Microsoft first announced the ROG Xbox Ally at its annual Xbox Games Showcase in June, where it showed off the entry-level ROG Xbox Ally and the more premium ROG Xbox Ally X, developed in partnership with Asus. Now, the gaming giant has announced at ...

The ROG Xbox Ally X features Xbox controller-like grips on either side ... That's the most exciting thing about this device, because if Microsoft and Xbox can get Windows 11 in a more optimised state for gaming, and anywhere close to how optimised SteamOS ...

Not least because the ROG Xbox Ally will also let you download apps for Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, among other digital shopfronts, and you'll theoretically be able to enjoy games across those libraries seamlessly, though I'm not sure yet whether they'll be marked with the same performance badges as native Xbox games.

Microsoft is working on Advanced Shader Delivery, a way to reduce launch times in games when they are first opened.

Thanks to the controller grips, the Xbox Ally sits comfortably in the hand. Microsoft has also worked on comfort on the software side.

Asus and Microsoft will be launching their ROG Xbox Ally series of handheld gaming PCs starting October 16, according to an Asus announcement that went out today.