Until recently, Xbox was the sole significant platform not participating in the gaming handheld sector. Valve’s Steam Deck allows gamers to access their Steam library while on the go. Nintendo offers the highly celebrated Switch and Switch 2. Sony has returned to the handheld market, reminiscent of the PSP and Vita days, with the underwhelming PlayStation Portal.
Now, Microsoft has made its debut with the ROG Xbox Ally X, a partnership between ASUS ROG and Microsoft’s Xbox department. This new Xbox handheld permits players to enjoy Xbox and PC games away from home and is equipped with a new processor, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, which delivers more performance than earlier ROG iterations. It comes with a price tag of $1,000.
Is it a worthy investment? Here are my preliminary impressions after unboxing the gaming handheld and spending roughly half a day gaming.
How does the ROG Xbox Ally X feel?
While operating on Windows 11, most of your time will be spent in Xbox gaming mode. Upon unboxing, the ROG Xbox Ally X is somewhat hefty, resembling the Steam Deck more than the lighter Switch 2 or PS Portal. Its dimensions are similar to those of the Steam Deck and PS Portal, whereas the Switch 2 boasts a slightly more compact design, particularly when its Joy-Cons are removed.
I appreciate the ergonomics of the ROG Xbox Ally X. The built-in grips replicate the sensation and comfort of a traditional Xbox controller. Previous ROG Ally versions lacked these grips, making this a significant enhancement.
The buttons are well-spaced and provide a satisfying, clicky response. The directional pad is excellent, making this gaming handheld a solid option for platformers. The thumbsticks are set slightly askew, akin to an Xbox controller. Overall, the ROG Ally X will feel very familiar to Xbox users. The device even incorporates a fingerprint reader, enhancing security and offering a simple way to resume gaming.
Playing the ROG Xbox Ally X: Initial thoughts
Upon starting the Ally X, it quickly establishes itself as a Windows PC handheld. The recognizable blue Windows interface guides you to choose a language, install updates, and then directs you to the Xbox app, which closely mirrors the Xbox app on a PC. While I would prefer a more distinctive gaming UI for the Ally X, it is easy to navigate. However, the Xbox UI experiences some lag and is susceptible to freezing. Occasionally, attempts to access the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass leave the handheld unresponsive.
The right-side menu displays your three main sources of games: Game Pass, your current library, and Cloud Gaming. Game Pass is Xbox’s flagship gaming subscription service, which recently underwent a price increase. Being an Ultimate tier subscriber grants me access to Microsoft’s first-party titles. Through Game Pass, I downloaded several games, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I also fetched games I already own, like Lies of P and Hotel Barcelona, both of which are Play Anywhere titles.
It’s crucial to note that only games available through Game Pass and Play Anywhere titles can be directly downloaded. The latter initiative allows you to purchase a digital game once from Microsoft and play it on both an Xbox console and a Windows PC. Typically, you’d need to pay twice to access a game on different platforms, but the Play Anywhere program is a convenient and customer-friendly solution. Unlike the Steam Deck, you can’t carry your entire library with you.
Regarding gaming performance, it varies significantly across titles. Expedition 33 and Avowed encountered framerate and stuttering issues. The battles in Expedition 33 require precise timing to evade enemy assaults, so missed button presses due to performance concerns adversely affected my experience. Avowed is a real-time action game where a more stable framerate would allow for quicker reactions.
Conversely, titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ran seamlessly. Doom is the fastest-paced game I’ve tested on the handheld so far, and wielding the power to vanquish demons in my hands was deeply satisfying. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle maintained a steady framerate and was incredibly smooth, offering the most immersive experience I’ve encountered to date.
I also evaluated the Cloud Gaming functionality and played approximately 30 minutes of Borderlands 4. With a reliable WiFi connection, Borderlands 4 functioned well with minimal issues. However, Borderlands 4 is neither available on Game Pass nor a Play Anywhere title. For Game Pass subscribers, utilizing Cloud Gaming is an excellent way to overcome the library constraints of the ROG Xbox Ally X by enabling you to stream games directly from your Xbox account.
It appears that game optimization will vary from title to title. Based on my limited first-day experience, certain games seem to perform better than others. I’m still exploring it further,