Microsoft has confirmed details of its long-awaited handheld console, the ROG Xbox Ally.
Last year, Xbox teased it was working on a handheld console to rival the Nintendo Switch. In June, boss Phil Spencer said “the future for us in hardware is pretty awesome. The work that the team is doing around different form factors, different ways to play, I’m incredibly excited about.”
A few months later he said that the “expectation is that we would do something” in the handheld gaming space, with a team already working on prototypes.
Now Microsoft has confirmed two new handheld consoles will be released later this year.
The ROG Xbox Ally is “the essential handheld at a great value for everyone from the casual player to the avid enthusiast” while the ROG Xbox Ally X will be “the ultimate high-performance handheld, built for the most demanding players.”
“Everything at Xbox starts with the player,” continued a statement from Microsoft. “That’s why we’ve dedicated years to reimagining how to make it easier to enjoy the games you love—wherever you are. Whether you’re at home or on the go, your favourite games should follow you.”
The handheld consoles will see Microsoft collaborate with Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS and include several “new and first-of-their kind features on both devices—from an immersive Xbox full screen experience, an aggregated gaming library with access to installed games from leading PC storefronts, and more.”
It’s been confirmed that ROG Xbox Ally owners will have access to all games that are available on Xbox Game Pass, while will also be playable on the handheld.
