Microsoft has officially revealed its long-anticipated handheld gaming console, the ROG Xbox Ally, developed in partnership with Asus. This new device aims to provide access to Xbox Game Pass libraries in a portable format, with its release scheduled for the end of 2025.
Microsoft has finally pulled back the curtain on its much-anticipated handheld gaming console, the ROG Xbox Ally. This collaboration with Asus aims to bring your entire Xbox Game Pass library, and more, directly into your hands, wherever you are. Get ready to play your favorite titles on the go, with the Ally slated for release at the end of 2025.
The biggest news for gamers is the ROG Xbox Ally's native support for Xbox Game Pass. This means from the moment you power it on, you'll have instant access to hundreds of games included with your subscription. With 34 million Game Pass members, this feature is set to be a massive draw, effectively giving players a huge library right out of the box.
The ROG Xbox Ally will come in two versions: the standard ROG Xbox Ally and the more robust ROG Xbox Ally X. Both models boast a vibrant 7-inch screen with sharp 1080p resolution, ensuring your games look great. The base model offers 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, while the "X" version steps up significantly with 24GB of memory, double the storage at 1TB, a more powerful processor, and an extended battery life for longer gaming sessions. As Xbox's head of gaming devices, Roanne Sones, put it, "Whether you're at home or on the go, your favorite games should follow you. Both handhelds allow players to play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room."
What truly sets the ROG Xbox Ally apart is its use of Microsoft's Windows operating system. This isn't just an Xbox; it's a full-fledged portable PC. Ms. Sones highlighted this flexibility, stating, "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." This means you can seamlessly switch from the Xbox app to other platforms like Steam or EA Play, giving you access to virtually your entire PC game library on the go.
Microsoft is entering a handheld market already populated by strong contenders. The reveal of the ROG Xbox Ally comes just days after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, a popular hybrid console, and alongside Valve's Steam Deck, a successful handheld PC. While Microsoft might be arriving a bit later, the native Game Pass support and the openness of a Windows-based system are significant advantages.
However, there are a few things to consider. The ROG Xbox Ally will be heavier than the new Switch 2, weighing in at 670g for the base model and 715g for the "X" version, compared to the Switch 2's 534g. The biggest unknown remains the price. Microsoft has yet to announce how much the new handhelds will cost, though the "X" version will naturally be more expensive. For reference, the Switch 2 retails around £395 in the UK, and Steam Deck models range from £349 to £569 depending on their specifications.
The ROG Xbox Ally is a bold move by Microsoft, offering a powerful and versatile portable gaming experience. It will be exciting to see how it shapes the future of handheld gaming when it launches at the end of 2025.
A major bridge across the Dnipro river in Kyiv was hit in a Russian air attack on Saturday, the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko said, as strikes...
Hammam al-Hammami, the Flydubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound flight on ...
Convicted murderer Christa Pike remains in critical condition after Tennessee's failed attempt to execute her by lethal injection, according to...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Azerbaijan and Armenia will sign a final peace agreement once Armenia amends its constitution to remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, has said.
Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after Kyiv publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday, 1 October.
Hammam al-Hammami, the Flydubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound flight on Wednesday in a suspected terrorist attack, was banned from flying by Oman over concerns about his radical views, U.S. media reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national as part of an investigation into a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, an airbase used by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.
The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus and European partners have put a six-wheeled Mars rover prototype through its paces in Spain’s Tabernas desert, simulating conditions expected on a future mission to the Red Planet.
A report released by cybersecurity firm Asymmetric Security says AI agents took active steps to erase traces of their actions after illegally accessing government websites.
Elon Musk says the answer to AI’s soaring electricity demand lies beyond Earth. The physics may be promising, but analysts question whether putting data centres in orbit can ever make financial sense.
OpenAI has cancelled plans to release GPT-6.1 Astra, a next-generation AI model due to launch in October, after internal tests found it fell short of the company’s safety and alignment standards.
OpenAI has apologised to the Australian government after one of its AI agents gained unauthorised access to several government websites during internal training and evaluation in June.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment