Yes — sort of. Microsoft has officially entered the handheld market with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, developed in partnership with ASUS. While not the traditional Xbox handheld many expected, these devices are fully Xbox-branded, run Windows 11, and are optimized for gaming.
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Unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025 The Sun+15Lifewire+15Tom's Guide+15EGamersWorld+12Wikipedia+12Indiatimes+12
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Two models:
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Xbox Ally: AMD Ryzen Z2 A, ~16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
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Ally X: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, ~24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, enhanced battery and ports Wikipedia+10Wikipedia+10Wikipedia+10
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Both sport a 7″ 1080p @120 Hz IPS screen, Xbox-themed controls, and support Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming, and remote play The Sun+1Wikipedia+1
Microsoft considers these devices Xbox consoles in spirit—booting into a full-screen Xbox-like UI rather than the full Windows desktop Wikipedia+3The Verge+3Tom's Guide+3.
💵 When and How Much?
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Release: Scheduled for Holiday 2025 in the US, UK, Sweden, and more The Sun+1LinkedIn+1
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Estimated Price: Early reports suggest ~$499–599 USD, though some speculate up to $800 depending on configuration and subsidization
🧭 Why is this Handheld “Xbox”?
Microsoft originally explored building an in-house handheld, but eventually shifted to collaborating with PC OEMs like ASUS, focusing on optimizing Windows and Xbox software rather than hardware alone EGamersWorld+7TechPowerUp+7GameSpot+7.
Insiders confirm Microsoft still plans a first-party handheld—or companion device—for 2027 alongside its next-gen console GamePro+5EGamersWorld+5TechPowerUp+5.
⚙️ Quick Specs Overview
| Model | CPU Model | RAM / Storage | Screen | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Ally | AMD Ryzen Z2 A | ~16 GB / 512 GB | 7″ FHD @ 120 Hz | 60 Wh |
| Xbox Ally X | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme | ~24 GB / 1 TB | 7″ FHD @ 120 Hz | 80 Wh |
Features include USB-C with DisplayPort/Thunderbolt options, microSD support, Wi‑Fi 6E, and Xbox Guide Button integrated into the controller layout TechPowerUp+10Wikipedia+10LinkedIn+10.
✅ Summary
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Microsoft has launched its first Xbox-branded handhelds—the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X—built by ASUS and running Windows with Xbox-tailored UI Wikipedia+9Wikipedia+9LinkedIn+9.
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Release is set for late 2025, with estimated pricing from ~$499–599 (possibly up to $800) depending on configuration GamePro+1LinkedIn+1.
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A fully Microsoft-designed handheld console is still reportedly in development for 2027, acting as a successor companion to Xbox Series X|S .
Would you like help comparing the ROG Xbox Ally to other handhelds like the Steam Deck? Or need help finding where to preorder once it’s available?
