I think the market for this is really collectors and current Xbox fans more than people looking to buy a new console. They will likely die a queue / reservation system like Nintendo did for Switch 2. I bought my X in 2021 only because MS offered a queue to accounts so the consoles could get in the hands of the players. It worked as intended. My guess it they’ll do a queue first and then eventually release it to retailers.
Sat down to play for 10 minutes on the Ally so I could get the $10 Xbox gift card before a full playthrough (currently playing the first Kingdom Come Deliverance). Didn’t want to put it down and played for at least 30 and could have easily kept going, it was a lot of fun
I think ASUS has more room here to not increase prices. They are a global OEM with lots of hardware (monitors, motherboards, etc) and are a very different company from Valve. More manufacturing facilities, bigger supply contracts, more component contracts they could leverage, etc. So not to say that they won’t increase prices eventually, but given this I think they have more room to hold the price longer to their advantage. Valve doesn’t have those because they are a software company breaking into hardware and I think that’s the biggest difference we are seeing here.
I think this might be on the ASUS level instead of just through Xbox Mode, because I’ve been playing Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam via my Xbox Ally X and it has a default game profile there as well. Runs great. KCD2 also has a profile that kicked in when I ran it via Steam last fall so I think it may be tied to specific games?
Great piece, thanks! I’ll add that I’ve started using mine for remote play a lot lately and am really pleasantly surprised. I’m in the Windows Insider program and finding I get near console quality at 60 fps and barely any lag or latency. It’s way better than my experience remote playing with the Portal. It’s gotten to the point that I’ll play on my console then leave it running when I want to change rooms and continue on the handheld.
I got one of those random $100 gift cards they gave away years ago. I was completely shocked and going crazy thinking it was a scam but it wasn’t and it definitely helped me get a Series X during the shortages. Still can’t believe it.
I’ve been eyeing Unity for years so now that I have access via the subscription nobody wants to talk about anymore might check it out.
Played some Jump Space with friends last night - it’s great! Working through Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered right now. I played through the first/original game recently and love the series.
I would think that part of how they’re predicting how much inventory they need for launch (for the ROG Xbox Ally units) is how many people have signed up by email to be notified when it launches. It doesn’t mean you’ll buy but you’re openly telling them you are looking to buy.
Not much of a surprise. I think they’ve got to get the lower model to a competitive price with the Steam Deck OLED and that’s what’s being debated internally. I think the LCD model price of $400 is well below where MS will go. So many other handhelds launch way above the SD and don’t do as well.
Also the X model price is really high, but I get it. Yet when you compare that to a PS5 Pro new price, it still is high in comparison. I’m hoping they’re assessing lowering the prices, at least to align or be slightly above the respective Series consoles. I know that consoles and PCs are different devices but if MS truly wants to break into the PC handheld market and stay competitive with Linux they can’t price themselves out.
Yes will be picking up. I play a lot on handheld and don’t mind the screen size much. The biggest draw for me is the ergonomics and upgraded battery from my OG Ally. The Ally and Steam Deck are great but start to hurt my hands after a while. Also remote play and cloud gaming work great, but having a handheld that also runs Steam / other storefronts is a huge bonus.
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Re: Microsoft Aims To Ensure Scalpers Don't Ruin Xbox Series X25 Release
I think the market for this is really collectors and current Xbox fans more than people looking to buy a new console. They will likely die a queue / reservation system like Nintendo did for Switch 2. I bought my X in 2021 only because MS offered a queue to accounts so the consoles could get in the hands of the players. It worked as intended. My guess it they’ll do a queue first and then eventually release it to retailers.
Re: Poll: What Are Your Early Impressions Of 007 First Light On Xbox?
Sat down to play for 10 minutes on the Ally so I could get the $10 Xbox gift card before a full playthrough (currently playing the first Kingdom Come Deliverance). Didn’t want to put it down and played for at least 30 and could have easily kept going, it was a lot of fun
Re: Steam Deck Has Gone Up In Price Massively, And It Makes ROG Xbox Ally Look Great Value In 2026
I think ASUS has more room here to not increase prices. They are a global OEM with lots of hardware (monitors, motherboards, etc) and are a very different company from Valve. More manufacturing facilities, bigger supply contracts, more component contracts they could leverage, etc. So not to say that they won’t increase prices eventually, but given this I think they have more room to hold the price longer to their advantage. Valve doesn’t have those because they are a software company breaking into hardware and I think that’s the biggest difference we are seeing here.
Re: Xbox Reveals List Of 28 Titles With New Improvements For The ROG Xbox Ally
I think this might be on the ASUS level instead of just through Xbox Mode, because I’ve been playing Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam via my Xbox Ally X and it has a default game profile there as well. Runs great. KCD2 also has a profile that kicked in when I ran it via Steam last fall so I think it may be tied to specific games?
Re: Xbox Begins Testing New Monthly Quest For Microsoft Rewards Users
US based and can confirm I have it, would not have seen it without this article though. Thanks for highlighting!
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
Great piece, thanks! I’ll add that I’ve started using mine for remote play a lot lately and am really pleasantly surprised. I’m in the Windows Insider program and finding I get near console quality at 60 fps and barely any lag or latency. It’s way better than my experience remote playing with the Portal. It’s gotten to the point that I’ll play on my console then leave it running when I want to change rooms and continue on the handheld.
Re: Xbox Is Giving Away Free Gift Cards To Various Users This December
I got one of those random $100 gift cards they gave away years ago. I was completely shocked and going crazy thinking it was a scam but it wasn’t and it definitely helped me get a Series X during the shortages. Still can’t believe it.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 4-5)
I’ve been eyeing Unity for years so now that I have access via the subscription nobody wants to talk about anymore might check it out.
Played some Jump Space with friends last night - it’s great! Working through Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered right now. I played through the first/original game recently and love the series.
Re: Lenovo Legion Go 2 Pre-Order Problems Cast Doubt On ROG Xbox Ally Release
I would think that part of how they’re predicting how much inventory they need for launch (for the ROG Xbox Ally units) is how many people have signed up by email to be notified when it launches. It doesn’t mean you’ll buy but you’re openly telling them you are looking to buy.
Re: Report: ROG Xbox Ally Pre-Orders Now Expected To Begin In Late September
Not much of a surprise. I think they’ve got to get the lower model to a competitive price with the Steam Deck OLED and that’s what’s being debated internally. I think the LCD model price of $400 is well below where MS will go. So many other handhelds launch way above the SD and don’t do as well.
Also the X model price is really high, but I get it. Yet when you compare that to a PS5 Pro new price, it still is high in comparison. I’m hoping they’re assessing lowering the prices, at least to align or be slightly above the respective Series consoles. I know that consoles and PCs are different devices but if MS truly wants to break into the PC handheld market and stay competitive with Linux they can’t price themselves out.
Re: Talking Point: Will The ROG Xbox Ally Be Your First 'Handheld Gaming PC'?
Yes will be picking up. I play a lot on handheld and don’t mind the screen size much. The biggest draw for me is the ergonomics and upgraded battery from my OG Ally. The Ally and Steam Deck are great but start to hurt my hands after a while. Also remote play and cloud gaming work great, but having a handheld that also runs Steam / other storefronts is a huge bonus.