Yesterday, whispers spread throughout the tech community regarding a gamer who allegedly got their hands on the forthcoming Xbox ROG Ally X gaming handheld several weeks ahead of its planned launch. The gamer uploaded a preliminary review on Reddit, which has since been removed.
In the tech realm, instances of customers acquiring new gadgets before their designated release dates are not rare. Earlier this year, some Samsung Galaxy S25 pre-orders arrived prematurely due to a shipping mistake. Nonetheless, obtaining the Xbox ROG Ally X over two weeks before its official debut is quite atypical.
The narrative gained momentum from a removed Reddit post titled “WTFF ALMOST 3 WEEK BEFORE!” by user Technical_Fun77, who asserted that Amazon France incorrectly delivered the unit early. A screenshot archived by Windows Central reveals that the user commended the device’s lightweight construction and the Xbox Full Screen Experience.
The post garnered a mix of congratulations and skepticism, as the claims could not be independently confirmed. The premature release was tied to an Amazon France listing, which indicated a delivery date as early as Oct. 1, 15 days prior to the official launch on Oct. 16. The listing, now removed, was previously archived by the Wayback Machine, showing an early delivery schedule from a dubious third-party seller.
The initial Reddit post did not feature images, raising questions about the credibility of the allegations. However, other Reddit users have since recounted their own early delivery experiences, complete with photographs.
Currently, there are additional user posts in the ROG Ally X subreddit from gamers asserting that Amazon France mistakenly sent them units as well, along with images of the devices both in and out of their packaging. Mashable has reached out to these users and Amazon for further details and will provide updates if new information arises.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the simplicity of producing fake images with generative AI tools, yet there’s a chance of a mix-up at Amazon France. The new console is available for pre-order and is scheduled for release on Oct. 16.