ROG Ally X Archives

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Sorry, first-party Playstation games aren’t coming to PC anymore

Sony is shifting its gaming strategy to focus on a more exclusive model for its first-party PS5 titles, moving away from its recent trend of releasing major games on PC. This change follows a series of successful PC releases starting with Horizon Zero Dawn in 2020, including titles like The Last of Us Part I and God of War Ragnarök. Upcoming games such as Ghost of Yotei and Saros will be PS5 exclusives, while some online games like Marvel Tokon and Marathon will still be multi-platform. Death Stranding 2 is expected to release on PC in 2026. The shift may be influenced by poor sales of PS5 games on PC and concerns that releasing games on PC could harm the PlayStation brand and console sales. Sony's strategy resembles Nintendo's approach to maintaining exclusivity for its flagship franchises.

Winsage

February 28, 2026

Steam OS vs. Windows: Which Wins for Handheld Gaming?

The handheld PC market is currently divided between powerful Windows devices, like the ASUS ROG Ally X, and Steam OS-powered devices that focus on gaming immersion. Steam OS allows users to access their game libraries immediately upon booting, providing a distraction-free experience. In performance comparisons, devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S show a 69% speed increase on SteamOS (39 fps) compared to Windows (23 fps), while the ROG Ally X can see a 32% performance boost with SteamOS. Battery life differs significantly, with the Steam Deck offering 3 to 6 hours of gameplay versus the ROG Ally X's 2 to 4 hours, despite the latter having a larger battery. Windows handhelds provide compatibility with various gaming platforms but suffer from inefficiencies due to background processes that consume CPU resources. Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience attempts to improve usability but does not resolve the underlying issues. Windows handhelds typically have 8GB or 16GB of VRAM, which may be insufficient for future games, while SteamOS's lighter footprint allows for better VRAM allocation, enhancing performance. SteamOS is gaining traction not necessarily due to technical superiority but because of its efficiency in addressing the unique constraints of handheld gaming.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

The new Monster Hunter Wilds update is way better than I was expecting, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel

Capcom has released a performance update for Monster Hunter Wilds, addressing framerate drops and stuttering issues. The update reduces CPU and GPU load, decreases shader warming processes, and improves texture streaming. Players have reported noticeable improvements in framerate stability, with averages reaching between 55 and 70 frames per second during gameplay. Community feedback has been largely positive, with users experiencing smoother gameplay and fewer performance issues. The update includes new graphics settings and a high-resolution texture pack that requires a redownload of approximately 31GB but results in a total size reduction of about 45GB. Additionally, performance issues related to the 'DLC cat' have been addressed. The update, version 1.040.03.01, is now live on Steam.

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

My top 12 handheld games I played in 2025 — Indies and AAA titles I recommend for Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X, Legion Go 2, and more

- Little Kitty, Big City: A whimsical game where players navigate city streets as a cat, runs well on handhelds and is Steam Deck verified. - Amber Isle: A cozy game allowing players to create a dinosaur character and craft, marked as Playable for Steam Deck, though some text is small. - Kingdom of Night: An engaging game with 80s-inspired pixel art and combat, set in Miami, Arizona, Steam Deck verified. - PowerWash Simulator: An addictive game about cleaning surfaces, Steam Deck verified. - The Plucky Squire: A game where players leap from book pages into the real world, runs beautifully on Steam Deck and is Steam Deck verified. - My Little Puppy: A heartfelt game about a dog searching for its owner in the afterlife, Steam Deck verified. - Blue Prince: A roguelike puzzle game set in a mansion, marked as Playable for Steam Deck, though some text can be hard to read. - Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo: An adventure puzzle game featuring a snake assisting souls, Steam Deck verified. - Baldur's Gate 3: Acclaimed as 2023's Game of the Year, runs beautifully on handheld devices and is Steam Deck verified. - Dave the Diver: A game combining underwater exploration with sushi restaurant management, Steam Deck verified. - Minecraft: Runs well on handhelds with adjustments, but is not Steam Deck verified. - Immortals Fenyx Rising: An open-world RPG inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, marked as Playable on Steam Deck. - Horizon Zero Dawn: A favorite game with a captivating story, Steam Deck verified. - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: An award-winning game with improved performance after an update, Steam Deck verified. - Xbox Game Pass: Offers a vast library of titles perfect for handhelds.

