Katarzyna Petru
ASUS has just released the largest update in the history of the ROG Xbox Ally — and it is precisely what the entire community has been waiting for. The new patch not only improves performance but also significantly extends battery life and adds a set of features that should have been available from day one.
This is a huge step forward for a device that is still a fresh but already extremely popular attempt to create an "Xbox on Windows". Let's remember: the ROG Ally X (the variant with a new chassis, a larger battery, and improved cooling) is a portable platform by Microsoft, co-created with ASUS and designed to run the full PC library — including Xbox Game Pass. Sales? Reportedly significantly higher than both companies had anticipated. Price? 3799 PLN for the more powerful variant is still not deterring.
What exactly does the new update introduce?
The list of changes is really long, but the most important elements are:
New P-Core and E-Core settings for variant X - Better management of energy-efficient and performance cores means more predictable operation and higher efficiency.
Quick access to fullscreen mode - finally without clicking around in Windows. You can activate fullscreen mode instantly from the Ally interface.
Change of FPS limiter from 45 to 40 FPS - Sounds like a downgrade? Not this time. 40 FPS synchronises noticeably better with a 120 Hz screen, providing a smoother and more stable image. The community has been requesting this for a long time.
Clearly greater energy savings in Modern Standby - Handhelds live on battery — and here we can see real progress. Modern Standby finally behaves as it should.
Higher gaming performance thanks to AMD GPU driver V25.10.27 - The new driver provides a few additional percentage points of FPS and better stability in demanding titles. Some games are seeing double-digit increases.
Improved firmware stability - Fewer crashes, fewer bugs, fewer random restarts — particularly in docking scenarios and profile switching.
Overall system improvements - The interface operates faster, power profiles switch more confidently, and Windows… well, at least it's a bit less temperamental.
Ally is now clearly performing better
This is not one of those updates that "improves something," but in practice, you don't feel any difference. Here, the difference is immediate. Games run more stably, FPS drops are less frequent, and the battery lasts longer. For a handheld of this power — absolutely crucial. The ROG Xbox Ally is still not as seamless as a classic console, but with this patch, the device becomes much more mature hardware. And for those looking for portable gaming on Windows — an even stronger candidate to choose from, although in our opinion, it is still a long way from being number one.
