Latest news with #ROGXboxAlly
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Handheld 'ROG Xbox Ally' devices unveiled
Microsoft on Sunday unveiled its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming devices, touting them as a way to play its vast library of titles anywhere, as reported by AFP. 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."
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Xbox reveals two brand new consoles to take on the Nintendo Switch 2 and they're launching in time for Christmas
MICROSOFT has finally launched a handheld Xbox console after years of speculation. And it'll be available just in time for Christmas this year in the UK and the US. 2 Two Xbox handhelds coming - but price is still unknown Credit: XBox 2 Access your favourite Game Pass titles Credit: XBox Rather than being entirely Microsoft-made, the new ROG Xbox Ally devices come as part of a collaboration with ASUS, which has already dabbled in handheld gaming. There are two models, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. The latter has a more powerful chip inside, alongside bigger memory, storage, battery and more ports available too. Both will allow players to access their Game Pass subscription library on the go. But you can enjoy content from and other "leading PC storefronts" too. Users can play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room. "Whether you're at home or on the go, your favorite games should follow you," explained Xbox head of gaming devices Roanne Sones. "With Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) or Remote Play, you can access your full Xbox console library and keep playing—wherever you are." As part of the move, Roblox will be among the launch titles with a version optimised for handheld gaming. But pricing has not been announced just yet. The Sun tries new Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart before it's out The existing ASUS ROG Ally X handheld gaming console costs about £800 / $800. "Only way price is significantly cheaper is if Microsoft subsidize and takes part of the loss," one gamer speculated on Reddit. "The only way this thing retails for under $700 is if Microsoft really, REALLY wants to prove the viability of their new Windows gaming variant," another wrote. It comes just days after Nintendo launched its brand new Switch 2 console.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Xbox reveals two brand new consoles to take on the Nintendo Switch 2 and they're launching in time for Christmas
MICROSOFT has finally launched a handheld Xbox console after years of speculation. And it'll be available just in time for Christmas this year in the UK and the US. Advertisement 2 Two Xbox handhelds coming - but price is still unknown Credit: XBox 2 Access your favourite Game Pass titles Credit: XBox Rather than being entirely Microsoft-made, the new ROG Xbox Ally devices come as part of a collaboration with ASUS, which has already dabbled in handheld gaming. There are two models, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. The latter has a more powerful chip inside, alongside bigger memory, storage, battery and more ports available too. Both will allow players to access their Advertisement Read more about Microsoft But you can enjoy content from and other "leading PC storefronts" too. Users can play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room. "Whether you're at home or on the go, your favorite games should follow you," explained Xbox head of gaming devices Roanne Sones. "With Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) or Remote Play, you can access your full Xbox console library and keep playing—wherever you are." Advertisement Most read in Gaming Preview As part of the move, Roblox will be among the launch titles with a version optimised for handheld gaming. But pricing has not been announced just yet. The Sun tries new Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart before it's out The existing ASUS ROG Ally X handheld gaming console costs about £800 / $800. "Only way price is significantly cheaper is if Microsoft subsidize and takes part of the loss," one gamer speculated on Reddit. Advertisement "The only way this thing retails for under $700 is if Microsoft really, REALLY wants to prove the viability of their new Windows gaming variant," another wrote. It comes just days after Nintendo launched its NINTENDO SWITCH 2: FIRST THOUGHTS By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun I was among the first members of the press to get hands-on with the console before the general public, at a special event in Paris in April. The first thing you will notice is the display is vastly improved. It's not a glossy OLED but does support 1080p and the screen itself is bigger too, measuring in at 7.9 inches wide. The frame rate is 120 fps, meaning popular titles play super smooth compared to the last Switch. Some much-loved previous titles have been upgraded to take in the enhancements and are dubbed "Switch 2 Edition". I got a flavour of the new Mario Kart World game among the hands-on, though I didn't get to try out every mode. There are some fun new mechanics, such as the ability to grind, as well as exciting new items.
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Xbox ROG Ally vs. Legion Go and Steam Deck: how do they compare?
