Upcoming Xbox portable console might be making its appearance earlier than anticipated
Microsoft's New Xbox Handhelds Set for October Release
Microsoft is set to launch its long-awaited Xbox handheld devices, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, in October. The announcement, expected during Gamescom 2025, will mark the beginning of pre-orders, with a start date set for August 20.
According to reports, the base model, the ROG Xbox Ally, will retail for around €599 ($600-$700 USD), while the premium Ally X will cost about €899 ($900-$1,040 USD). These prices may vary slightly by region due to tariffs and other market factors.
The Ally X, the higher-end model, comes with a more powerful processor, 24GB RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD, compared to the standard Ally’s 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
Xbox initially targeted a Holiday 2025 launch window for these devices, and the October date aligns with this timeline. Pre-orders and initial reveals are planned to coincide with Gamescom 2025 events, where demos will be available.
The Asus ROG Ally X, the blueprint for the Xbox version, currently costs 900 euros in France and $900 at Best Buy in the U.S. Leaked benchmarks of the MSI Claw A8, another upcoming handheld, have also been seen in action.
The handheld versions of Windows operating system used by these devices will provide access to PC or Game Pass games, Steam, Epic Games Store, and potentially other third-party launchers. The ROG Xbox Ally even dual boots with a regular version of Windows, allowing access to regular Windows apps.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X will be the first truly new Xbox-branded gaming hardware in action. Upon booting, the device goes straight into an Xbox app layout, removing software bloat to improve performance.
Interestingly, Microsoft has not confirmed support for third-party launchers like GOG. However, the company has promised to allow its handheld version of Windows to operate on third-party devices.
Lenovo's Legion Go 2, another handheld device, boasts a larger OLED display with a resolution larger than the Steam Deck OLED's 720p screen. Neither MSI nor Lenovo has announced a price or release date for their handhelds as of yet.
[1] Dealabs: https://www.dealabs.com/news/xbox-ally-pricing-and-release-date-leaked/ [2] Windows Central: https://www.windowscentral.com/xbox-ally-and-xbox-ally-x-officially-announced-asus-rog-hardware [3] IGN: https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-ally-x-asus-rog-pre-orders-start-august-20-2025 [4] The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2025/6/15/23166668/xbox-ally-x-asus-rog-handheld-pc-gaming-price-release-date-specs-gamescom-2025
- The Asus ROG Ally X, a blueprint for the upcoming Xbox handheld device, is currently priced at 900 euros and $900 USD in France and at Best Buy, respectively.
- With the launch of the Xbox Ally and Ally X in October, tech enthusiasts can look forward to accessing a variety of games from PC or Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games Store, and potential third-party launchers.
- The handheld versions of Windows operating system used by these devices will be the first to potentially operate on third-party devices, as Microsoft has promised to support this feature.
