ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X to Launch on October 16, 2025
At Xbox @ gamescom Broadcast 2025 Day 1 Gamescom 2025, Microsoft and ASUS confirmed that the ROG Xbox Ally and the more powerful version, the ROG Xbox Ally X, will be released on October 16, 2025. Though neither price nor pre-order information was announced, one leak suggested that the handhelds will retail for $549.99 and $899.99, respectively.
Summary of Key Release Information and Leaks
- Official release date: October 16, 2025.
- Leaked price (Ally): $549.99.
- Leaked price (Ally X): $899.99.
- Performance targets: The Ally is designed for 720p gaming, while the Ally X targets 1080p for a greater number of titles.
Also you can find Euro costs in our old leak.
A New Handheld Compatibility Program from Xbox
The major announcement along with the release date was the new Handheld Compatibility Program: a two-part program designed to let people know how well games will run on the Xbox Ally and Ally X.
Part 1: Compatibility Badges
Games will be given badges according to how optimized they are for handheld play, sort of like with the Steam Deck criteria.
- Handheld Optimized: The game is ready to be played with the default controller inputs; text is clear and readable; resolution is appropriate; the game requires minimal to no adjustments.
- Mostly Compatible: The game runs quite well but may require minor setting changes within the game for an optimal experience.
Part 2: Windows Performance Fit Indicators
Xbox will also add the so-called Windows Performance Fit indicators. These would now give users a better idea of expected performance, with badges such as "Should play great" or "Should play well."
How This System Upgrades Steam Deck's Verification
Valve's Steam Deck verification system designates when a game is optimized (Verified) or requires some tweaks (Playable), but does not guarantee that it will run smoothly. In fact, a "Verified" game might work poorly or hang. The introduction of a dual-part system from Xbox is trying to fill this gap with something combining compatibility with performance expectation. When a game is both labeled as "Handheld Optimized" and has a badge of "Should play great," the users can feel more confident in their purchase.
Hardware and Performance Expectation
The forthcoming Xbox Ally line is expected to provide better system performance than previous Windows handhelds. Full-screen mode is meant to minimize background processing, saving battery life and improving in-game performance. The presence of a new AMD Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme APU in the Ally X hints at a major upgrade in performance compared to The standard non X ASUS ROG Xbox Ally which comes with the AMD Ryzen Z2 A APU.
Future Outlook
ROG Xbox Ally X, with a new powerful APU and a more informative game compatibility system, is now poised to be one convenient yet powerful handheld gaming PC. Xbox is engaged in actively working with game studios and testing and verifying thousands of games to support this new ecosystem. This system's efficiency will play a crucial role in determining user experience once the devices are launched.
