Xbox adds Default Game Profiles in preview for the Xbox Ally — boosting performance and battery life for Xbox Ally

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Xbox recently shared an update explaining how they’ve been collaborating with the Windows and ASUS teams to address feedback from players using the Xbox Ally. This includes everything from minor improvements to bigger feature additions.

The update also announces that a new feature called Default Game Profiles is now available for Windows Insiders. This feature automatically adjusts game settings to find the best balance between performance and power usage, reducing the need for manual adjustments.

As an analyst, I’ve been following the recent updates, and one of the biggest improvements is the introduction of Default Game Profiles. Previously, users had to manually tweak TDP and FPS settings for each game they played, which was time-consuming. These profiles automate that process, making the handheld much more user-friendly. Beyond that, the update also delivers noticeable enhancements to input responsiveness, how quickly the game library loads, and the overall performance of cloud gaming. It’s a pretty comprehensive improvement to the user experience.

A full breakdown of what to expect

Default Game Profiles are an experimental feature that automatically optimize performance settings – like power usage and frame rates – for each game. They only work when your Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X is running on battery, and are designed to minimize the need for manual adjustments to these settings.

When you launch a compatible game, the system can automatically boost performance if it detects the frame rate dropping. This helps keep gameplay smooth, but it will use more battery power. We’re currently testing this feature with 40 games, and you can enable or disable it through the Armoury Crate Command Centre.

The current list of first-party games includes:

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
  • Call of Duty: Warzone
  • DOOM Eternal
  • DOOM: The Dark Ages
  • Forza Horizon 5
  • Gears 5
  • Gears of War: Reloaded
  • Gears Tactics
  • Halo: The Master Chief Collection
  • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
  • Minecraft
  • Sea of Thieves
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4

This update makes game controllers more responsive after you sign in, which I’ve experienced on the Xbox Ally X where inputs sometimes felt delayed. It also speeds up the process of loading large game collections.

Xbox has updated its Cloud Gaming service to load faster and be easier to use. You can now filter games to see which ones will run best on your device. The update also includes fixes for bugs and general performance enhancements.

How to get the update right now

Select Windows Update

Select Windows Insider Program

New Default Game Profiles are now available for testing through the Windows Insider Program. If you’d like to try out these features before they’re released to the public, you’ll need to join the program.

Before you start, make sure your handheld is fully updated to the latest Windows 11 build.

How to join the Windows Insider Program on the Xbox Ally:

  1. On your Xbox Ally, go to Windows Settings.
  2. Go to Windows Update.
  3. Ensure that you’re sending Optional Diagnostic Data, it will tell you if you aren’t .
  4. Select Windows Insider Program and follow the instructions.
  5. You’ll be prompted to restart.
  6. Go back to Windows Update after restarting.
  7. Select Check for Updates.

Now that the update is downloaded and installed, I’m excited to say you can start testing out the Default Game Profiles feature. I think you’ll find it improves the experience.

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2025-11-25 20:40