to invest in. The company is entering the handheld gaming market for the first time with the upcoming launch of the ROG Xbox Ally devices. Created in partnership with ASUS, these handhelds are designed to deliver a full Xbox gaming experience in a portable format. Users will be able to play Xbox titles, stream content, and use cloud gaming features while on the move. A development team working together to create the next version of Windows. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) made the following comment: 'Players can look forward to an approachable gaming experience that travels with you wherever you go, featuring several new and first-of-their kind features on both devices,' The announcement comes shortly after Nintendo revealed its Switch 2, signaling a new phase in the competition for portable gaming dominance. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) described this move as part of its broader strategic vision. A Microsoft spokesperson made the following statement in an email to CNBC: "Everything we do starts with the player. We're continuously pushing ourselves to innovate and bring new product offerings and choice to players." While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure. None.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Nintendo Switch 2 vs ROG Xbox Ally: Ultimate handheld gaming devices compared
The handheld gaming market recently got shaken up with two massive contenders: the ROG Xbox Ally and Nintendo Switch 2. Both devices offer unique features and significant upgrades over their predecessors. If you're confused about which one to grab, we have a quick comparison rundown to make your choice a bit easier. The ROG Xbox Ally is a handheld PC rather than a console, powered by a powerful Ryzen Z2 chipset. It offers significantly higher raw performance compared to the Switch 2, with a higher GPU clock and more RAM. The storage options on the Ally go up to a 2TB SSD, compared to just 256GB internal on the Switch 2, which does support microSD expansion. The ROG Xbox Ally offers a traditional handheld PC experience with integrated gamepad controls and a large 7-inch touchscreen. The Switch 2, on the other hand, features a larger 7.9-inch display and removable Joy-Con controllers, offering greater flexibility for local multiplayer games. The Ally doesn't offer this kind of flexibility and is a bit bigger and heavier than the Switch 2, which is only 15mm thick and weighs about 400 grams. Both displays are 120Hz, FHD, and IPS LCD, so the gaming experience depends on which display size you prefer. Nintendo has always been the go-to handheld gaming console because of its exclusive titles like Mario Kart and the Zelda series. This gives the Switch 2 an edge over other handhelds, but the ROG Xbox Ally offers a massive game library in comparison. The Ally, running Windows 11, gives you access to Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Game Pass, and even emulators. So if you're looking for a huge library of games that you never get bored of, the Ally is the best option for you. Despite the ROG offering a bigger 80Whr battery and claiming up to 8.5 hours of gameplay, real-life performance will depend heavily on the type of game you're running. The Switch 2 offers a smaller battery, but its optimised software can easily match the battery life of the Ally. The Switch 2 also gives you a streamlined, console-like user experience with guaranteed game compatibility and less need for tweaking settings. While the Ally, running PC games, requires more user involvement for game optimisation, it offers way better flexibility. Both devices have distinct advantages over the other. The Switch 2 offers better portability, ease of use, and exclusive titles. The ROG Xbox Ally leads in raw performance, game library diversity, and customisation. The choice now depends on whether you want a polished, ready-to-go console experience or a versatile and powerful PC gaming device.
Tom's Guide
19 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
ROG Xbox Ally is coming for Steam Deck, not Nintendo Switch 2 — here's why
Xbox is getting serious about its "Play Anywhere" promise, with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X finally being revealed. And now, Microsoft has its very own gaming handheld — right off the bat of the Nintendo Switch 2. Being from one of the Big 3 in gaming (Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo), I'd be forgiven for thinking that the Xbox Ally X would be rivaling the Switch 2. I mean, they're both handhelds, after all. But this is a different beast, one that aims to take on the best PC gaming handhelds. But not just in hardware; the software behind Asus and Microsoft's joint venture is arguably the most important feature to come out of the ROG Xbox Ally. No more Windows 11 holding PC-based handhelds back, like the Lenovo Legion Go S or the Asus ROG Ally X. Now, the new Xbox Experience for Handheld feature brings gameplay to the forefront. If that sounds familiar, it should. Valve's SteamOS, made popular thanks to the Steam Deck, has been doing this for a while, and it's what made Steam's portable console a win over other handhelds. With the upcoming Xbox overlay set to arrive in the ROG Xbox Ally consoles, though, it's clear Microsoft has Steam in its sights. How so? Well, the Xbox "full screen experience" won't just be exclusive to the ROG Xbox Ally systems — more handhelds are getting it down the line. Valve's OS is coming to handhelds outside the Steam Deck, including the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS, but so is the Xbox app — eventually. As Xbox confirmed to Windows Central and The Verge, the Xbox Experience app will be coming to more PC handhelds and that's a big deal. In fact, it's only exclusive to the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X until 'early 2026," as it will then be coming to more portable consoles, like the Lenovo Legion Go, MSI Claw and more. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'The Xbox full-screen experience will first come to the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X, and our next focus will be updating the in-market ROG Ally and the ROG Ally X,' states Roanne Sones, VP of gaming devices and ecosystem at Xbox. 'Similar full-screen Xbox experiences will be rolling out to other Windows handhelds, starting next year.' Rather than the hardware itself, it's the Xbox UI overlay that will change the scope of Windows handhelds on the market. We've seen how putting SteamOS on a ROG Ally X can not only boost performance, but battery life, too. And for a portable gaming console, those are the two most important factors that can make or break a handheld device. That's exactly what the Xbox Experience app aims to achieve: "With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay," Xbox confirms. "That means more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players." Other perks like getting quick access to all your PC games through the overlay, such as Xbox, Game Pass, and, of course, Steam, is hugely welcome. Better yet, just as Steam does, Microsoft is working on a program that can show which games have been optimized for handhelds. So, it won't just be "Steam Deck verified" games anymore, you'll see ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go S, MSI Claw optimized titles, too. Just as Steam does, Microsoft is working on a program that can show which games have been optimized for handhelds. Moreover, you can expect quick access to settings and customisable widgets via Game Bar with a single press of the Xbox button, and since it's still powered by Windows 11, games and mods from other sources are still easily accessible and customizable. Of course, we'll have to get hands-on time with the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X to see how Microsoft's new gaming handheld-focused overlay benefits portable systems. But one thing's clear, Xbox finally has a way to compete with SteamOS, and handheld gaming for all is about to get that much sweeter. The Nintendo Switch 2 may impress with its upgraded internals, including its custom processor from Nvidia, allowing it to play versions of AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 made for the system, but the ROG Xbox Ally can play the same PC titles outright — no special versions needed. PC gaming handhelds have been able to do this for a while, but help from the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor for the Xbox Ally X looks to make it all the more impressive. With Zen 5 architecture, 8 CPU cores, 16 GPU cores, 16 threads, up to 5GHz max boost clock, up to 35 watts for power and RDNA 3.5, this handheld is expected to sing. The Xbox Games Showcase showed off all the games that will run on ROG Xbox Ally devices, including a claimed 60 FPS at 1080p for Gears of War: Reloaded. But we've also seen how the MSI Claw A8 with the Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip deliver 100 FPS in Lies of P. Seeing how new titles like Ninja Gaiden 4, Clockwork Revolution and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 perform will be interesting to see, and I can imagine the base ROG Xbox Ally with its AMD Ryzen Z2 A (Zen 2 architecture, 4 CPU cores/8 threads, 20 watts) will better handle less demanding titles like, say, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Will the Steam Deck be able to handle these games? Sure, but probably not with comparably higher settings with its custom AMD Zen 2 "Van Gogh" APU. And while the Switch 2 will get a few of what Xbox showed off, like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and more (along with its own exclusive titles), the ROG Xbox Ally is set to be a different beast. A huge outlier is the price of Xbox's upcoming handhelds. We know both the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will launch this fall, but we haven't heard a peep out of Microsoft or Asus on how much these will cost. If I had to venture a guess, considering the prices of other recent handhelds, the ROG Xbox Ally will be around $599 or less (similar to the Legion Go S with AMD Ryzen Z2 Go), while the ROG Xbox Ally X could drop somewhere between $799 to $999 (like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ or ROG Ally X). If I had to venture a guess, considering the prices of other recent handhelds, the ROG Xbox Ally will be around $599 or less, while the ROG Xbox Ally X could drop somewhere between $799 to $999. That alone sets the handhelds leagues apart from the $449 Switch 2, falling more in line with the pricier $649 Steam Deck OLED. That's all if these predictions are accurate, though, as tariffs are sure to drive up costs more than we'd like to see. Regardless, while Xbox has finally journeyed into the realm of handheld gaming with its own device, thanks to its partnership with Asus, it's the software behind the ROG Xbox Ally that will finally give Valve's dominance on handhelds a run for its money. Nintendo may not have to worry about Xbox when it comes to handhelds with its Switch 2, but Microsoft is looking to shake up handheld gaming PCs — all the more reason for a Steam Deck 2 to enter the ring.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Microsoft Xbox handheld Ally console release date and details confirmed
Microsoft has revealed its answer to Nintendo's Switch 2, with the handheld Xbox console, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, long after teasing its arrival. Partnering with Asus, the two consoles are designed to be used in-hand, in the same way that the Switch appeals to gamers on the go. The ROG Xbox Ally is the base console, while the ROG Xbox Ally X is a more premium gadget. Here's everything we know about the ROG Xbox Ally consoles. A handheld console does what it says on the tin, allowing players to play wherever they are, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console. Both consoles will use Windows 11, with the Game Bar allowing you to access your library of games as well as console controls. Microsoft has already confirmed that it will offer games that you can't play elsewhere, which might be enough to entice even long-term Xbox and PC gamers. Indeed, there's a clear focus on trying to attract PC users, with apps like Discord and Twitch also compatible with the handheld. However, there's still a definite Xbox feel to the design of the console, with the typical Xbox button giving players access to chat, apps, and settings, much like on a typical controller. In terms of game access, the handhelds will be compatible with Xbox, Game Pass, and other leading PC storefronts, as well as the promise of exclusive games. Buying the Xbox Ally also gives you instant access to Game Pass, so you can access the hundreds of games in the subscription library to get yourself started. The launch of Xbox Ally will be made in partnership with Roblox, bringing the game – boasting 85 million daily active users – to a handheld console for the first time. Microsoft also suggests in its press release that it intends to bring out games optimised for handheld gaming, saying it is 'working closely with our game developer partners'. The Ally and Ally X both run on AMD processors, similar to the most recent generation of larger major consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. However, it's worth noting that the X model runs on a more advanced version of the Rysen processor, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme. The base model uses the AMD Ryzen Z2 A. That boosts the RAM from 16GB to 24 and doubles SSD storage from 512GB to 1,024GB. The premium console will also include AI features 'as they come', which suggests that they won't be available at launch. Physically, it also includes impulse triggers for more immersive play. With a holiday launch planned for the end of 2025, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will initially be available in the following countries: 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 The United States Availability will soon after follow for other markets. Pricing, compatible accessories, and pre-order details are 'coming soon' according to Microsoft, but you can sign up for email notifications here to be notified first.
