*** ROG XBOX Ally X Discussion Thread ***
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Soldato
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As I understand it the Xbox ally x uses the z2 extreme. Anyone know what uplift in performance is likely vs the current ally X that uses the Z1?
Soldato
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Wonder if they’ll bother with a handheld series s now…or just skip that and go straight to these sort of devices.
I’ve owned both Decks and interested to see how much of an upgrade the X is. But mainly for the os updates as I have dual booted my OLED Deck before.
I’ve owned both Decks and interested to see how much of an upgrade the X is. But mainly for the os updates as I have dual booted my OLED Deck before.
It uses Zen 5 over Zen 4 for the CPU. The GPU is RDNA 3.5, which is apparently RDNA 3 with mobile/iGPU specific optimisations - it also has more GPU cores. The APU should be mildly better for CPU-limited games, and probably a good few percent better for GPU workloads, albeit with a higher power cap so who knows what battery life will be like.
The non-extreme Z2 is just the Z1 extreme.
I really like the look of it especially the X model. The white model may as well of been named S to line up with the consoles imo. (Note that I still think Xbox naming system is dumb)
Anyway I do plan to get the X but I’m gonna have to save abit as I suspect it’s going to be £700-£800 min. I don’t think Microsoft will subsidise it in anyway
Anyway I do plan to get the X but I’m gonna have to save abit as I suspect it’s going to be £700-£800 min. I don’t think Microsoft will subsidise it in anyway
At £700 it really is only for hardcore gamers. Not many are that keen to pay so much to play games on their lunch break.
Especially since it’ll use recent hardware chip tech, whereas something like the Switch 2, PlayStation, etc. are on ~4 year old tech and those platforms are presumably cheaper to produce as tech has moved on.
Soldato
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Xbox branding for something that isn't able to play Xbox console titles natively is disappointing.
If this gave the choice to dual boot into windows or Xbox console mode where my library of Xbox games were playable then I would probably buy it day 1.
As it stands, it isn't really making a strong use case for me personally.
If this gave the choice to dual boot into windows or Xbox console mode where my library of Xbox games were playable then I would probably buy it day 1.
As it stands, it isn't really making a strong use case for me personally.
Soldato
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I like the look of this.
Currently I play my Xbox library inc games pass games via GeForce Now (plus steam library etc) on my phone, tablet, laptop etc. Loads of controller options and it doesn't need an amazing Internet connection at lower res these days. For the odd occasion I needed off line gaming, the other handhelds I've tried weren't worth it. Also GFN is pretty kind on battery life.
So, on the one hand, Xbox are competing with their own services through cloud options like GFN and cross platform.
That being said, I can easily see this dominating the handheld market for the same reasons; integrating and enabling all the other gaming services but with the Xbox branding. Cost whilst a factor won't be a blocker either.
Nintendo Switch 2(3,4,5...) is a very targeted market so will always be successful in parallel.
Currently I play my Xbox library inc games pass games via GeForce Now (plus steam library etc) on my phone, tablet, laptop etc. Loads of controller options and it doesn't need an amazing Internet connection at lower res these days. For the odd occasion I needed off line gaming, the other handhelds I've tried weren't worth it. Also GFN is pretty kind on battery life.
So, on the one hand, Xbox are competing with their own services through cloud options like GFN and cross platform.
That being said, I can easily see this dominating the handheld market for the same reasons; integrating and enabling all the other gaming services but with the Xbox branding. Cost whilst a factor won't be a blocker either.
Nintendo Switch 2(3,4,5...) is a very targeted market so will always be successful in parallel.
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Isn’t that exactly what it is promising?
Soldato
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Soldato
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To be fair I think there is a bit of intentional mixed messaging from Microsoft regarding the 'Xbox' Alley, strongly pitching it as a 'console' experience while also being branded 'Xbox', in the video they say "it plays like an Xbox, It's an Xbox class experience.", "if you've played a console, it's what you'd expect it to be.", it's really not surprising people might be confused, especially main stream audience.
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As in an Xbox shell experience.