If you've yet to invest in a handheld PC, GameCentral takes a look at the new Xbox portable and what advantages it has over its rivals. After months of teasing, and rumblings of a dedicated Xbox handheld device, Microsoft finally unveiled two new devices during the Xbox Games Showcase this weekend. As was rumoured, these devices come not from Microsoft itself but Asus which is already responsible for its own Asus ROG Ally handheld PC. Which is why these devices are dubbed the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. With Microsoft still working on a separate portable device (which rumours say has been delayed internally), these Asus products will be the next best thing for those who want to enjoy Xbox games on the go. Despite what you might imagine, the portable PC market is incredibly niche in the grand scheme of things, with sales that pale compared to eventhe Xbox Series X/S. That's primarily because of the price but also the complexity involved in getting PC games to work on a portable. While it'll be a while before anyone can go hands on with the new devices (they're slated to launch sometime this Christmas), Microsoft has already shared details on the ROG Xbox Ally – including technical specs – meaning we can compare and contrast with the most popular PC handhelds already on the market. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. First things first, is the ROG Xbox Ally any better than the Asus ROG Ally that you can already buy? Not particularly, no, but that's unsurprising when it's essentially the same device but with Xbox branding. It technically has a different processor – the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor – but from what we can tell, it doesn't sound that much more powerful than the Asus ROG Ally's AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor. Both devices also have the same 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space for games. That said, the Xbox handheld does sport better battery capacity, since it comes with a 60Wh (watt hours) battery compared to the Asus ROG Ally's 40Wh battery. It's also notably bigger and heavier (670g compared to 608g), which might be due to it sporting contoured grips akin to the Xbox controller. We'd need to hold it ourselves to tell but, theoretically, this should make it more comfortable to use than the blockier looking Asus ROG Ally. So far, it seems the only reason to pick a ROG Xbox Ally over the current one is to more easily access your library of Xbox games, with the new device featuring a lot more setting and features to facilitate that. Xbox is promising first-of-their-kind features for the handheld, including 'an immersive Xbox full screen experience [and] an aggregated gaming library with access to installed games from leading PC storefronts.' As for the ROG Xbox Ally X, it's also similarbut a more powerful iteration that uses an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. This comes along with more storage space (1TB) and a stronger battery (80Wh), though it's also larger and heavier at 715g. This makes it almost identical to the existing Asus ROG Ally X, which boasts the same storage space and battery and is itself just a stronger version of the Asus ROG Ally. While Microsoft hasn't shared official prices, its two Xbox devices will cost more or less the same as the currently available Asus ones. The Asus ROG Ally costs £599, in the UK, while the Asus ROG Ally X costs £799, although both have options for bigger and more expensive storage. Moving onto the first non-Asus competitor, the differences between the Lenovo Legion Go and the Xbox handheld appear small as well. The Lenovo Legion Go also uses the AMD Ryzen Z1 for its processor, both devices run on Windows 11, and they both have 512GB of storage that can be upgraded. The Lenovo Legion Go does have less battery capacity at 49.2Wh, but it's lighter at 640g and while it lacks the contoured grips of the ROG Xbox Ally, its controllers can detach like the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons. In fact, one advantage the Lenovo Legion Go has is its variety of play options. It has a dedicated mode for first person shooter games (albeit one that requires a controller base that's sold separately) and can be docked so you can play it through a PC monitor or TV. Although considering existing Asus handhelds can be connected to the TV, we have to assume the Xbox ones will too. There is AR functionality on the Legion Go through the Legion Glasses device but that's too niche to be considered a drastic advantage over Xbox. It's also very easy to get Xbox Game Pass set up on the Legion Go – in fact, the app comes pre-installed – so it's not like the Xbox handheld is the only way of accessing Game Pass titles on a portable. However, the Legion Go is the more expensive of the two options, and goes for £699. There is a cheaper version called the Legion Go S, that's sold at £600 though, which honestly looks more comfortable to use thanks to its curved design, but it is less powerful and has less storage space. The Steam Deck is undoubtedly the most popular portable PC on the market (although it's still only sold around 4 million units worldwide), so will the ROG Xbox Ally offer any significant competition? Upon comparing the two, probably not. Not only is neither device more powerful than the other, since they use very similar processors, but they're roughly the same size and weight as well. The most noteworthy differences we can spot is that the Steam Deck has a weaker battery (40Wh) and less storage space (256GB). However, this makes the Steam Deck cheaper, at £349, and while there is an iteration of the Steam Deck with a better battery, that matches the ROG Xbox Ally's 512GB of storage, it's still significantly cheaper at £479. Even the Steam Deck with 1TB of storage space costs less at £569. One downside is that Xbox Game Pass is fiddly to set up on Steam Deck and with Microsoft promising that its handheld will allow for 'quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass, and other leading PC storefronts,' it sounds like you'll be able to easily access the Steam storefront and purchase and play games through Valve's launcher. All in all, it seems the only real advantage for owning the ROG Xbox Ally is convenience. There's a chance it will be more comfortable to hold during play sessions than its competitors, but it appears no more powerful than other portable PCs. More Trending The aggregated Xbox library feature should be useful but the Xbox Play Anywhere system is, by its nature, available on many other devices. The real deciding factor will be whatever price Microsoft settles on. Like we said, the Asus ROG Ally and Asus ROG Ally X are £599 and £799 respectively, making the Steam Deck a far more enticing option for anyone still on the fence about joining the portable PC community. It's not impossible that Microsoft will aim for a slightly lower price point and absorb some of the cost, but we doubt it since the ROG Xbox Ally isn't technically Microsoft's own hardware and that may undermine the other Asus handhelds being sold. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Persona 4 remake, Keeper, High On Life 2 and the best of Xbox Games Showcase MORE: Silksong release date teased for Christmas by Xbox but it could be sooner MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 sales: an overnight success as UK stock shortages loom
