Katarzyna Petru
ASUS has just released the largest update in the history of the ROG Xbox Ally — and it's exactly 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 version with a new housing, larger battery, and improved cooling) is a portable platform from Microsoft, co-created with ASUS, and prepared 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 version still doesn't deter buyers.
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 the X variant - Better management of energy-efficient and performance cores means more predictable operation and higher efficiency.
Quick access to fullscreen mode - finally without clicking around Windows. You can activate fullscreen mode instantly from the Ally interface.
Change of the FPS limiter from 45 to 40 FPS - Sounds like a downgrade? Not this time. 40 FPS synchronizes noticeably better with a 120 Hz screen, providing a smoother and more stable image. The community has been asking for this for a long time.
Clearly greater energy savings in Modern Standby - Handhelds run on battery — and there is real progress here. Modern Standby finally behaves as it should.
Higher performance in games thanks to the 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 — especially in docking and profile switching scenarios.
General system improvements - The interface runs faster, power profiles switch more confidently, and Windows… well, at least it's a bit less temperamental.
Ally is now clearlyBetter
This is not one of those updates that “improves something,” but in practice, you feel nothing. Here, the difference is immediate. Games run more stably, FPS drops are rarer, 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. And for those looking for portable gaming on Windows — an even stronger candidate to choose from, although in our opinion, it is still far from being number one.
