Details Uncovered on the First Xbox Portable Console (Crucial Information Awaited)
Microsoft has unveiled its entry into the handheld gaming market with the announcement of the Xbox Ally and Ally X at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. These devices, similar to Valve's Steam Deck, will come with a "Handheld Compatibility Program" featuring "handheld optimized" and "mostly compatible" labels for games.
The Xbox Ally, the lower-end model, boasts an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, offering performance comparable to the Steam Deck. On the other hand, the Ally X, the premium model, is powered by AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU with 8 cores and 16 threads based on Zen 5 CPU architecture. The Ally X also features 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.
Both devices will run Xbox-ified versions of Windows 11, making it easier for users to launch games on the Xbox app and third-party launchers like Steam and Epic Games Store. The devices effectively dual boot into the base version of Windows 11.
To enhance the gaming experience, the Ally X will utilise Microsoft's Automatic Super Resolution for on-device AI upscaling. Both devices are also set to receive updates for faster launching, better battery life, and improvements to the docking experience.
The release date for both devices has been set for October 16 in the U.S., Europe, and certain Asian markets. However, the official prices announced in the USA for the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are yet to be revealed. The Xbox Ally X is rumoured to cost β¬900 ($1,050) in Europe, but this may not reflect the U.S. price.
Competition for the new handhelds may come from the baseline Steam Deck OLED and Lenovo Legion Go S, both of which are potential competitors in terms of price. The Lenovo Legion Go 2, an upcoming handheld, is rumoured to feature a better OLED display compared to the Ally's LCD.
Pre-order availability and the cost of both devices will be revealed in the coming weeks. The new Xbox Ally and Ally X are set to offer a new dimension to portable gaming for Xbox fans.
){kind=link}