Asus Teams Up with Microsoft to Launch First Xbox Gaming Handhelds: ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X

Okay, let’s dive into this… So, Microsoft finally decided to dip their toes into the handheld world, huh? Well, kind of. Imagine this: they teamed up with Asus and dropped the so-called ROG Xbox Ally and its sibling, the Ally X, at some Xbox Games Showcase or whatever. These gadgets sport those chunky grips, kind of like the Xbox controllers. Makes you wonder, right? Are they trying too hard or just nailing it?

Asus says they listened to folks yapping about the original ROG models. So, they tossed some Xbox DNA into the mix — I’ve got to admit, that fusion is slick. They’ve got these funky new textured patterns and impulse triggers — whatever those do — that supposedly make the whole experience more ‘immersive’ or something. But let’s be real: they’re chunkier than the older ROGs. Maybe thicker equals better? Or maybe just more to lug around.

Oh, and those joysticks? Pretty much the same old song and dance. They threw in a dedicated Xbox button too. It’s plopped right there near the left joystick, prompting some Game Bar magic. So edgy, right?

OK — shifting gears. Did you catch AMD’s thunderous announcement of the Ryzen Z2 beef? The ROG Xbox Ally X rocks the latest Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chipset. Sounds fancy, but who knows what that truly means. Probably faster. Or more powerful. Maybe both — or neither.

The I/O ports? Same as last year’s, mostly. They did swap one USB Type-C for USB 4 on the Ally X. Great, another port to match the cable you don’t have. Battery-life chat: 80Wh promises more power, which translates to less panic about charging. Or so they say.

Oh, snap! — I almost forgot the ‘budget-friendly’ ROG Xbox Ally. It runs on the Ryzen 2 A processor. It’s like, I don’t know, less intense. Basics include a 4-core CPU and older architecture. The Ally seems aimed at the “I don’t need all those fancy extras” crowd. Less RAM, slower memory, smaller battery — it’s all very kinda ‘eh.’

Display-wise — same 7-inch screen as the other Ally. Nothing new there, except the specs sound dream-worthy: 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh — sounds good on paper!

Software? Both handhelds fire up an Xbox interface on top of the reliable chaos of Windows 11. You can still access Steam or Epic Games if that’s your jam. Asus also spruced up its Armoury Crate Special Edition for these bad boys, offering snazzy settings and widgets.

They haven’t spilled the beans on pricing. But hey, come holiday time, you’ll find these in 28 countries. So, if you’re lounging in South Korea or sipping coffee in Sweden, these handhelds could crash your Christmas — if that’s your thing.

Anyway, however this pans out, it’s clear Microsoft and Asus are trying something different. Bold move? Overkill? Who knows… Only time — and gamers — will tell.