Tag:

Date

Hollow Knight: Silksong finally gets a release date, and you’ve only got to wait a little bit skonger

by admin August 22, 2025

Congratulations, you did it. Yes, you, with all your annoying memes and your endless Reddit posts, you finally made Team Cherry announce a release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was all down to you – YOU – and your valiant efforts. Thank you. None of this could have happened without you. A round of applause, everyone, for the insufferable dweeb over here who won’t shut the fuck up about sad bugs. Satisfied? Right, come see the trailer and find out exactly when you’re going to die a thousand times.

Watch on YouTube

The release date is 4th September, as announced in a special Team Cherry broadcast today. Team Cherry have also been talking to Bloomberg about why it’s taken so long to pin down a date.

Originally conceived as a Hollow Knight DLC pack, Silksong was announced as a full sequel back in 2019. Team Cherry admitted in 2023 that the game had to be delayed because it had “gotten quite big”. Then, this April, Nintendo made a silly mistake and accidentally revealed that the game would release some time this year. It was also confirmed to be popping up in a playable state at a museum and Gamescom, two places with exactly the same vibe. Throughout all of these twists, the appetite for skong has never dipped below a ravenous, all-consuming hunger. Not to mix metaphors, but god, people are thirsty for this game.

“It was never stuck or anything,” Team Cherry co-founder Ari Gibson told Bloomberg. “It was always progressing. It’s just the case that we’re a small team, and games take a lot of time. There wasn’t any big controversial moment behind it.” The delay was perhaps an inadvertent good business strategy in prolonging the selling power of the original Hollow Knight – as of now, it has racked up over 15 million copies, buying Team Cherry ample time to tinker away on Silksong.

Hollow Knight is one of our best metroidvanias. But is it the best? I won’t tell. You have to go find out for yourself, and leave a disgusting little comment complaining about it if not. Nerd.

Check out our Gamescom 2025 event hub for all the PC game announcements and preview coverage from Cologne.

Source link

August 22, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Hollow Knight Silksong finally gets release date, out next month

by admin August 22, 2025

Hollow Knight Silksong has finally received a release date, as announced today by Team Cherry today along with a new trailer.

Silksong will be available on 4th September across Switch consoles, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, including on Xbox Game Pass.

News of today’s announcement was hinted at earlier this week at gamescom’s Opening Night Live, along with a fresh look at gameplay. More of that was shown in the new announcement video you can watch below:

Hollow Knight: Silksong – Special AnnouncementWatch on YouTube

Silksong is playable at the event too, though it’s the same demo that was shown back in 2019 – albeit in revised form. It’s proving to be a particularly popular game at the show.

Eurogamer’s Dom Peppiatt braved the queues to go hands-on with Silksong, and came away impressed with its high challenge and how Hornet’s movement differs from the original game’s Knight.

After seven years of development, finally Silksong is almost in our hands.

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

Source link

August 22, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Jubilation, chaos, and a lot of screaming: inside a Hollow Knight community Discord as the Silksong release date finally hit

by admin August 21, 2025

30-minutes until the live reveal of the latest Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer, the Hollow Knight: Silksong Daily News Discord server is packed. Almost a hundred people are sitting in a single voice channel, chatting away, cracking jokes. In less than an hour, they’ll blow out my earphones.

Prior to the release date trailer, the regular gags are thrown out perhaps for the final time. The game will be announcing a delay, one person meekly chirps. Another boisterous and proud, declares that Team Cherry had tweeted something, lying as easily as he breathed.

“Why are there so many people on this call?” one user asks. “How many are in the official Silksong Discord?” unaware that the official Hollow Knight Discord had locked its voice channels, making Silksong Daily News the go-to spot for live reactions.

You can watch the release date trailer for Hollow Knight: Silksong here!Watch on YouTube

In the few minutes leading to the reveal, shock reactions at 160,000, then 200,000 people flocking to the YouTube trailer stream flow constant and jubilant through the voices of eager fans. Discord user Kelton closes down the Itch.io Silksong fan game, and settles in to watch. Everyone quickly mutes themselves as the YouTube timer nears zero, others are told to shut up.

The timer hits zero, only for another three minute timer to appear. Everyone unmutes again. Some claps, an “oh my god”, scattered laughter. Someone notices that 260,000 people are now watching live, and renewed cries for muted mics are made by leaders of the pack. Discord user Schmalamph states: “after so many years it’s finally time”, before shifting up with a “Silksong 2034” gag to the chat’s amusement.

