Microsoft showcases a full-screen, Windows-based Xbox experience optimized for handheld gaming on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, rolling out to other handhelds in 2026
eventually Richard Speed / The Register : Microsoft cuts the Windows 11 bloat for Xbox handhelds Jacob Fox / PC Gamer : I spoke with Arm about PC gaming and was told that Windows software compatibility is ‘largely a solved problem’ Jez Corden / Windows Central : In perhaps even bigger news than the ‘Xbox Ally’ handheld itself, Microsoft is starting to revamp Windows 11 to boost PC gaming Hadlee Simons / Android Authority : The main issue with Windows handhelds is Windows, but the Xbox ROG Ally tries to fix that Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends : The ROG Xbox Ally fixes the worst problem with Windows handhelds Isaiah Richard / Tech Times : Xbox Console Games Start Appearing on PC App and Fans Believe Microsoft Is Cooking Something Up Kris Holt / Engadget : ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming devices are real and coming this holiday Sydney Butler / How-To Geek : SteamOS Vs Windows: Which Is Best for Your Handheld? Kyle Orland / Ars Technica : Microsoft dives into the handheld gaming PC wars with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat : Microsoft unveils Xbox gaming handheld launching in 2025 (updated with hands-on) Dennis Patrick / Gameranx : Xbox Ally Handhelds Officially Unveiled Erik Kain / Forbes : Microsoft Is Finally Releasing A Handheld Gaming Console And It's Coming Soon Steven Petite / GameSpot : Xbox ROG Ally Windows Handheld Revealed, Releases Holiday 2025 Matt Wales / Eurogamer.net : Microsoft's Xbox-branded ASUS handheld finally gets an official reveal Graham Smith / Rock, Paper, Shotgun : Xbox's handheld is coming this year, is also really a new Asus ROG Ally Sayan Sen / Neowin : Microsoft explains how Xbox Ally runs a lightweight bloat-free Windows 11 Jordan Middler / Video Games Chronicle : Microsoft has revealed the first Xbox handheld Bluesky: Aaron Greenberg / @aarongreenberg : So proud of the massive team of people across all of Xbox and our studios + partners who worked over many months to put this showcase together for you. Back to back game releases will not be slowing down + a new handheld coming this holiday! 💚 — news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/0... Phil Spencer / @xboxp3 : Thanks to everyone who joined us for #XboxShowcase and The Outer Worlds 2 & Grounded 2 Direct. To the creative teams whose games were featured—it's an honor to present your work. We're proud of this great lineup of games and updates coming to @xbox.com news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/0... [image] Sean Hollister / @seanhollister : I'm not yet convinced, particularly as they didn't let us touch, but they said all the right things in our briefing! Here's @tomwarren.co.uk with the details — www.theverge.com/news/682011/ ... X: Jez / @jezcorden : The news of revamps to Windows 11 for PC and handheld PC gaming is flying under the radar a bit. This could lead to a new paradigm of gaming PC scenarios that don't need mouse/keyb, i.e. great for TVs or even tablets (or phones......). https://www.windowscentral.com/ ... Jez / @jezcorden : Agree, love Xbox Play Anywhere. But the adoption is VERY inconsistent. FF Pixel Remaster is XPA, but FF16 and Tactics are not? Needs more work there. A lot more work. @wario64 : ROG Xbox Ally info and specs (launching this holiday which also means Silksong is out at that time) https://buff.ly/MF36ayz pricing, compatible accessories, and pre-orders to be revealed in the coming months [image] Tom Warren / @tomwarren : Xbox president Sarah Bond is really hyped about the Xbox button on the new ROG Xbox Ally devices [video] Tom Warren / @tomwarren : I got a demo of how Microsoft is combining Xbox + Windows for handhelds. There's a new full-screen Xbox experience for Windows, which includes booting directly to an Xbox UI and not even loading lots of parts of Windows. Full deep dive here 👇 https://www.theverge.com/... Tom Warren / @tomwarren : Microsoft's new Xbox full-screen experience will come first to Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, but Microsoft says it will update the Ally and Ally X too. “Similar full screen Xbox experiences will be rolling out to other Windows handhelds beginning next year” https://www.theverge.com/... Forums: r/pcgaming : In perhaps even bigger news than the ‘Xbox Ally’ handheld itself, Microsoft is starting to revamp Windows 11 to boost PC gaming r/hardware : In perhaps even bigger news than the ‘Xbox Ally’ handheld itself, Microsoft is starting to revamp Windows 11 to boost PC gaming r/hardware : [The Verge] Microsoft and Asus announce two Xbox Ally handhelds with new Xbox full-screen experience r/Games : Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Everything Announced, Including One Huge Game You Can Play Today r/xbox : Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Everything Announced, Including One Huge Game You Can Play Today Slashdot : Microsoft Announces Upcoming Windows-Powered Handheld Xbox Device: the ‘ROG Xbox Ally’