Winsage

December 16, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1362 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1362 has been released to the Canary Channel. Key updates include: - Full screen experience (FSE) for handheld devices is now available on more devices, enhancing gaming through the Xbox app. - The Click to Do context menu has been redesigned for easier access to actions like Copy and Save. - Enhancements to the agent in Settings for quicker modifications and more search results. - Windows Studio Effects now supports additional cameras beyond integrated ones. - Drag Tray feature supports multi-file sharing and intelligent app suggestions. - Dark mode improvements in File Explorer for consistency across various dialogs. - Users can manage mobile devices from the Settings under Bluetooth & Devices. - New context menu options for Windows Spotlight backgrounds. - More keyboard settings transitioned to Settings, including character repeat delay and cursor blink rate. - Updates to Game Pass branding in Settings. - New OneDrive icon in Accounts and Homepages within Settings. - Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) will perform a one-time scan for solutions. - Virtual Workspaces can now be activated in Advanced Settings. - Various fixes for issues in File Explorer, Settings, Taskbar, Start menu, internet connectivity, display and graphics, login and lock screens, Narrator, Windows Update, Task Manager, and app responsiveness. Additionally, Paint version 11.2511.281.0 introduces a collapsible toolbar feature.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

How to put Xbox Full Screen Experience on your Windows handheld gaming PC — Legion Go, original ROG Ally, MSI Claw, and more

The Xbox Full Screen Experience (XFSE) is now available on all Windows handheld devices, including the Legion Go 2. Users can customize their experience by replacing XFSE with a different game launcher, such as Playnite, upon startup. To exit XFSE and return to the Windows desktop, users can swipe up from the bottom of the screen, tap on Windows desktop, and select Continue. XFSE enhances gaming performance by minimizing background processes and allows seamless access to Xbox services and games. The rollout of XFSE is ongoing, and users may need to explore options to stop XFSE or set up alternative launchers if desired.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X review – a great gaming handheld, but not because of Xbox

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X features an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and is priced at 9/£799. It has a 7-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The device includes 24GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 80Wh battery. It weighs 715g and has dimensions of 290 x 121 x 27.5 - 50.9mm. The controls follow an Xbox layout and include various I/O options. The device offers exceptional gaming performance, reliable battery life, and an ergonomic design but has a Windows interface that is not optimized for handheld use, a higher price point, and disappointing Xbox app features. Battery life ranges from under two hours in high power mode to four to six hours in less demanding scenarios.

AppWizard

October 14, 2025

Save a huge $45 on this 1TB Steam Deck microSD card from Samsung, while you can

Amazon has reduced the price of the 1TB Samsung Pro Plus microSD card to .99, a 38% discount off its regular price. The card features read and write speeds of 180MB/s and 130MB/s, respectively, and is compatible with devices like the Steam Deck, gaming laptops, PCs, and consoles such as the Nintendo Switch (excluding the new Switch 2). The card is available for £87.98 for UK gamers.

AppWizard

October 6, 2025

Microsoft abandoned in-house Xbox handheld because of AMD costs, says rumor

Microsoft has reportedly halted the development of its own in-house Xbox handheld due to AMD's requirement for a substantial order of 10 million CPUs. This information was shared by hardware leaker KeplerL2, who indicated that Microsoft decided against pursuing an in-house handheld because it could not meet AMD's expectations. Currently, Microsoft is collaborating with Asus for an Xbox-branded handheld, the ROG Xbox Ally, set to release on October 16, featuring AMD processors. Jez Corden from Windows Central has expressed skepticism about the rumors regarding Microsoft's internal handheld plans.

AppWizard

September 29, 2025

Can you play Black Ops 7 on the Steam Deck?

Black Ops 7 currently lacks an official rating for Steam Deck compatibility, but it is expected to receive an Unsupported rating due to the Ricochet anti-cheat system's requirements for secure boot and TMP 2.0 activation, which are not feasible on SteamOS. These changes were introduced with the launch of Season 5 Reloaded in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 in September 2025. Windows-based handhelds, like the ROG Ally X, should have no technical challenges running Black Ops 7, but playability will depend on whether the device meets the game's system requirements.