Then, the trailer starts, and it’s beautiful. Gasps and meek cheers pop out between cuts. The map is shown and people start to get riled up, “holy shits” get thrown out as Hornet flips around platforms and enemies alike. The volume rises steadily with each new line in the trailer, over 200 enemies, over 40 bosses. At this point, I should have turned the volume down.

Then, the trailer fades to black, and September 4 creeps into frame. Everyone unmutes at once and screams. They cheer and yell and one guy does what sounds like a war cry. Some European fella starts singing September by Earth, Wind, & Fire. Then, very few leave. They stick around and celebrate while pouring through the trailer frame-by-frame. As the dissection of every detail, every nugget of information continues, I take my leave with sore eardrums.

This experience, hanging out in a Hollow Knight: Silksong Discord and listening in to the jokes, the joy, and the post-trailer merriment is to me what video game fandom is all about. It’s hearing people who have been starved of information for years finally learn that not only is the wait almost over, it’s over in two weeks. It’s knowing that some stranger across the world now has to phone their boss and try to get time off work for a video game, and knowing you’re tempted to do the same.

So here’s to the Hollow Knight fans, whose wait is almost over. All that’s left is to hope the game isn’t bad. God, could you imagine?

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

“You’ve just made my day” live reactions to the Silksong release date

by admin August 21, 2025

In case you hadn’t heard the many summon circle participants crying out in joy that their prayers had finally been answered, or the klaxons sounding far and wide, let me tell you the good news – Silksong has a release date!

The much anticipated Hollow Knight follow up is set to release across Switch consoles, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, including on Xbox Game Pass in just two weeks time, on 4th September.

On the ground here at Gamescom, applause could be heard as the date was announced, so of course I headed out into the fray to get some first hand reactions from those waiting in line for the Silksong demo. What I got was a mix of relief, giddy anticipation and, for one person, a little bit of stress.

Manage cookie settings

First up, there was the lovely young gentleman who had somehow missed the news until I asked his thoughts about Silksong’s release date.

“Wait, what?! It’s coming out? Okay, I am pretty freaking excited. This is crazy, because everybody was waiting for it, and now it’s so soon! Two weeks? Ahhh, I am very happy,” he beamed. “I played the first Hollow Knight a few years back, and it was the first metroidvania I played, and it made me fall in love with the genre, and since then I have played many more metroidvanias and it’s all because of Hollow Knight. I loved it – I hope this is going to be even better!

“You’ve just made my day.”

Image credit: Team Cherry

“I am quite surprised it is so soon,” another Gamescom attendee told me. “I’ve been waiting just as impatiently as everyone else.”

“I played the original in 2017, and since then – I’ve been waiting!!” another added. “It’s two weeks, that’s wild!! When [Team Cherry] said it’s this year, I thought maybe at Christmas, but… two weeks!”

“I am sooo, so so so surprised it is coming out so soon,” I was again told. “Ahh, I can’t wait!!”

A very eloquent chap of 12 years old told me he had been waiting for this moment for four years. “I loved the first one,” he said. “It’s super nice.” He will “definitely” be getting Silksong day one, he informed me, with this being the game he is most excited about.

Another chap waiting in the queue for Silksong’s demo told me that while he was both “surprised” and “excited”, but also already feeling pretty stressed about managing to play all the games he wants to. “It’s coming out right between Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and before Silent Hill f. I want to play all of those games! But, I will play Silksong day one,” he laughed.

“I have been waiting for years [he gestured to his shirt which shows Hornet looking back at me]. It’s absolutely great news, I have been waiting for so long.”

Are you just as excited as this lot?

Image credit: Team Cherry

Elsewhere in Silksong news, it has not, in fact, taken so long to release due to being stuck in development hell. Rather, hype skyrocketed sales of the original game to give Team Cherry financial freedom.

Our Dom also braved the Gamescom queues to go hands-on with Silksong, and came away impressed with its high challenge and how Hornet’s movement differs from the original game’s Knight. You can check out their thoughts in Eurogamer’s Silksong preview here.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Xbox PC Gaming Handheld Gets October Release Date But No Price

by admin August 21, 2025

Microsoft has officially announced the release date for its handheld gaming PCs, the ROG Xbox Ally and indeed the even more bemusingly named ROG Xbox Ally X. Both devices will be available on October 16, but maddeningly, we still don’t know a price. However, we have learned that the portable gaming machine is going to feature its own equivalent of Valve’s Steam Deck verification system.

