Microsoft and Asus announce new ROG Xbox Ally handhelds with full-screen Xbox experience

After many rumours, Microsoft and ASUS have unveiled the fruits of their labours overnight, with not one, but two ROG Ally Xbox handhelds. 

The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X have been designed by Microsoft and ASUS based on their popular handheld gaming systems. The new handhelds include both hardware and software enhancements to bring that familiar Xbox controller experience alongside a new full-screen experience that gives you access to your Microsoft Xbox titles, as well as your games from other storefronts through the Windows platform.

Xbox Experience

The new handhelds will include a new immersive Xbox full screen experience on both systems that’s designed to be more user-friendly and optimise the system for gaming. This includes minimising background activity and ‘non-essential’ tasks  which Microsoft says ‘means more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players’.

The Xbox experience extends to the hardware with both models including a dedicated Xbox button, giving players fast access to chat, apps, and settings through an enhanced Game Bar overlay, which Microsoft says will allow you to ‘quickly switch between running apps and games’. ASUS’ Armoury Crate software will also give players access to a streamlined experience to change device and input controls.

This will also include better access to your games, with of course full access to your Xbox Library, including Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play, as well as your Game Pass games if you have an account – as well as ‘all your installed games from other PC game stores which they list Battle.net but should include Epic and Steam’, as well as access to Discord and Twitch.

Microsoft has also worked with ASUS on the feel of the handheld, which has the familiar feel of an Xbox controller including the ABXY buttons and ergonomic gamepad and the contoured grips you know and love. It will also accommodate a larger range of hand sizes.

Hardware

Both models include a 7” FHD resolution display in 16:9 aspect ratio with 120Hz refresh rate support. 

Under the hood, the two models include the ROG Xbox Ally which will come in white and is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor  with 16GB RAM and a 512GB M.2 2280 SSD and 60Wh battery .

The ROG Xbox Ally X is designed for a premium experience, and will launch in Black. The handheld is powered by the more powerful AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor and comes with 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory, and a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD, with a larger 80Wh battery.

Availability

Microsoft has announced that the new handhelds will be available in Australia, and New Zealand for our friends across the pond, though no pricing has been announced.

Microsoft says they’ll share more on pricing, as well as compatible accessories in the coming months, as well as pre-order details in the lead up to launch ‘‘this holiday’.

You can check the new Xbox Ally handhelds over on the Xbox site, and sign-up for pre-order notifications as soon as that’s announced.