After months of rumours and leaks, Microsoft has finally revealed its hand. ROG Xbox Ally, a portable gaming PC created in collaboration with ASUS, will debut this holiday season. And it looks like the Steam Deck and Switch are gaining a new, very formidable competitor.

Two models, one ecosystem

The new handheld is based on the already popular ASUS ROG Ally model, but Microsoft has prepared a special version fully integrated with the Xbox ecosystem. The Xbox Ally will be available in two variants: white — aimed more at the casual gamers, and black Xbox Ally X — the more powerful one, driven by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip. Official prices have not yet been revealed, but it is known that the device targets both Game Pass fans and PC gamers.

What can Xbox Ally do?

The device runs on modified Windows 11 Home, offering full support for local game installations, remote play from your own Xbox console, and streaming via the Xbox Cloud service. Additionally, we get a dedicated Xbox Guide button, support for Battle.net, Steam, Epic Games Store, and other platforms, as well as full integration with applications like Discord.

One of the key features is the Xbox Full Screen Experience — a central screen that aggregates all games from various sources in one place. This means you no longer have to jump between launchers or applications. There's also Copilot for Gaming — a new AI assistant designed to help with game management and configuration. In the Ally X version, the AI capabilities will be further enhanced with a new Ryzen chip.

Xbox Becoming More Multiplatform

This year's presentation was also a signal of a change in direction for Microsoft — the company is increasingly boldly moving towards cross-platform releases. Games that will also be available on PS5 or Steam were distinctly marked this time — which had not been the norm before.

Without a doubt, the biggest surprise of the Xbox Showcase was the announcement that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be a launch title for Xbox Ally. This is the first official mention of the game during Summer Games Fest — and let's recall that over the past few years, "where is Silksong?" has become an industry meme.

What else was shown at the Xbox Showcase 2025?

Microsoft has really put together a strong lineup for the upcoming months. For the 25th anniversary of the Xbox brand in 2026, we will see a new installment of Fable, another Forza, and Gears of War: E-Day — a prequel to the famous series.

Players can also look forward to the release of several other hits. The showcase featured an extensive trailer for The Outer Worlds 2 (release on 27 October), and a preview of Grounded 2 was announced (29 July). Tony Hawk surprised everyone by announcing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Remake, featuring guest appearances by Ninja Turtles and Slayer from Doom.

There were also new announcements from the biggest series. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 returns to a sci-fi theme, while the steampunk Clockwork Revolution from inXile looks like one of the more interesting new RPGs. Indiana Jones fans will receive a new expansion for the hit Indiana Jones and the Great Circle — The Order of Giants (release on 4 September). The cherry on top will be Gears of War Reloaded — a remaster of the first part with 4K graphics and crossplay.

Additionally, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy XVI will officially be coming to Xbox — which is a significant event in itself.

Hit or Miss?

Xbox Ally has the potential to redefine what portable gaming is today in the Microsoft ecosystem. Strong support for Game Pass, full openness to PC stores and crossplay, and finally — new hardware that can run Silksong. On paper, this looks really good. Now we just wait for the prices and the first tests.