Xbox Ally X Archives

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

I would only play Halo: Campaign Evolved on handheld with upscaling

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X features a Zen 5 AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and 24 GB of LPDDR5X memory. Playing Halo: Campaign Evolved without upscaling yields visually appealing graphics but poor performance, as players cannot fully disable upscaling. The device operates at approximately 17 W in performance mode when plugged in. The TSR setting averages 31 fps with lows of 25.6 fps, while FSR Medium averages 43 fps with lows around 34 fps, making it the optimal choice for smoother gameplay. FSR Low averages 49 fps but sacrifices visual clarity. Halo: Campaign Evolved includes a very low graphical mode exclusive to the ROG Xbox Ally X, which improves performance. The difference between low and ultra graphics settings is minimal, and disabling motion blur is recommended for better experience.

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

Microsoft just brought four OG Xbox games to PC, with more console classics to come

Microsoft has enabled players to access original Xbox titles on Windows PCs and handheld devices through the Xbox Backward Compatibility scheme, eliminating the need for third-party emulators. The initial game lineup includes titles like Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy, available via the Xbox app or Game Pass subscriptions. Players who previously purchased these games do not need to buy them again due to the Xbox Play Anywhere program. The games utilize Microsoft's emulation technology, allowing enhancements such as increased resolution up to 2560×1920, anisotropic filtering, and MSAA anti-aliasing. The minimum system requirements include an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 or Intel Core i3-10300 CPU, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 550 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 GPU, 4GB VRAM, and Windows 11 with updates until January 2026. Microsoft plans to expand the Xbox Backward Compatibility library on PC in the future.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Original Xbox Games Are Coming to PC Starting With Four Fan Favorites

Microsoft has launched its Xbox Backward Compatibility preview, enabling four original Xbox games—Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy—to be played on PC and handheld devices. These games feature enhancements such as 4x resolution upscaling, VSync support, multiple display modes, anisotropic filtering, and improved anti-aliasing. They are available for purchase on the Xbox Store and can be accessed on PC or handhelds through Xbox Play Anywhere or Xbox Cloud Gaming. All four titles are also included in Xbox Game Pass. Minimum system requirements for playing these games include: - GPU: Nvidia GTX 950 or AMD Radeon RX 550 or Intel UHD 770 or Intel Arc A310 - CPU: Minimum 4 Cores Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor - RAM: 8GB - OS: Windows 11 - Drivers and Versions: Latest Version as of January 2026 Recommended specifications include: - GPU: Radeon RX 68005 or Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti or Intel Arc A770 - CPU: 6 cores and 12 threads Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme - DirectX Version: DirectX12 API, Hardware Feature Level 11 - GPU VRAM: 8GB - OS: Windows 11 - Drivers and Versions: Latest Version as of January 2026

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Xbox Backward Compatibility Is Finally Bringing Original Xbox Games to PC

Xbox has announced the early release of backward compatibility for original Xbox games on PC, allowing players to purchase and enjoy four classic titles: Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. These games are available via the Xbox PC app and included in all Xbox Game Pass plans. Players who own digital copies on Xbox can transfer their licenses to PC without repurchasing. The games can be installed locally, and Xbox is enhancing them with PC-specific improvements, including up to 4x resolution upscaling and customizable settings. Achievements for these titles will be introduced later this year.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Xbox Is Bringing Backward Compatible Games To Your Windows PC

Microsoft has announced the early release of its Xbox backward compatibility program for Windows PCs and portable handhelds, allowing players to access four classic Xbox games: "Fuzion Frenzy," "Blinx: The Time Sweeper," "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge," and "Conker: Live and Reloaded." These games can be purchased individually or accessed through Xbox Game Pass. The program will support Xbox achievements, which will be activated later this year, and offer customizable graphics settings. Minimum system requirements for PCs include Windows 11, updated drivers, 8GB of RAM, a minimum 4 Core CPU, and a compatible GPU.