Microsoft and ROG’s team-up is a sort of stop-gap attempt at a portable Xbox, a concept Microsoft has recently be touting in ambiguous terms. This crossover with the already popular ROG Ally Windows 11 machine sees the device rebranded with Xbox buttons and, more importantly, with a new UI that should make it reasonably simple to play your Game Pass, GOG, and Steam games on the subway.

Today, Microsoft has made its release date official, declaring that on October 16 we’ll be able to get hold of both models, with pre-orders due “in the coming weeks.” Despite this, we still don’t have a price for either model. However, rumors about the potential cost continue to appear—see below.

The current ROG Ally comes with an AMD Ryzen Z1 processor, and costs $650. However, the basic Xbox version will be a step up, featuring the brand-new Ryzen Z2 with “four Zen 2 cores with eight threads and eight RDNA 2 GPU cores,” which sure sounds like a lot of threads and cores. It’ll also have 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD (which isn’t close to enough–that’s like two Calls of Duty). Meanwhile, the Ally X will beef that up to an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, which as you can see both has AI and is extreme. It features “a new 8‑core/16‑thread Zen 5 APU with 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores and an integrated 50 TOPS NPU,” and let’s all pretend we know what that means and feel impressed. It also bumps the RAM up to 24GB, and offers a 1TB SSD for up to four Calls of Duty at a time.

Xbox Ally has its own improved take on “Steam Deck Verified”

When Valve’s Steam Deck released, the company attempted to create a system, called Steam Deck Verified, that’d let owners know if a game on Steam was likely to be able to run on the handheld. It’s been sort-of useful over the years, although too often compromised by some games getting “Verified” status despite requiring super-low settings. It’s less and less useful these days, but then the Steam Deck is aging out. Microsoft is attempting something similar for the ROG Xbox Ally, with a system called the Handheld Compatibility Program, which the company says will “optimize thousands of PC titles for handheld compatibility” to “ensure day-one users have the best experience possible.” The system’s labels will have two tiers, “Mostly Compatible” and “Handheld Optimized.”

“Handheld Optimized means that the game is ready to go—with default controller inputs, an intuitive text input method, accurate iconography, clear text legibility, and appropriate resolution in full-screen mode. Mostly Compatible means that the game may require minor in-game setting changes for an optimal experience on handheld.”

Another neat feature is that the device will preload shaders while you’re downloading a game, so you won’t have to sit through a minutes-long loading bar the first time you launch a game after you already thought it was ready. The AI is being used for upscaling antics, and for the more dubious-sounding “Highlight Reels,” where it’ll capture what it considers to be “standout gameplay moments” and create shareable clips. It’ll be fun to see what nonsense that generates.

Microsoft says they’ve already got Gears of War: Reloaded running on the new handheld, which is an impressive boast.

Price rumors are already out there

According to an IGN report, Microsoft says it can’t announce prices yet because of “macro-economic conditions,” which is a bold claim considering the release date is in less than two months. You might assume the devices are already built at this stage, so the cost is not going to surprise the corporation. Clearly implying that Trump’s tariff jazz is a factor, an ASUS rep told IGN, “I think we will have to…we need more time to figure the macro-economic impact to pricing, and that’s why we’ll be sharing more later, in September and October.”

Reliable leaker billbil-kun is claiming to have the figures, however, stating the regular ROG Xbox Ally will be $549.99, while the ROG Xbox Ally X will be a mighty $899.99.

🚨 PRICING ALERT 🚨

Here are the final prices of Xbox Handheld consoles in USD:

🔸 ROG Xbox Ally: 549.99 USD
🔹 ROG Xbox Ally X: 899.99 USD pic.twitter.com/8sz1DKGFY7

— billbil-kun (@billbil_kun) August 20, 2025

$550 does seem low for the basic version, given the current ROG Ally is $650 and runs on an older generation of tech. However, it’s possible that Microsoft could be eating a lot of the costs to get the handheld out there and competitive. The company is said to have never made a single cent from the sale of Xbox consoles, instead relying on software and subscription sales to make up for the losses. Given the ROG Xbox Ally will essentially be a portable Xbox store, it’s very possible the company will be looking to make its money through sales, and of course the Game Pass Premium subscriptions that’ll make the machine worthwhile. At the same time, serious PC players will recognize that 16GB RAM is at the very lowest end of what’s useful these days, so will be tempted to lean toward the far more expensive Ally X to get that 24GB RAM and its considerably faster innards.