All of the work they put into performance scaling and how easy it is to deploy Xbox games to windows…or heavily modified windows with an Xbox shell experience
The Switch line of consoles are a mass market product. We aren't anywhere near that with handheld PCs although what this market may become exciting. Owning a Steam Deck, Switch 1/2 I've no reason to think that handhelds aren't going to become more important. And devices like the Switch, PS Portal, PS6 Portable (or whatever that becomes), Steam Deck 2 are all going to accelerate that interest in portable/hybrid systems. Which is good, particularly with how stagnant desktop PC gaming has become in terms of components and pricing.
As someone that had a soft spot for handheld consoles like the Game Boy, DS/3DS and PSP it's nice to see renewed development in this area.
The misdirection around this thing has been quite incredible; BBC news stories about a new handheld Xbox etc. There is nothing console about this thing; it's a Windows 11 handheld PC.
Even this thread should really be in the PC Games sub-forum with the Official Steam Deck thread et al.
It's Windows 11 with a new dashboard that we haven't seen working with the third-party storefronts yet. And in a PC market where people are tied to Steam. It can't play any Xbox, 360, One or Series S|X games beyond unofficial emulation, or cloud streaming. Things that any other Windows 11 PC can do. To me the appeal of this is you are looking for an more powerful handheld PC that can play more demanding games and have hit the power limits of the Steam Deck LCD/OLED, Lenovo Go etc. Or want something Windows-based to play all those games such as Fortnite, COD, Apex which can't be played on Linux dues to the really invasive kernel-level DRM and anti-cheat programs they force you to install.
One of the rumours coming in off the back of this new ROG Ally is that MS has halted development of their actual handheld Xbox and is working fully towards their reference hardware with some degree of Xbox compatibility that will run some Xbox games (licensing with third-parties being the big issue). If that is the case then that next Microsoft Xbox hardware in 2027, or 2028 will be the true evolution for people still in their Xbox ecosystem. That's all assuming Microsoft doesn't just withdrawn from hardware fully in the intervening years. It often feels like they have a quarter-to-quarter, throw everything at a wall to see what sticks because they don't want to give up on the lucrative 30% digital cut even though they mis-managed the Xbox console was the didn't understand it was the Trojan horse to drive that eco-system. Ironically at a time when their software output is thriving (as a third-party publisher).
And part of me just wishes Microsoft could be more honest and admit 'we're a multi-platform publisher now who will be releasing PCs that play PC games that might have some of your old Xbox Console games available over streaming, or emulation'. Just so these 34m people don't get left out in the cold one day when their $1,000+ Xbox digital libraries stop being relevant.
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It isn’t just windows 11 though - they have drastically stripped it back, think they’ve killed off explorer.exe and made lots of efficiency gains…not saying it’s anywhere near perfect but it isn’t just windows 11.
My point was they put a lot of work into resolution scaling/dynamic scaling and yes, it won’t be an Xbox but pretty easily. I mean performance remains to be seen
My point was they put a lot of work into resolution scaling/dynamic scaling and yes, it won’t be an Xbox but pretty easily. I mean performance remains to be seen
Ultimately it is. Sure there should be these performance improvements and this new dashboard with better controller integration, but development of OS's improving is par for the course. Valve have significantly improved Steam OS in the three and a bit years on the market. Even the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One had performance improvements over their lifetime that freed up RAM etc. But all of these improvements and software features will be coming to all Windows 11 users.
Soldato
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This is basically what Microsoft is moving towards. They want to eventually step away from hardware and concentrate on software.
They won't make their own hardware, they will provide a licence and OS to hardware manufacturers to create their own Xbox.
They've been moving this way for a while with the constant "Everything is an Xbox".
I also don't think it's a bad idea on their behalf.
They won't make their own hardware, they will provide a licence and OS to hardware manufacturers to create their own Xbox.
They've been moving this way for a while with the constant "Everything is an Xbox".
I also don't think it's a bad idea on their behalf.
Indeed, but they do still want a walled garden to collect that juicy 30% cut. That's where Sony, Valve and Nintendo amongst others are thriving. And Windows 11 PC is how where they are heading with this 'Xbox as a Service'. But it's still this challenge and question mark over how they bring all those existing Xbox users to their new world. This partnership with ASUS on its own isn't likely enough and very much a stepping stone.
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