Cover image via Microsoft
After years of whispers and prototypes that never saw daylight, Microsoft is officially entering the handheld arena
Image via Xbox / YouTube
The ROG Xbox Ally, built in partnership with ASUS, will arrive at the end of 2025.
While it's late to a party that Nintendo and Valve have already made their own, this device might just be what Xbox fans have been waiting for.
Thanks to Game Pass library on the go, the console users will have instant access to hundreds of titles, without needing to repurchase anything.
There are two versions of Microsoft's console: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X
Image via Xbox / YouTube
Both versions feature a 7-inch 1080p display.
The base model includes 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, while the higher-end "X" version doubles the memory and storage, and gets a larger battery and more powerful chip.
At 670g and 715g, they're heavier than the Nintendo Switch 2, which launched just three days prior and weighs 534g.
Both handheld consoles run full Windows. That means you can launch Steam, EA Play, and other platforms alongside Xbox titles.
Image via Xbox / YouTube
"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," Xbox head of gaming devices Roanne Sones, according to the BBC.
Microsoft hasn't revealed the price for the consoles yet. But with the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck priced between RM2,799 and RM3,299, the Xbox Ally won't be cheap.
Still, with day-one access to big titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Microsoft may finally have its handheld moment.