Given Microsoft and ROG will want a decent runway for pre-orders ahead of release, it does seem slightly unlikely that we’ll not get an official price before October. Expect that to appear in a couple of weeks, I’d reckon.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond officially ESRB rated, sparking hope for release date news

by admin August 21, 2025

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has received its official ESRB rating, sparking hope that release date news is on the way soon.

Now updated on the US eShop, Metroid Prime 4 has received a Teen rating, with animated blood and violence. In the UK, it has a provisional PEGI 12. These ratings are the same as Metroid Prime Remastered.

Back in July the game popped up on the Korean ratings board, but still we don’t have a release date beyond 2025.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Direct 3.27.2025Watch on YouTube

Earlier this month, Nintendo reiterated the latest in its beloved sci-fi series would still launch this year, despite rumours of a delay.

That followed a poster for the game appearing on the London Underground stating, incorrectly, that it was “out now”.

Metroid Prime 4 will be released across both Switch and Switch 2, with the latter being a prime example of the console’s varied control capabilities – including mouse mode.

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Microsoft lock in a release date for their ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, but no price yet because macroeconomics

by admin August 21, 2025

Xbox’s handhelds have a confirmed release date, and yes, it’s the one that leaked. As for how much the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will cost you, Microsoft aren’t sharing a price yet, because there are some macroeconomics to take into account, don’t you know.

The pair of Asus devices souped up with some extra Xboxiness to fit the company with all the green branding will release on October 16th. As I said, no price or pre-orders as of yet, with Asus senior vice president Shawn Yen having offered the following explanation to IGN as to why that’s the case:

I think we will have to… we need more time to figure the macroeconomic impact to pricing, and that’s why we’ll be sharing more later, in September and October.

Odds are that’s exec speak for something along the lines of ‘We’d like to see how things play out a bit more with these US tariffs, if you please’. Dealabs, whose reliable leaker Billbil-kun was behind the early sharing of the handhelds’ release date, report that the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X’s US prices could be $549.99 and $899.99 respectively. We’ll just have to see if that’s accurate, and what it equates to in sadness island pounds and pence.

Xbox also revealed a Handheld Compatibility Program, that’ll let you look for the “Handheld Optimized” or “Mostly Compatible” badges on games in your library to see what should work on your Xbox Ally, much like you’d check for Steam Deck verification. There’ll also be a “Windows Performance Fit indicator” that’ll “reflect expected performance” on your hardware.

Odds are our James will have plenty to say about both when they debut, which’ll amount to far more than my expert analysis that them be some cheeky little thumbsticks. I can’t see myself investing in one over a Steam Deck whenever I inevitably decide a handheld’s a thing I need more than life itself, as Phil Spencer has over the past couple of years.

I’ll run out the clock here by flagging that there have been protests going on this week at a Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington campus. Staff continue to voice their opposition to the company’s business relationship with Israel’s armed forces amid the on-going assault on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Read Edwin’s full write-up here.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Xbox Reveals ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld Release Date But Not Price, Due To ‘Macro-Economic Conditions’

by admin August 21, 2025

We’re officially in the Gamescom cycle, which means a steady stream of previews, like our hands-on impressions of Hollow Knight: Silksong, and news tidbits. Xbox provided the latter today, announcing that its upcoming handheld line, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, will hit store shelves on October 16, just two months from now.

However, while the release date is clear, we don’t yet know how much either product will cost. In a roundtable interview with IGN, Asus senior vice president Shawn Yen said, “I think we will have to… we need more time to figure the macro-economic impact to pricing, and that’s why we’ll be sharing more later, in September and October.” Because the prices aren’t yet live, neither are pre-orders.

The handheld is made in partnership with Asus, a company that has been producing the ROG Ally handheld for a few years now. The cheaper models currently retail for around $500 USD, so it’s likely that a partnership between Asus and Xbox would go for around that amount or higher.

