After months of rumours and leaks, Microsoft has finally revealed its hand. ROG Xbox Ally, a portable gaming computer created in collaboration with ASUS, will debut this holiday season. It seems that 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 less demanding players, and black Xbox Ally X — a more powerful version, 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 gameplay from your own Xbox console, and streaming via the Xbox Cloud service. In addition, 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 such as Discord.

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

Xbox becoming increasingly multiplatform

This year's presentation was also a signal of a change in direction for Microsoft — the company is boldly moving towards cross-platform publishing. Games that will also be available on PS5 or Steam were clearly 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 the Summer Games Fest — and let’s remember, that for the past few years "where is Silksong?" has been an industry meme.

What else was shown at the Xbox Showcase 2025?

Microsoft has managed to create a really 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 releases of several other hits. A detailed trailer for The Outer Worlds 2 was presented (release on 27th October), and a preview for Grounded 2 was announced (29th July). Tony Hawk made a surprise appearance, announcing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Remake, featuring guest appearances from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Slayer from Doom.

There were also new additions from the biggest series. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 returns to the sci-fi theme, and the steampunk Clockwork Revolution from inXile looks to be one of the more interesting new RPGs. Fans of Indiana Jones will receive a new expansion for the hit Indiana Jones and the Great Circle — The Order of Giants (release on 4th 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 come to Xbox — which is quite a significant event in itself.

Hit or Miss?

Xbox Ally has the potential to redefine what portable gaming means today within the Microsoft ecosystem. Strong support for Game Pass, complete openness to PC stores and crossplay, and finally — new hardware that can run Silksong. It looks really good on paper. Now we just wait for the prices and initial tests.