ROG Xbox Ally Review

Hands-on previews at Gamescom 2025 show broad early praise and caveats for the ROG Xbox Ally.

ROG Xbox Ally Impresses at Gamescom 2025

At Gamescom 2025, hands-on impressions of the ROG Xbox Ally stressed a strong first showing from Asus and Microsoft. Reviewers praised the handheld’s controller-like grip and the improved UI navigation via the Xbox button, while noting that showroom tests limited access to deeper software features such as Turbo mode or CPU Boost. Early performance glimpses showed the device running titles like Hogwarts Legacy at 60fps in 1080p, with rare screen tearing that testers said warranted further tuning after full software access becomes available. Overall, previews portrayed a polished product that blends PC hardware with a console-like experience, though some observers did not see a clear upshift over recent Asus ROG Ally variants. The launch is slated for October 16 with both a standard model and a premium Xbox Ally X, and social posts highlighted positive feedback on feel, UI, and notable titles like Hollow Knight Silk Song, while acknowledging some residual rough edges.

The collaboration signals a broader push to fuse PC gaming hardware with a console ecosystem, potentially expanding portable Xbox play to a wider audience. If the final product delivers consistent performance across a broad library, Asus and Microsoft could push other makers to rethink portability and price. Yet the value will hinge on software depth, price, and availability as the market shifts from pure handheld power to a hybrid ecosystem. The balance between portability and performance will determine whether this becomes a niche device or a mainstream option for on-the-go play.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal how much the handheld can sustain the initial excitement.