Xbox’s release date announcement also detailed some of the handheld’s new features, including a handheld compatibility program, which helps to indicate which games are best suited for handheld play, similar to the Steam Deck’s verification program. On Xbox, games will either be “Handheld Optimized” or “Mostly Compatible,” with the latter requiring “minor in-game setting changes for an optimal experience on handheld.” There’s also a “Windows Performance Fit” rating to judge how well the game will run on your device.

Stay tuned to our Game Informer coverage to see our hands-on impressions with these devices. In the mean time, catch up on the coolest games we’ve played at Gamescom 2025, which we’ll be updating as the week continues.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

The Xbox ROG Ally X finally has a release date – and we went hands-on at Gamescom

by admin August 21, 2025

Months after they were first revealed, Microsoft and Asus are letting the paying public have a chance to test out their new Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally X handhelds here at Gamescom. The two firms are also marking the show by finally announcing an “on shelf” retail release date: October 16th.

To be clear, these aren’t proper handheld Xboxes that will play any Xbox title, despite the “this is an Xbox” branding, but they’re still capable handheld gaming machines that can play PC games natively, or stream Xbox titles from an Xbox console or Microsoft’s cloud streaming service. Compared to the old Ally devices, the new Xbox models have been spruced up with new AMD processors and a streamlined Windows operating system. That should translate into better performance and a huge step forward in usability, and could make these the best Steam Deck competitors so far.

We went hands-on with both devices at Gamescom, with a software-focused outing at the Microsoft booth and a more hardware-focused extended play session in the Asus area, with Microsoft and Asus representatives providing some interesting extra details that we hadn’t yet heard.

Xbox Ally (in white) and Xbox Ally X (in black). | Image credit: Reece Bithrey/Eurogamer

Let’s start with the basics: the white Xbox Ally and black Xbox Ally X look identical in size and shape, which reportedly simplifies the production process, but the vanilla Xbox Ally is lighter by ~45g, as a consequence of lacking the upgraded Z2 Extreme processor and Impact triggers of the top-end machine. Both models are well-balanced and don’t feel too thick, despite their chonkier frames versus the original Ally devices. The impact of the Ally X’s impulse triggers is hard to judge, especially as relatively few games support them on PC, but might result in more fine-grained force feedback in some Xbox titles. Inside, the higher-end Ally X sports a larger 80Wh battery, has a more capable Micro SD card slot and a fancier higher-bandwidth USB 4 port alongside another USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C port.

Similarly, performance on the X with the Z2 Extreme chip is a bit of a mystery, with Asus reps unwilling to comment and relatively sparse reports online suggesting a small overall improvement – perhaps around 15 percent. However, that online reporting also suggests that larger gains are possible at lower power settings, hinting towards a boost to efficiency and potentially battery life – despite the matched 80Wh unit in the Xbox Ally X and regular Ally X. Meanwhile, the Z2 A chip in the regular Xbox Ally ought to perform very similarly to that of the Steam Deck, as it’s based on the same architecture and even has the same speed 6400MT/s RAM as the Steam Deck OLED.

The screens here feel well-chosen, with LCD used instead of OLED, but otherwise everything you’d want: a seven-inch 1920×1080 display rated up to 120Hz with VRR. We’ll take a colourimeter to them later to find out more about their colour reproduction and other performance figures, but the display here feels superior to that of the Switch 2 and a shade behind that of the Steam Deck OLED.

Manage cookie settings

The software experience is the biggest change here, with a design that includes both an upgraded Xbox app, used as a unified games launcher and general home screen, and the Armoury Crate software that Asus developed for the original Ally devices. The main idea is moving as much as possible onto the gamepad controls and into the Game Bar overlay. Ideally, you don’t need to connect a mouse and keyboard or even use the touchscreen to enter your PIN at login, go through Windows updates, make settings changes and launch games. Long-pressing on the Xbox button brings up a quick switcher, letting you move between different full-screen apps like games and Discord, and there are also iOS-style navigation gestures on the touch screen. Games from most major game storefronts will be automatically pulled into the Xbox launcher, so you shouldn’t need to venture into full-fat Windows to boot up most titles.

Perhaps even more importantly, the Xbox Ally devices boot up into a customised version of Windows built around the Xbox launcher, so services like the desktop window manager that normally run at startup are disabled. You’re able to pop into a full Windows instance, which prompts those missing services to start, and after this you can choose to move immediately back into the Xbox gaming mode – with the proviso that those background tasks will sap some performance – or reboot the device to get back to a fresh slate and full performance.

