Following the official reveal of the Xbox handheld gaming system, developed in partnership with Asus, Microsoft Gaming leader Phil Spencer discussed the extensive efforts made to tailor Windows 11 for this platform. During a recent episode of the official Xbox podcast, Spencer described the cooperation between Microsoft’s gaming and Windows divisions as the closest collaboration he had ever witnessed.
In response to a question regarding the partnership between the gaming organization and the Windows team, Spencer stated, “This is the closest collaboration I’ve witnessed in my 30 years with the company. It’s truly impressive to observe both teams dedicating themselves to improving the user experience and working harmoniously as a single development team to achieve this goal.
When referring to ‘the freedom of Windows’, it signifies an open system that we aim to emulate on this device. This implies that if you prefer certain apps, such as your favorite storefront or communication platforms like Discord for voice and text interactions, we ensure they function optimally here. Our goal is to avoid creating a closed platform.
Spencer discussed plans to deliver a console-like feel with the forthcoming handheld devices, highlighting how the gaming division’s past projects contributed to the user-friendly nature of the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Yet, he admitted that there are areas requiring improvement on the platform, particularly in terms of battery performance.
Spencer mentioned that beneath the surface, we recognize there’s still work needed on battery efficiency, handling interruptions, and enhancing performance. It’s fascinating to observe the continuous effort the teams put in week after week. The improvement between the two teams has been truly astounding,” said Spencer.
At the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 event this past weekend, Microsoft and Asus revealed two new gaming devices: the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. The ROG Xbox Ally is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2A processor along with 16 GB of LPDDR5X-6400 RAM, and offers 512 GB of storage. In contrast, the ROG Xbox Ally X uses an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and boasts 24 GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, with a storage capacity of 1 TB. Both devices offer a 7-inch 1080p display that refreshes at 120 Hz and supports variable refresh rates.
Immediately following the debut of their handheld devices, Microsoft followed up with a new video presentation, highlighting various features and providing insights from the teams involved in both the hardware and software development. This video also discussed the cooperative effort between Microsoft and Asus.
Roanne Sones from Xbox referred to the ROG Xbox Ally X as “your ultimate powerhouse.” It’s packed with all the advanced features, reaching the highest levels of storage capacity and performance for this product, including its top-tier chip.
The video provided a glimpse into an initial version of the ROG Xbox Ally, which was essentially housed in a box resembling a pizza box. This design allowed the developers to easily modify it and observe how the system performs, receiving immediate feedback.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will be coming to stores later this year.
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2025-06-11 15:41