Games

Xbox becomes portable console with ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X

The two new devices made with Asus will be released for the Christmas holidays. Will they bother the Nintendo Switch 2?

9 June 2025

3' min read

After the rumours of the past weeks, we discovered the plan to make Xbox a portable console. Microsoft has contracted Asus to bring to market two new devices from the ROG Ally line designed for the Xbox ecosystem. These are the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X, both due out by Christmas 2025. Microsoft's idea seems to be to unleash the commercial and technological power of Xbox on the mobile gaming market as well.

After becoming the largest video game publisher with the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, Microsoft is the only 'player' really capable of bringing its video games 'to any' screen. Hence the idea of having hardware, if not proprietary, made with a player like Asus, which has already been in the business of Windows-based laptops for some years.

In the Redmond giant's intentions, there is also an attempt to annoy Nintendo Switch 2, which is set to be the most desired technological 'toy' of the coming Christmas.

How are they made?

The devices maintain the structure of the Ally series, already known for its Windows-based hardware, but with some modifications designed for Xbox users, starting with a dedicated software interface. Both models are built on AMD Ryzen Z-Series architecture, with support for up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD storage.

The display remains a 7-inch IPS touchscreen, with Full HD resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support. The dimensions remain the same: 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7 mm, while the weight varies slightly: 670 grams for the standard version, 715 grams for the X model, which incorporates a larger 80 Wh battery (compared to 60 Wh for the basic model).

The cooling system has been upgraded with thinner fans, a third heat sink grid and new heatpipes, with the aim of improving airflow and optimising performance under load.

For now, the only software-side novelty seems to be the 'Xbox Full-Screen Experience', an interface designed for controller use, which brings together access to Xbox Game Pass PC, Steam, Epic Games Store, Battle.net and other launchers in a single dashboard. Features to monitor battery, network status and download progress are integrated.

From this point of view, the intention to market itself as an entity capable of federating several video game offers seems clear.

In addition to native Windows games, the devices will also support Xbox Cloud Gaming, streaming from Xbox consoles via Remote Play, and titles compatible with Xbox Play Anywhere. Said otherwise, Xbox does not seem to intend to compete by integrating hardware and software as was once done in the 'console war' era, selling the gaming machine as the sole gateway to exclusive titles and content.

An example of this strategy that has driven 30 years of the console market is, to take one example, Nintendo, which has exclusives (Super Mario, Zelda, etc.) and purpose-built third-party games that you can only play on the Switch.

To date, both Nintendo and PlayStation do not offer competitors the possibility of selling games through dedicated stores. Instead, Microsoft's model - for now only on this handheld console - appears to be to become a platform for the distribution of video games open to others, like Epic Games' shop.

To get a clearer picture, we will need to know the prices of the games, the console and what conditions are offered to alternative stores.

The new Xbox-branded handhelds will be available from Christmas 2025.

Luca TremoladaGiornalista
- @lucatremolada
- LinkedIn
Luogo: Milano via Monte Rosa 91
Lingue parlate: Inglese, Francese
Argomenti: Tecnologia, scienza, finanza, startup, dati
Premi: Premio Gabriele Lanfredini sull’informazione; Premio giornalistico State Street, categoria "Innovation"; DStars 2019, categoria journalism
Scheda autore
Trust project