Engadget
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming devices are real and will be released during the 2025 holiday season
To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. We've been hearing rumors for what feels like an eternity about Microsoft working with ASUS' ROG division on a gaming handheld device, and we got confirmation during the Xbox Games Showcase at Summer Game Fest. There are two variants of the handheld: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Microsoft hasn't reveal pricing for the devices as yet. It stands to reason that they'll be in the same ballpark as the currently ROG Ally systems, which cost up to $800 for the ROG Ally X. Details on how much the systems cost, pre-orders, accessories and more are coming soon, the company said. The exact release date is not yet known but the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are coming this holiday season. The handhelds will initially 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, shockingly enough, the US. Xbox head Sarah Bond says that every game included in the showcase will be playable on the Xbox Ally, but didn't make clear whether all of those would run natively on the devices. The reveal trailer also included a notable focus on Hollow Knight: Silksong , for what it's worth (and it was reaffirmed that the game is still set to come out this year). Critically, Microsoft and ROG aren't locking the devices to only playing Xbox games (though you can play those natively, via the cloud or by accessing an Xbox console remotely). You'll be able to play games from and "other leading PC storefronts" too — those include Steam, GOG and Ubisoft Connect. Obviously, there's Game Pass integration here, as well as support for the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative, which enables you to play games with synced progress across a swathe of devices after buying them once. Microsoft says it has teamed up with Roblox to make that game natively playable on a gaming handheld for the first time. It's working with third-party developers on a Steam Deck-style program to make it clear which games have been optimized for handhelds, including the Xbox Ally systems. Expect more details on that down the line. In addition, it seems that those who snap up an Xbox Ally or Ally X and haven't yet tried out Game Pass will get a free trial. Microsoft has designed a full-screen Xbox user interface for the handhelds. There's a dedicated physical Xbox button that can bring up a Game Bar overlay, which seemingly makes it easy to switch between apps and games, tweak settings, start chatting with friends and more. Accessibility features from Xbox consoles and PCs will be available too, along with the Gaming Copilot. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Naturally, the systems run on Windows 11. Microsoft says it has optimized the operating system for the devices, with easy access to device and input controls via ASUS' Armoury Crate. The company added that "the lock screen and task switcher have also been adjusted for easy navigation with a controller." You'll be able to mod games on either system as well. The Xbox Ally is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor, and has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The Xbox Ally X is the more powerful model. It has a AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. They each have a microSD card reader, so you won't need to worry about shelling out for proprietary storage to have extra space for your games. The two models seem to have the same screen, a seven-inch 1080p, 16:9 display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness. The anti-reflection displays will feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and support FreeSync Premium. Both systems boast "HD haptics." The Xbox Ally has hall effect analog triggers, while the Xbox Ally X has "impulse triggers for enhanced control." It sounds a little like Microsoft and ASUS are taking a page out of the PlayStation DualSense playbook there. Anyway, both of the Xbox Ally systems have two assignable back buttons and 6-axis IMU — a fancy way of saying that they'll probably have gyro controls. Blessedly, both of the handhelds have a 3.5mm combo audio jack, along with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are exactly the same size at 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm . They each weigh more than the Nintendo Switch 2 (534g or 1.18lbs with Joy-Con 2 attached) and PlayStation Portal (520g or 1.15 lbs). The Xbox Ally is marginally heavier than the Steam Deck (669g or 1.47lbs) at 670g. The Xbox Ally X is even beefier at 715g (1.58lbs). For the record, the ROG Ally is 608g (1.34 lbs) and the Ally X is 678 grams (1.5 lbs). So, they're both chonksters, but at least those grips look more ergonomic than those on the Nintendo Switch 2 (which is already cramping my hands) or even the Steam Deck. Microsoft says the design principles of Xbox Wireless Controller was adopted for the Xbox Ally handgrips. Both systems will be capable of outputting video to a TV or monitor, as they have two USB-C ports with support for DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery 3.0. One of the Xbox Ally X's USB-C ports is compatible with ThunderBolt 4. It also has a larger battery, with a capacity of 80Wh compared with the Xbox Ally's 60Wh battery. Both models come with a charging stand. Microsoft has spent the last few years expanding the Xbox ecosystem beyond consoles and PC through efforts like Xbox Cloud Gaming. Its first official move into gaming handhelds is a big step as it tries to play catch up to PlayStation and Nintendo.
