Portable Gaming Archives

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

CHARTS: Dune Awakening takes second place on Steam debut

Dune: Awakening became the second highest-grossing title on Steam after its launch on June 10th, with early access starting on June 5th. Counter-Strike 2 remained the highest-grossing title, while Deltarune entered the rankings at third place after its release on June 4th. The Elden Ring: Nightreign expansion dropped to fourth place, and the Steam Deck fell to fifth due to stock shortages. Stellar Blade, with pre-orders, landed in sixth place but slipped two positions. Lies of P returned to the Top 100 at seventh place after a 50% price reduction for its Overture DLC, which debuted at eighth. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma debuted at ninth place on June 5th, and Dead by Daylight climbed 12 places to complete the Top Ten. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending June 10th is as follows: 1. Counter-Strike 2, Valve 2. Dune: Awakening, Funcom 3. Deltarune, Tobyfox 4. Elden Ring: Nightreign, Bandai Namco 5. Steam Deck, Valve 6. Stellar Blade, Shift Up (P) 7. Lies of P, Neowiz 8. Lies of P: Overture, Neowiz 9. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Marvelous 10. Dead by Daylight, Behaviour

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Yep, PlayStation’s PC Games Will Be Playable on Xbox’s New Handheld System

Microsoft announced the ROG Xbox Ally, a handheld device developed in collaboration with Asus, designed to function as a handheld PC operating on the Windows platform. It allows gamers to access their entire Xbox library, play games natively, utilize cloud gaming services, or engage in remote play. The device is compatible with various PC launchers and storefronts, including Steam and the Epic Games Store, enabling users to play titles beyond the Xbox ecosystem. This includes the opportunity to play Sony's first-party titles, such as Marvel's Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, and Horizon Forbidden West, on the Xbox Ally.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Microsoft enters handheld games PC fray with Asus partnership

Microsoft has partnered with Asus to launch its first portable Xbox consoles, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, which run on Windows 11. These devices aim to enhance gaming compatibility with various platforms and integrate Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. An optimized version of Windows 11 for gaming has been introduced, and the consoles feature user-friendly elements such as an immersive full-screen experience and an aggregated gaming library. The launch is anticipated towards the end of 2025, though pricing details are not yet available.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft cuts the Windows 11 bloat for Xbox handhelds

Microsoft has streamlined Windows 11 for gaming handhelds, introducing the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X in collaboration with ASUS. This new approach eliminates non-essential components of the operating system to enhance the gaming experience. Key features not loaded during gameplay include the desktop wallpaper, taskbar, and various productivity-related processes. The idle power consumption of these handhelds is about one-third that of a traditional Windows desktop, freeing up around 2 GB of memory for gaming. Users can choose to revert to the full Windows 11 experience if desired.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft Finally Gets Into the Handheld Game With ROG Xbox Ally

Microsoft unveiled its new handheld gaming consoles, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, during the Summer Game Fest on June 8. Both models feature a design resembling a pair of controllers attached to a wide screen and are expected to launch this holiday season. They will operate on Windows 11 and allow for gaming through remote play, cloud gaming, or directly on the device, providing access to a wide range of PC games and popular applications. Initial impressions of the consoles have been positive, with reports highlighting their comfortable design and gameplay experience. Microsoft aims to compete with existing handheld devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, and the Ally will debut with popular titles, including Roblox.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft enters portable gaming with new ROG Xbox Ally devices

Microsoft is launching the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handheld devices, marking its entry into the handheld gaming market. Developed in collaboration with ASUS, these devices will provide seamless access to Xbox games, content streaming, and cloud gaming. They are designed to offer a versatile and user-friendly experience for mobile gamers.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Full-screen Xbox handheld UI is coming to all Windows PCs “starting next year”

Valve's Steam Deck and SteamOS primarily support Windows games compatible with the Proton compatibility layer and some native Linux titles. Microsoft and Asus have collaborated on the ROG Xbox Ally, which features a new Xbox-branded interface designed to improve compatibility for PC gamers while resembling SteamOS. This interface will debut on the ROG Xbox Ally and is planned for broader release on other handheld devices next year. Microsoft has been developing a handheld-optimized user interface for Windows since at least 2022, identified during an internal hackathon. The proposed "Windows Handheld Mode" includes a tile-based UI similar to the Xbox interface and aims to enhance touch screen usability. The ROG Xbox Ally's full-screen interface replaces the traditional Windows desktop, conserving RAM and optimizing energy consumption compared to standard Windows devices like the regular ROG Ally, which require additional software to function similarly to SteamOS.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Windows and Xbox team up with ASUS to create ROG Xbox Ally handhelds

At the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, Xbox and ASUS introduced the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X handheld devices, powered by Windows 11. These devices provide access to a diverse game library, allow for PC gaming versatility, and support multifunctional capabilities such as running applications like Discord and streaming on platforms like Twitch. Roanne Sones from Xbox highlighted the unique advantages of these handhelds, emphasizing their access to games not available elsewhere. The ROG Xbox Ally series is set to launch in select markets for the holiday season, with plans for further regional expansion.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Hands-On With the Xbox Ally X, the New Gaming Handheld from Asus and Microsoft

PC gaming handhelds, including the Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally, are designed for the Xbox platform through a collaboration between Asus and Microsoft. The Xbox Ally X features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme APU, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, while the base Xbox Ally has a Ryzen Z2 A chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Both models have a 7.0-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and support VRR and FreeSync technology. The Xbox Ally X was tested with Gears of War: Reloaded at 1080p and 60 fps. The systems run a streamlined version of Windows with an optimized Xbox app that allows game imports from other platforms. The ergonomic design resembles a split Xbox controller, but its size may affect portability. Pricing details are not yet disclosed, but the Xbox Ally X is expected to be premium-priced.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

The First Xbox Handheld Has Been Revealed

Microsoft has announced its entry into the handheld gaming market with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, developed in collaboration with Asus. The devices support native gaming and cloud streaming. Key features include a larger battery, ergonomic grips, a dedicated Xbox button, and an optimized operating system that reduces Windows 11's idle power consumption by about two-thirds, enhancing battery life and freeing up to 2GB of RAM for gaming performance. Exclusive Windows 11 features will initially be available only on these devices, with plans to extend them to standard ROG Allys by late 2025 and to other handheld gaming PCs in 2026. Specifications: - ROG Xbox Ally: AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 1080p 7” touchscreen, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD (upgradeable), 60Wh battery, 670g weight. - ROG Xbox Ally X: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 1080p 7” touchscreen, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD (upgradeable), 80Wh battery, 715g weight. Both devices can run Windows games from platforms like Xbox, Battle.net, GoG, Ubisoft Connect, and Steam. They are expected to launch during the Holiday season of 2025 in markets including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US.