Microsoft has unveiled its long-awaited handheld console, the ROG Xbox Ally, developed in partnership with Asus. This announcement follows years of speculation and various internal development attempts.
The ROG Xbox Ally provides on-the-go access to the extensive Game Pass library, offering subscribers hundreds of games immediately.
Launching in late 2025, the device’s pricing remains undisclosed. Asus’s experience in handheld gaming, dating back to 2023, contributes to the collaboration.
The announcement arrives just three days after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, a hybrid console mirroring the success of its predecessor and potentially influencing designs like Valve’s Steam Deck.
While potentially entering a competitive market, the ROG Xbox Ally leverages native Game Pass support, a key advantage for its 34 million subscribers.
Offered in two versions, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, both feature a 7-inch 1080p screen. The Ally X boasts superior specifications, including 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, a larger battery, and a more powerful processor, compared to the Ally’s 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
“Your favorite games should follow you,” stated Xbox head of gaming devices Roanne Sones, highlighting the device’s native, cloud, and remote play capabilities with Xbox consoles.
Microsoft emphasizes the device’s Windows operating system, granting access to games beyond Game Pass, including Steam and EA Play titles, offering versatility unavailable on competing devices.
However, this functionality contributes to a heavier weight; the Ally and Ally X weigh 670g and 715g respectively, exceeding the Nintendo Switch 2’s 534g.
Pricing remains unannounced, though the Ally X is expected to command a higher price point. Considering the Switch 2’s £395 price and the Steam Deck’s £349-£569 range, the ROG Xbox Ally’s cost will be a crucial factor.
Microsoft’s showcase also highlighted Game Pass’s continued strength, announcing 17 day-one titles, including highly anticipated releases like *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4*, *Ninja Gaiden 4*, *Outer Worlds 2*, and *Call of Duty: Black Ops 7*. Notably, the event omitted mention of the Switch 2 for *Call of Duty: Black Ops 7*, despite a previous 10-year deal between Nintendo and Activision.
Further exciting news includes the announcement of a *Persona 4* remake, *Persona 4: Revival*, seventeen years after the original’s release, though a release date is yet to be confirmed.
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