Imagine the excitement of finally getting your hands on a portable Xbox device after years of swirling rumors and anticipation—only to find out it's essentially a tricked-out Windows PC with an Xbox sticker slapped on top. That's the reality of the ROG Xbox Ally X, the latest attempt to bridge console simplicity with PC versatility, but it leaves us wondering if Microsoft has truly unified the gaming world or just added another layer of confusion. Let's dive deeper into this intriguing yet frustrating device and explore why it might not be the game-changer we hoped for.
For context, Ars Technica has been buzzing about portable Xbox concepts for what feels like forever, covering rumors dating back over two decades. Now, with the $600 ROG Xbox Ally and its premium counterpart, the $1,000 ROG Xbox Ally X (the one I put through its paces), Microsoft has made it official: these are the first handhelds proudly bearing the Xbox name. But wait—Microsoft isn't doubling down on its traditional console-exclusive approach, where games are locked into a walled-off ecosystem. Instead, these devices start as revamped versions of Asus's ROG Ally series running on Windows, with an Xbox-themed overlay known as the Xbox Full-screen Experience (FSE). Think of it as a fresh coat of paint aimed at simplifying Windows gaming to feel more like a console.
And this is the part most people miss: while the vision is noble, the current FSE feels half-baked, full of quirks that might drive even patient gamers up the wall. It's Microsoft's way of trying to tame the wild jungle of PC gaming platforms, but early users are dealing with more annoyances than seamless play.
When Microsoft unveiled this in the summer, they hyped it as the 'Xbox Experience for Handheld,' promising smoother performance by cutting out unnecessary background tasks in Windows. Theoretically, this should mean better frame rates and more consistent gameplay. In reality, though, the gains are so minor they're barely perceptible—think a gain of less than one frame per second in many tests, and maybe one or two at best. To put that in perspective for beginners, frame rate is like the heartbeat of a game; a slight dip can make everything feel laggy or less immersive, so even small improvements matter. But here, running benchmarks in FSE versus full Windows 11 Desktop Mode showed negligible differences, hardly justifying the switch for most.
But here's where it gets controversial: Microsoft pitched the FSE as a one-stop shop for all your games via an 'aggregated gaming library.' The idea is brilliant—install everything from Steam, Battle.net, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, and EA Play with a single click from the 'My Apps' section right out of the gate. For newcomers to PC gaming, this sounds like a dream: no more juggling multiple apps and logins. Yet, in practice, it's spotty. The 'installable' filter mostly highlights Xbox titles and Game Pass offerings; for others, you're back to navigating each platform's clunky interface, which doesn't always mesh well with button controls on a handheld. Imagine trying to scroll through Steam's library with a controller—frustrating, right?
I ran into real headaches during testing. For example, attempting to access EA Play games via FSE triggered endless authentication errors, forcing me to reboot the system and even reinstall extensions. Switching to Desktop Mode helped, but it wouldn't recognize my Xbox Game Pass subscription, blocking access to titles like Battlefield. It's as if the promised unification creates new barriers instead of removing them.
Once games are installed, the FSE does shine in aggregating them into one list—seeing Hearthstone from Battle.net next to Cyberpunk 2077 from GOG, Hades II from Steam, and Fortnite from Epic Games is genuinely handy. A quick Xbox button press reveals your recent games and settings, regardless of the source. But launching? That's a different story. Hitting the 'Play' button often leaves you staring at a blank screen for seconds, wondering if it worked. Sometimes, a launcher pops up, updates itself annoyingly, or demands manual inputs that are impossible without a mouse (especially if docked to a TV). In one case, Battle.net launched silently in the background, waiting for login details—counterintuitive and time-wasting.
Multitasking is another pain point. Switching games might prompt a warning to close the old one, but not always, leaving apps draining resources invisibly. And don't get me started on random launcher swaps, frozen menus, or having to update the Xbox app through Windows Update's clunky interface (which even offers to install Notepad). It's like Microsoft tried to unify chaos but ended up amplifying it.
That said, I get it—PC gaming is a fragmented mess, like that XKCD comic where standards collide and create more mess. Microsoft is attempting to be the 15th standard to fix 14 problems, but their execution feels rushed. For those who stick with one platform like Steam, this might not matter, but for multi-platform gamers, it's a letdown.
Shifting gears, the hardware itself is impressive. The ROG Xbox Ally X feels solid in hand, thicker and heavier than a Steam Deck but not unwieldy—perfect for long sessions. The grips are ergonomically designed with textured bumps that fit snugly in your palms, and the build quality is top-notch: responsive analog sticks, powerful bass speakers, and satisfyingly clicky buttons (just keep the volume down for roommates). Rear buttons are easy to access with a finger flick, great for custom controls.
The 7-inch 1080p screen delivers crisp visuals, hitting 120 fps in games like Hollow Knight: Silksong effortlessly. Brightness tops at 500 nits, decent indoors but not ideal for sunny outings. It lacks the deep blacks and HDR pop of an OLED display, like on the Steam Deck, which some might miss for immersive play.
Powering it all is the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, delivering strong performance for a $1,000 handheld. It handled Doom: The Dark Ages at 1080p High settings above 30 fps, and even Cyberpunk 2077 with ray-tracing at acceptable rates when plugged in. On battery, though, high settings drain power fast—Turbo Mode (with a loud fan) lasts about two hours, while Silent Mode stretches to five or six but sacrifices frame rates.
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Valve's SteamOS on the Steam Deck. In isolation, the ROG Xbox Ally X seems like a solid step toward merging console ease with PC freedom. But compared to SteamOS, it's lagging. On SteamOS, installs, updates, and launches are seamless—no launcher roulette or freezing menus. Settings are controller-friendly, and everything 'just works.' Microsoft claims broader support for all Windows games, but for most gamers entrenched in Steam (with its massive library and social features), this edge is minimal. Even big titles often appear on Steam now, acknowledging Valve's dominance.
The ROG Xbox Ally shines for non-Steam games like Fortnite, Destiny, or web-based titles via Edge. It also lets you access cheaper versions from other platforms, like free GOG codes from Amazon Prime Gaming—don't overlook those if you're budget-conscious. But the killer feature is Xbox Game Pass: log in, and hundreds of games populate your library instantly, ideal for newcomers building a collection without endless sales hunting. The recent $30/month hike for Ultimate might sting, but the $16.49/month PC plan offers 500+ games and new Microsoft titles, making it a gateway to PC gaming.
Even without Game Pass, the Ally X is capable hardware, but the FSE's rough edges make it tough to endorse over SteamOS alternatives like the Steam Deck or Legion Go S, which prioritize polish. We hope Microsoft refines this to realize its potential.
Kyle Orland serves as Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, focusing on the business, technology, and culture of video games. He holds degrees in journalism and computer science from the University of Maryland and even authored a book on Minesweeper.
What do you think? Is Microsoft's Windows-based approach a smart way to unify PC gaming, or does it just add more complexity? Do you prefer the simplicity of SteamOS, or would you trade it for broader game access? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have your own experiences with these handhelds!
