Microsoft’s security tooling has once again collided with real‑world device workflows — this time stomping on the Xbox‑focused handheld experience and leaving owners unable to update or run critical OEM tools. Reported incidents show Windows’ application control layer blocking components of...
The Xbox-branded ROG Ally X arrives as a study in contrasts: a stunning piece of handheld hardware that feels like the future of portable Xbox play, yet one that too often behaves like a launch‑window Windows PC in need of multiple patches. The reviewer experience Windows Central published...
ASUS and Microsoft’s ROG Xbox Ally lands as a pragmatic reimagining of the Windows handheld: a compact, controller‑first device that ships with Windows 11 and a purpose‑built, full‑screen Xbox experience designed to make PC gaming feel like a console without giving up Windows’ openness. The...
Microsoft is preparing to flip the switch on Windows 11 version 25H2, but the update arriving in the coming weeks is not a horsepower‑hungry revamp — it’s an enablement package that mostly activates features already staged on devices, trims legacy baggage, and adds a handful of targeted...
Microsoft’s Xbox handheld arriving as a Windows-powered device is less an endgame than the first real, public proof that Microsoft intends to use Windows itself as the foundation of a next-generation, cross-device Xbox experience.
Background / Overview
Microsoft and ASUS announced the ROG Xbox...
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ASUS and Microsoft have locked in October 16, 2025 as the global ship date for the ROG Xbox Ally family — two Windows‑based, controller‑first handhelds (the ROG Xbox Ally and the higher‑end ROG Xbox Ally X) that promise a full‑screen Xbox experience on a compact, purpose‑built chassis...
Microsoft and ASUS appear poised to bring the ROG Xbox Ally family to market this fall, with a fresh leak narrowing the launch window to October 16, 2025, and pointing to pre-orders opening as early as August 20 during Gamescom — a timetable that, if accurate, turns months of “holiday 2025”...
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Microsoft's recent enhancements to the Xbox ecosystem are significantly narrowing the distinctions between console, PC, and cloud gaming. These developments aim to provide a seamless gaming experience across various platforms, reflecting the company's commitment to accessibility and integration...
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Redesigns, new devices, and evolving controversies have defined another dynamic week in Microsoft’s ecosystem. As users and IT professionals assess the June 2025 landscape, Microsoft’s rapid experimentation and innovation—ranging from fundamental Windows 11 Start menu changes to the debut of the...
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In a landmark move that’s set to redefine portable gaming, Microsoft has officially pulled back the curtain on its much-anticipated Xbox-branded handheld devices. Revealed during an online event, these new offerings—dubbed the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X—signal not just a new generation of...
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Microsoft has rarely shied away from competitive risk, but its latest hardware play is a bold statement even by its standards. In the very week that Nintendo is drawing global headlines with anticipation around the Switch 2, Microsoft Gaming has unveiled not one, but two Xbox handheld gaming...
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What are the new ROG Xbox Ally handhelds?
ASUS and Microsoft have announced two new premium handheld gaming devices: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.
Both will boot directly into Xbox via Windows 11 and are designed to offer a seamless Xbox experience on a dedicated handheld.
Key...
Microsoft’s decision to temporarily halt development of its long-speculated Xbox handheld console has sent waves through the gaming community, especially as the portable gaming sector enjoys record growth. With portable powerhouses like Valve’s Steam Deck and Nintendo’s Switch dominating the...
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The abrupt halt in Microsoft’s Xbox handheld development has sent ripples through the gaming industry, shocking both fans and insiders who have followed the tech giant’s pursuit of a mobile console that could rival the market’s current leaders. For years, speculation has swirled around...
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The gaming community was abuzz with anticipation as rumors of a dedicated Xbox handheld gaming console circulated, hinting at a bold stride by Microsoft into the competitive world of portable gaming devices. However, recent developments indicate a strategic pivot by the Redmond-based tech giant...
Microsoft's strategic pivot in the gaming hardware landscape has recently come into sharp focus. The tech giant has reportedly shelved its plans for a native Xbox handheld console, redirecting its efforts toward enhancing the gaming capabilities of Windows 11 and collaborating with third-party...
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Microsoft's exploration into the handheld gaming market has been a topic of considerable interest and speculation. Recent developments suggest that while the company has been actively prototyping handheld Xbox devices, a consumer-ready product remains several years away.
In a November 2024...
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For years, the gaming world has buzzed with anticipation over rumors of a dedicated Xbox handheld. From cryptic statements by Xbox chief Phil Spencer to credible leaks by industry insiders, expectations have swirled around Microsoft’s possible entry into the portable gaming hardware market. Yet...
Gaming fans who have eagerly followed the decades-long rumor mill around a dedicated Xbox handheld are experiencing yet another twist in the tale. Microsoft, according to fresh intelligence from industry sources and partner leaks, has put its own portable device on the back burner—at least for...
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When Microsoft quietly decided to hit pause on its long-rumored first-party Xbox handheld, the move sent ripples through the gaming community. Rumors had swirled for years about a native Xbox portable that could finally make good on old-school fans' dreams—taking their console library on the...
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