October 16, 2025 is the day the ROG Xbox Ally and its bigger brother, the ROG Xbox Ally X, arrive. These handhelds, born from the union of Microsoft and ASUS, will change the way we game on the go. Announced at Gamescom 2025, they’ll be available in over 30 countries including the US, UK, Japan, Australia with more to follow. Brazil and India will get the Ally X this fall, the base model will arrive in China this fall and the Ally X will get to China early next year.
Both run Windows 11, but boot straight into a custom Xbox interface for handheld gaming. This prioritizes gameplay by killing background processes, freeing up memory and boosting frame rates. A dedicated Xbox button brings up a Game Bar overlay where you can browse your library, launch games or chat with friends without having to deal with Windows’ clutter. The handhelds support Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net and other PC stores so you can play natively, stream via the cloud or use Remote Play to connect to your Xbox at home.
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Hardware wise, the ROG Xbox Ally has an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, balancing performance and battery life for on the go gaming. The Ally X steps it up with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of high speed RAM, a 1TB SSD and an 80Wh battery for longer sessions. Both have a 7-inch 1080p display with 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for durability and clarity. The Ally X has impulse triggers for richer haptic feedback, a feature borrowed from Xbox’s console controllers.
Microsoft’s new Handheld Compatibility Program will make gaming seamless. Thousands of games have been tested and optimized and will get badges like “Handheld Optimized” for games that don’t need any tweaks, or “Mostly Compatible” for games that need minor adjustments. A Windows Performance Fit indicator will show how well a game will run so you know what to expect before you dive in. Developers are already on board and will be adding more games to the compatible library over time.
The Ally X is future proofing with AI powered features coming soon. Automatic Super Resolution will use the device’s neural processing unit to upscale lower resolution games for better visuals and performance starting early next year. Highlight reels will automatically capture your best moments – like beating a tough boss – and turn them into shareable clips. These are just a couple of the updates Microsoft will be rolling out to keep the handhelds fresh.
Pricing is still a secret for now with Microsoft citing “macro-economic conditions” as the reason for not sharing details until September or October. Leaks suggest the base Ally will be around $599 in the US and the Ally X around $899 but those are unconfirmed. Pre-orders should start soon and will likely be announced at Gamescom.
