Microsoft has revealed the first Xbox handheld
The handheld will be released later this year
Microsoft has announced the ROG Xbox Ally, an Xbox handheld developed by Asus.
Announce during the Xbox Games Showcase, the handheld can play games natively, and stream via the cloud.
The Xbox Ally X and a lower-spec Xbox Ally are set to release this holiday season, Microsoft said, but no pricing details have been shared.
The devices are able to run Windows games purchased via PC through Xbox, or from Battle.net, GoG, Ubisoft Connect, and Steam. The Xbox Ally is designed to display games from all of those marketplaces, Microsoft told Game File.
The specs for the two devices are:
- ROG Xbox Ally – AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor, 1080p 7” touchscreen, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD upgradeable storage, 60Wh battery, 670g weight
- ROG Xbox Ally X -AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor, 1080p 7” touchscreen, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD upgradeable storage, 80Wh battery, 715g weight
Asus’ consumer vice president Shawn Yen told Game File that the Xbox Ally will offer a 720p gaming experience, while the Ally X will play games at 900p-1080p.
“Because these handhelds run Windows, you have access to games you can’t get elsewhere, so you can enjoy the full freedom and versatility of PC gaming—download games from your favorite storefront, run apps like Discord, watch your favorite streamers on Twitch, and play with your favorite mods—all straight from the Xbox experience,” said Microsoft’s
“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. With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay.
“That means more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players—all made possible by the versatility and freedom of Windows.”
Players who purchase an Xbox Ally and are new to Game Pass will gain access to a free trial, Microsoft said, and it’s also planning to launch a partner program that help developer clearly showcase if their games have been optimized for handhelds.
Microsoft is also partnering with Roblox for the launch of Xbox Ally. For the first time, Roblox will be playable natively and optimized for gaming handhelds, it said.
At launch, the Xbox Ally will 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 the United States, with availability to follow “for other markets where ROG Ally series products are sold today”.
The announcement follows comments from Microsoft’s VP of Next Generation, Jason Ronald, who said earlier this year that any future handheld device would combine “the best of Xbox and Windows.”
“I would say it’s bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it’s really locked to the console,” Ronald told The Verge. “What we’re doing is we’re really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem.”
