Xbox Handheld Archives

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

PlayStation PC Games Are Now On Xbox, Sort Of

Microsoft has introduced a feature in its Xbox PC app that allows users to access a gaming library from various PC storefronts, including Epic and Steam, enabling players to view popular PlayStation games available on PC, such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales. While these games can be viewed in the Xbox app, they will not include Xbox achievements or enhanced functionalities. Microsoft is pursuing a strategy to transform Xbox into a platform similar to Steam, focusing on collaboration rather than direct competition. Xbox president Sarah Bond has indicated a vision for a more interconnected gaming ecosystem with the next generation of Xbox consoles. Microsoft has canceled plans for a dedicated Xbox handheld device and is instead supporting third-party devices like the ROG Xbox Ally and collaborating with Meta on the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Steam Summer Sale 2025 start time: Here’s when huge PC games go on sale as first discounts arrive

The Steam Summer Sale is set to begin at 6 PM BST. Discounts during the sale can reach up to 95%. Gamers can use the Steam app on mobile devices to add games to their collection or curate wishlists before the sale starts. Popular titles currently discounted include EA FC 25, Horizon Forbidden West, and various Far Cry games. Historical trends indicate that major releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows, Monster Hunter Wilds, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II will also be discounted during the sale.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Microsoft tests Xbox app with Battle.net integration — updated app brings third-party game library aggregation

Microsoft is testing a new Xbox app for PC among Xbox Insiders, which will aggregate installed games from various third-party storefronts into a single interface. This feature will debut with the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds later this year. The initiative is part of Microsoft's strategy to transition Xbox from a console-centric brand to a service-oriented platform, aligning with the Game Pass initiative for both Xbox and PC users. Microsoft is optimizing Windows 11 for third-party handheld devices instead of developing its own Xbox handheld. While a widespread launch of the aggregated library feature has not been announced, initial rollout with the ROG Ally handhelds is expected during the holiday season, with broader support potentially arriving by the end of this year or in 2026.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Microsoft tests aggregated game libraries with Steam games on the Xbox app ahead of its handheld release

Microsoft is testing a new aggregated game library within the Xbox PC app for Windows 11 PCs and handheld devices, which allows Xbox Insiders to view their Steam and Battle.net games directly in the app. This feature will automatically populate the ‘My Library’ section when games from supported storefronts are installed. It aims to streamline access to game libraries, particularly for Windows-based handhelds, and is inspired by the success of the Steam Deck. The feature is currently available for testing and is expected to launch alongside Microsoft's gaming handhelds later this year, with plans for broader rollout to other Windows-based handheld devices.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Microsoft Weekly: redesigned Windows 11 Start menu, Xbox handheld is here, and more

Microsoft has released Patch Tuesday updates for June 2025, with Windows 10 receiving KB5060533 and Windows 11 receiving KB5060842 and KB5060999. The Windows Insider Program has unveiled several new builds, including a redesigned Start menu in build 26200.5641 and various enhancements in other builds. Microsoft has introduced Copilot Vision with Highlights for Windows, currently available in the U.S. for two applications. A quirky bug in the latest builds causes Windows 11 to play the Windows Vista startup sound. Microsoft Edge received an update in the Dev Channel, while Firefox rolled out version 139.0.4. Microsoft announced enhancements to Outlook and OneDrive for Mac. New Xbox handhelds, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, were unveiled, optimized for gaming. Steam's Next Fest allows free trials of hundreds of games until June 16, 2025, and the Epic Games Store is offering Two Point Hospital for free.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

Xbox handheld rumoured to be ‘essentially cancelled’ but the new Asus Xbox Ally is actually a preview of all future Xbox consoles, not just handhelds

A recent report suggests that the anticipated Xbox handheld console may be "essentially canceled." The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, recently unveiled, are not true Xbox consoles but PC handhelds using existing PC chips and a new iteration of Windows optimized for gaming. Microsoft has rebranded its gaming division as 'Xbox PC' and acknowledged Steam as a competitor. None of these developments have been officially confirmed.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

PlayStation PC Games Run On The New Xbox Handheld

Asus has unveiled the ROG Xbox Ally handheld devices, which allow access to Microsoft's library of PC games as well as PlayStation's PC game offerings. These devices run Windows, enabling users to play various titles from Sony, including Days Gone, The Last of Us, Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Helldivers 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and God of War Ragnarök. The devices are expected to support PlayStation remote play from the PS5 and come in two models: the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. They feature an "Xbox full-screen experience" and a dedicated Xbox button, along with the Game Bar overlay for easy navigation. Microsoft has paused development on a standalone Xbox handheld but is working on a new Xbox console that may include a handheld device.

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

I tested Xbox’s powerful — and heavy

The ROG Xbox Ally X is a handheld console with a 7-inch display, set to launch during the holiday season. It weighs 715 g (1.58 lbs), making it the heaviest handheld on the market. The console operates on Windows and comes pre-loaded with Steam, Battle.net, and Discord. Despite its impressive features and graphics, concerns about its ergonomics and comfort during prolonged use were raised after a short gameplay session. Feedback from other attendees indicated that some found the device comfortable, likening it to an Xbox controller.

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.