A portable Xbox could sound like a real alternative to a Nintendo Switch. There isn’t one yet, but Microsoft is turning to the Asus ROG Ally to make it happen.
There’s no official portable Xbox in the market, and beyond rumours and the cloud gaming service Microsoft runs, there hasn’t been anything real and tangible with the “Xbox” name properly plonked on it.
But that could be changing, as the maker of the Xbox works with one of the leaders in handheld gaming PCs to build something deserving of the Xbox name.
It’s something coming later this year, as a version of both the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X are made into “Xbox” variants. The gaming controller grip surrounding the hardware will be fashioned into more of an Xbox-like experience, the battery size increased, and the software will be less like Windows and more like an Xbox, though still running Windows and likely also technically supporting other gaming storefronts, such as Steam, Epic, and GOG.
The result will be the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, similar devices with a 7 inch Full HD 120Hz screen and Corning’s Gorilla Glass doing the job of guardian to scratches, while the specs differ between each.
In the Xbox Ally standard model, the hardware will come equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A and 16GB RAM, plus 512GB storage and a 60Wh battery. That should be enough for most gamers, and kind of feels like the Xbox S model of the ROG portables.
Meanwhile, the Xbox Ally X variant will up the hardware to the Ryzen Z2 Extreme with 24GB RAM, 1TB of storage, and a bigger 80Wh battery, essentially giving more of everything for better frame rates and more battery life. Clearly, the ROG Ally X will be more like a portable Xbox Series X variant, and it will get impulse triggers that vibrate as they work for more immersion.
Both models will get a dedicated Xbox button, plus support for some of the accessibility features Xbox consoles are known for, and they’re even slated for release in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
No word on pricing just yet, but they’ll also both reportedly come with a charger stand, and a way to expand the storage using microSD, as well.
Given the fact that the Valve Steam Deck has arrived in more markets, Australia included, and covers price points ranging from economical to more high-end, it’s pretty clear Microsoft is picking up on vibes and wants something to take on Valve.
We’ll know more about what the Xbox alternative looks like closer to the holiday season, when the ROG Xbox Ally models are expected to launch.