AppWizard

June 28, 2026

From casual hobby to luxury investment: memory costs hit PC gaming hard

Two years ago, the gaming landscape was improving with affordable video games and devices like the Steam Deck making PC gaming more user-friendly. However, demand for AI data centers has disrupted manufacturing, causing component prices to rise significantly. Microsoft reported a 2.5 times increase in costs for memory and storage, leading to a 20% price hike for the Xbox Series S in the U.S. starting in August. Apple also announced a similar 20% increase on its hardware. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has been launched at a price of ,499 in Australia, offering advanced gaming performance but at a steep cost. The Steam Deck remains a popular option at 9, while the ASUS ROG Ally provides alternatives for Windows users. The Nintendo Switch 2 offers a 1080p, 120Hz screen at a lower cost but lacks many major releases. Valve's Steam Machine was initially expected to start at 9, but due to the component crisis, it now starts at 9 for a 512GB model. DIY PC builds are becoming more accessible, with a recent build costing just over ,000. Consoles from Sony and Microsoft may offer better pricing for components despite recent increases. Cloud streaming services like Nvidia GeForce NOW and Xbox Game Pass are also emerging as cost-effective options.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

“This is the gaming handheld we’ve been waiting for” — MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ review of a masterpiece priced for the few

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a gaming handheld powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme processor, priced at 9.99. It features an 8-inch FHD+ display (1920x1200) with 500 nits brightness and supports variable refresh rates from 48Hz to 120Hz. The device includes Hall-Effect analog sticks, tactile buttons, and dual front speakers with Bluetooth Core 6.0 support. It scored 6,726 on the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. The 80Whr battery lasts approximately 3.5 hours on demanding games and over five hours on lighter titles. It has Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports for desktop functionality when docked.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Gears of War: E-Day Demands just 12GB RAM and an RTX 2060, Defying PC Players’ Worst Fears

The Coalition is a leading developer of Unreal Engine and is set to release Gears of War: E-Day on October 6, 2026. They have showcased two Unreal Engine 5 demos: Alpha Point in 2021 and The Cavern in 2022. The minimum system requirements for the game include Windows 10 64-bit, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel i7-6850K, 12 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600, DirectX Version 12, a broadband internet connection, and 130 GB of SSD storage. The recommended specifications are Windows 11 64-bit, AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel i5-11600K, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, DirectX Version 12, a broadband internet connection, and 130 GB of SSD storage. The game will feature borderless/exclusive/windowed display modes, uncapped frame rates, ultrawide support, keyboard and mouse/controller remapping, 4K Ultra HD with HDR10, hardware ray-traced lighting, and full optimization for handheld play. The game will not be available on PlayStation 5.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

007 First Light PC Settings Guide

007 First Light requires a graphics card with at least 12GB of video memory for optimal performance, with 16GB recommended for higher resolutions. The game does not feature graphics presets and defaults to minimum settings in its pre-release build. Achieving a stable 60 fps at 4K resolution is challenging, with frame rates typically around 40-45 fps on lower settings. Upscaling is recommended for smoother gameplay, with GPUs like the RTX 5070 or Radeon 9070 maintaining 60-70 fps at higher quality settings. The game is compatible with the Steam Deck but runs at approximately 30 fps with significant stuttering. Optimal settings for the RTX 5070 and RTX 3060 Ti include specific configurations for transfer function, resolution scaling, texture quality, and other graphical settings to balance image quality and performance. Following these adjustments, the RTX 5070 can achieve an average of 63-70 fps, with frame generation potentially increasing frame rates but also introducing latency. Upscaling is essential for 4K gameplay unless using high-end hardware.

Winsage

May 21, 2026

Winhanced is getting better, but I still use Xbox Mode with my Windows 11 handheld

The ROG Xbox Ally X, branded as a portable Xbox by Microsoft, has a complex update process involving Xbox Mode, Asus' Armory Crate, and Windows 11. Xbox Mode has improved recently, adding features like third-party launcher integration and enhanced stability. Winhanced, a third-party launcher for Windows 11 handhelds, offers a customizable interface and supports cloud gaming, but has reliability issues and struggles with automatic artwork sourcing. Users can save battery life by adjusting settings for Winhanced's sleep/wake feature. Despite its advantages, Winhanced is not yet a reliable alternative to Xbox Mode, which remains the preferred launcher for handheld gaming. Winhanced is developed by a small team and has shown significant improvement, but it still has limitations compared to Xbox Mode.