Microsoft Collaborates with Asus to Enter Handheld Gaming PC Market

So, Microsoft and Asus decided to team up for this whole portable Xbox thing. Unexpected duo, right? Yeah, they rolled out two models or something like that — Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. Sounds like superhero names, kinda cool. Both are running on Windows 11, which — surprise — means you get to mess around with other game launchers straight away. Battle.net fans, I see you. And, obviously, Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming are plastered all over it.

Right, moving on. They’re talking about some shiny, super-efficient version of Windows 11 — just for gaming. Fancy, huh? But honestly, I can’t really tell what makes these Xbox gadgets different from those ROG Ally handheld things Asus already has. Maybe it’s all in the branding? Or maybe it’s just marketing wizardry. Who knows.

Oh, and Roanne Sones went on about how these devices offer this “friendly” gaming experience on the go. Features are spilling out everywhere — immersive screens, gaming libraries piled high, you get the idea. It’s all very “look at us” — in a good way.

Windows 11 is supposedly tweaked to feel like second nature on these Allys from the get-go. Game Bar is your one-stop shop for pretty much everything — getting home, starting games, quitting them, chatting. A bunch of other stuff too.

But here’s the kicker: we’re still in the dark about the price. Figures, right? All aboard the suspense train as the launch is set for late 2025. Buckle up, I guess.