Microsoft engineers told me that nothing has been removed from Windows here, so in theory you’d be able to use the Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X as your only computer, perhaps hooked up to a dock with a monitor, keyboard and mouse. There also wouldn’t be anything to prevent you from installing an alternate OS if you chose, though at present it would be a bit silly to buy the first Xbox-branded Windows gaming PC and then take that unique software off.

Model
ROG Xbox Ally X
ROG Xbox Ally

Chipset
AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8 Zen 5/5c cores, 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, 50 XDNA2 AI TOPS)
AMD Ryzen Z2 A (4 Zen 2 cores, 8 RDNA 2 GPU cores)

Memory
24GB LPDDR5X-8000
16GB LPDDR5X-6400

Storage
1TB 2280 NVMe SSD
512GB 2280 NVMe SSD

Screen
7-inch 1080p 120Hz VRR display

I/O
1x USB 4 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, UHS-2 Micro SD card reader w/ UHS-1 DDR200 mode, 3.5mm
2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, UHS-2 Micro SD card reader, 3.5mm

Dimensions
291x122x51mm

Design
715g, L/R Xbox Impulse triggers
670g, L/R Hall Effect triggers

Battery
80Wh
60Wh

Price
£££££
£££

The demo units available at Gamescom did have some software glitches at this stage, with the Xbox Ally I tested constantly entering the pause menu in Forza Horizon 5 and behaving erratically when using the touch gestures from inside the game. These aren’t likely to be running the most recent software, due to the nature of these demos, but it does suggest that the software side may need a bit more time in the oven. Similarly, features like adding custom games to the launcher are also expected to come post-launch.

That could explain why we’re only just hearing about the October 16th release date right now, rather than prices and a firm timeline for when pre-orders begin… though the general state of the world (gestures broadly) might also impact proceedings. Regardless, there’s not too much longer to wait, and Asus reps were keen to assure us that pre-orders and pricing information would follow “soon”. (In fact, some retailers have already started listing the device in their virtual shelves, which we’ve begun cataloguing in our Xbox Ally buying guide).

Disclosure: Asus provided flights and accommodation to Cologne for Gamescom.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

ROG Xbox Ally: Release Date, Specs, Price and How It Compares to Steam Deck

by admin August 21, 2025

The Steam Deck has yet to find a real competitor in the PC handheld gaming device battle. Other hardware companies, including Asus, Lenovo and MSI, have tried, but so far, their devices keep falling short. Asus plans to try to take another swipe at the crown, though, this time with the help of Microsoft.

In June, the two revealed their partnership for a new handheld device: the ROG Xbox Ally. This handheld will come in two variants and will attempt to bring the Xbox console experience to a portable device. Microsoft confirmed the release date for the Xbox Ally of Oct. 16 on Wednesday, but there are still some questions about the handheld.

Will the Xbox Ally outdo the Steam Deck, or will it wind up being just another wannabe?

Will you go with the Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X?

Microsoft/Screenshot by CNET

How much will the Xbox Ally cost?

Neither Microsoft nor Asus has confirmed an official price yet. One thing for sure is that the Xbox Ally won’t be cheap.

Multiple leaks suggest the price will be 599 euros for the Xbox Ally and 899 euros for a higher-end version, the Xbox Ally X. That does leave the question of what the price will be in the US. Most likely, the price will be the same just in dollars, as that is the typical practice for gaming hardware prices.

Discount social media poster Wario64 tweeted Best Buy listings for the Xbox Ally, Xbox Ally X, charger dock, and case on Wednesday. There’s no pricing on the site for the devices, just a button to be notified when preorders become available. However, Wario64 states the pricing on the back end shows the Xbox Ally at $550 and the Xbox Ally X at $900, while the charging dock is listed on the site $100 and case for $70. The dock and case prices are on Best Buy and are accurate. It’s unclear if Microsoft changed plans at the last minute.

Best Buy has listed ROG Xbox Ally listings (no preorders yet)
Ally ($549.99) https://t.co/nmHw6Nxov3
Ally X ($899.99) https://t.co/Dts0GcUNFW
100W Charger Dock (HDMI 2.0, USB-A, USB-C) ($99.99) https://t.co/LkoKyunOE8
Case $69.99 https://t.co/jaTIBfWUXX
Confirming… pic.twitter.com/oalzcOON77

— Wario64 (@Wario64) August 20, 2025

Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the post.

The uncertainty about the price of the Xbox Ally is likely due to tariffs. Microsoft recently increased the prices of its Xbox Series consoles and Asus has done the same with its laptops and its current ROG Ally lineup.

When does the Xbox Ally come out?

Microsoft did confirm the release date of the Xbox Ally on Oct. 16. This date was mentioned in previous leaks regarding the handheld device’s price.

When can I preorder the Xbox Ally?

Preorders are not available as of yet. In the blog post about the release date, Microsoft says preordering and pricing will be announced sometime in the future. Best Buy does have the listings for the Xbox Ally, Xbox Ally X, charging dock and case, and those interested can request to be notified when preorders become available.

What’s the difference between the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X?

There are two versions of the Xbox Ally: the lower-priced Xbox Ally and the higher-priced Xbox Ally X.

The key differences between the two are in their processors, storage and memory. The Xbox Ally will have the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor, while the Xbox Ally X will use the faster AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor. Memory will be different, with the lower-priced Xbox Ally having 16GB of LPDDR5X-6400 and the higher-cost handheld coming with 24GB LPDDR5X-8000. Both will come with SSD storage but the Xbox Ally will have 512GB and the Xbox Ally X will have 1TB. The Xbox Ally X will also come with a bigger battery but with a faster processor and more memory. It’s not clear if that difference in capacity translates to a longer battery life.

Specs for Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X

ROG Xbox AllyROG Xbox Ally X Operating System Windows 11 HomeWindows 11 HomeControls and grip Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort. ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R Hall Effect analog triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-axis IMUContoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control. ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-axis IMUProcessor AMD Ryzen Z2 A ProcessorAMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme ProcessorMemory 16GB LPDDR5X-640024GB LPDDR5X-8000Storage 512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgradeDisplay 7-inch, 1080p, IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium; Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection7-inch, 1080p, IPS, 500 nits, 16:9; 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium; Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-ReflectionI/O Ports 2x USB-C (2 x DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1x microSD, 1x analog audio2x USB-C (1x USB4, 1x USB 3.2 both w/ DP 2.1, PD 3.0), 1x micro SD, 1x analog audioNetwork and Communication Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2), Bluetooth 5.4Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2), Bluetooth 5.4Dimensions 29.1×12.2×5.1 cm29.1×12.2×5.1 cmWeight 670g715gBattery 60Wh80WhIncluded ROG Xbox Ally 65W charger StandROG Xbox Ally X 65W charger Stand

What makes the Xbox Ally different from the Steam Deck?

The most notable difference between the Xbox Ally and the Steam Deck is the operating system. Like the ROG Ally, the Xbox Ally will also use Windows 11, while the Steam Deck uses Valve’s SteamOS.

Even though every PC game works with Windows, handheld gaming devices running Windows have had serious issues, as the OS implementation has been a bit buggy. Portable consoles like the ROG Ally, MSI Claw and Lenovo Legion Go simply don’t run well with full Windows because the OS is designed for laptops and desktops and not handheld devices. SteamOS, however, is designed to run almost every game on Steam without issues and regardless of device size.

The Xbox Ally changes that by giving it an Xbox interface. This would be similar to how the Xbox app on PCs works for running games. It would also be able to download Xbox games directly to it, remote play them off a console or stream them via Xbox Cloud.

Watch this: Xbox ROG Ally, the Xbox Handheld, Is Real and I Played It

04:05

Another big difference is the hardware. The Steam Deck came out in 2022 and it was the first mass-produced handheld gaming device for PC. At the time, Valve had to use custom AMD processors but since then, AMD has produced more processors for handheld devices, which are now much more powerful in just a few years. The Xbox Ally would also have faster RAM. Both the improvement in processors and RAM should significantly increase the number of games the Xbox Ally can run versus the Steam Deck, which is already struggling to run newer games at 30fps.

Externally, the Xbox Ally will come with the same size 7-inch display but it will have a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, a brighter screen at 500 nits and increased resolution at 1080p. There will also be some slight differences in the physical size of the Xbox Ally, which will be a little bigger and heavier. Another difference from the Steam Deck is that the Xbox Ally controls will be more similar to the Xbox controller.

Microsoft and Asus have a large hill to climb if they plan to have the Xbox Ally dethrone the Steam Deck. It will be especially tough if Valve decides to announce the Steam Deck 2 soon.

Source link

August 21, 2025 0 comments