Revealed: Microsoft and Asus make their “Xbox Ally” Gaming Handlesd “Xbox Ally” debut

We have exclusively revealed the Kennan project A few months ago, and now we know the real name, specifications and everything you need to know.

Previously known as Kennan projectMicrosoft and Asus have revealed today the Ally Ally and Xbox Ally X, two super -loaded PC playing computers fed by The new Z2 Extreme and Z2-A of AMD chipspromising increased performance and battery life for the shape factor.

In perhaps even larger news, the Ally Xbox will also wear a new version of the Xbox application for Window 11, which adapts the operating system specifically for PC game pocket computers. The Xbox ally will always be full windows under the hood, but, in early tests, the Xbox application in full screen mode seems to use only a third of total idle consumption of typical windows. Microsoft also says that they can free up to 2 GB of RAM for game performance with these new features.

Here is what we know so far on the Xbox ally and the Xbox X ally.

Xbox Allied and Xbox Allied X Specifications

I do not know why they did not call it “Xbox Ally S”, but it seems that it will be the most affordable of the two options. It does not have as much storage, uses a less powerful chip and a 16 GB of RAM, but it is most likely designed to be more a mass market offer. We do not know exactly how powerful Z2-A is, but Microsoft and Asus say that it is designed for electrical efficiency, and also has features designed to take advantage of the future IA Technologies such as weft generation and the NPU assisted scale.

I suspect that the Xbox ally “S” (I call it that I don’t care), will be better exploited against well-optimized 3D games, but perhaps especially 2D games, although it is pure speculation when it comes to writing. Even the Z2 Go in the Lenovo Legion Go S is quite efficient even for the AAA 3D ​​games, but with compromises. We will have to wait and see exactly how this chip works in practice. Previous leaks trampled on Z2-A to a range of 6 to 20W, which may not be enough to push certain AAA games to their “high” parameters at 60 IPS, but Wattage only tells a part of the story here.

Microsoft and Asus of the Xbox ally have been described as a “premium” option, so I expect this device to exceed $ 1,000. Indeed, we do not yet know the price of one or the other device, but with prices with an impact on the supply chains on technology, do not expect the final price to be pretty.

In any case, the Xbox X ally should be a real performance power, such as Rog Ally X before him. Powered by the next generation Z2 Extreme, pushed as much as possible, we should see really incredible performance of this pocket computer. I hope it will be quite exciting to compare when the time comes. The previous leaks suggest that this chip will go up to 35W, beating on the 30W of the Z1E ROG ally. Microsoft said that games like the next Gears of War: Reloaded Run to a completely stable 1080p 60 IPS on this thing, offering a game experience on AAA console.

Asus Rog with a little Xbox design flair

The Xbox ally and the Xbox X ally are undoubtedly “Asus Rog” in their design, with the angles and the ROG brand here and there. Microsoft and Asus worked hard to implement an Xboxxy flair here and there, however.

The Xbox “S” ally as I call it with Xbox brand textures throughout the color, and the two devices use the Xbox font on Abyx buttons and share triggers and joysticks with standard Xbox controllers. The two devices also have an angular Xbox button installed at the top left, highlighting the partnership.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of this device, when it initially disclosed, was the bulky handles. This has been clearly done for ergonomic reasons, because the overall height of the device has been revised to make it easier to reach all bumpers and triggers – by taking advantage of Xbox design knowledge. Microsoft and Asus explained to us that the balance of the device has been considerably improved compared to the previous versions of Rog Ally, designed for long -term use without creating fatigue. The handles have been designed so that your medium index and fingers can be used for access to the bumper and trigger, leaving your ring and your little fingers to stabilize the device in your hand. Speaking of this, the two devices also have rear buttons for additional entries.

No doubt the biggest “Xbox” contact here is the software, which is a massively improved experience, of what I can say.

A massively improved Windows 11 game experience

Perhaps an even greater title here than the Xbox ally itself is the fact that Windows 11 and the Xbox application are unique to this device here (for the moment), with exclusive features that massively improve performance and reduce the general costs of the operating system. I am told that ultimately, the new Xbox application and Windows 11 game features will finally be deployed on other devices such as the Lenovo Legion Go (from the beginning of 2026, says Microsoft), but they will be exclusive to the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X while they are developed and refined.

Microsoft’s goal with Windows 11 on the Xbox ally is to do so so that you can navigate as many windows as possible without using the touch screen or a keyboard. We do not know if it is a separate ring with ordinary Windows 11, but it certainly seems that it is what I can say.

On the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, you can go through the locking screen on Windows 11 using the controller, which is a first for Windows. But it’s better once you really are.

With the new Xbox application, you can define it in full screen mode as Steam for the first time. But it’s not just cosmetic. When running in full screen mode, the Xbox application will deactivate all Windows 11 processes, even the desktop, reducing the amount of inactive / standby power consumption by two thirds. In addition, it will release up to 2 GB of RAM and send it directly to your games. Microsoft claims that these advantages are still early on the launch window for the 2025 platform holidays, and there should be greater improvements to talk about the line.

Although the Xbox application in full screen cancels some of the traditional mouse features and Windows 11 keyboard, it will not reduce the capacity of several tasks. Despite the office closing in this mode, you can still launch applications and programs from the new Xbox game bar. A new Alt Tab interface will also allow you to scroll these applications, whether youtube via Chrome or Edge, or Discord Himself, without having to move to the office environment.

This is a business enormous enough for Windows 11, because it is not difficult to envisage how this new mode could possibly extend to other types of devices, tablets to televisions (… and phones?!). But it’s still very early. Microsoft wanted to emphasize that they are considering even greater performance savings with these features as they are developed.

It is not quite an Xbox laptop, but we get there

The elephant in the room is that, in fact, it is always a pocket computer on PC at the end of the day. For Xbox fans, this means that the vast majority of your Xbox games will not work on this thing, unless they support Xbox Play anywhere. There are a ton of Xbox games anywhere now, but the vast majority of AAA games or hit the Indies completely jump Xbox PC, without taking into account the Xbox game anywhere. But obviously, the Ally Ally and Xbox Ally X can always use the Steam and Steam Big Pay Mode mode also, in addition to other stores like Gog and Epic Games.

Anyway, it is the first step towards the dream of having a real Xbox laptop that can Raise all your Xbox games. I suspect that more and more games will open to Xbox Play anywhere While Microsoft continues to push its Xbox PC showcase as another option for PC developers next to Steam, since Microsoft offers developers 88% of the income from their games, on 70% of Steam.

The platform works that Microsoft has done for Windows 11 here is incredibly exciting for the category in general, especially as Steam on devices like the Steam bridge Pushed Microsoft to really improve the experience of players and consumers in general. The versatility of the windows remains its super power, but all this power has a cost – and this cost is, well, power. If these new improvements to Windows 11 can Stimulate the lifespan and battery performance in a way that it seems that Steamos can, What we have here is a dream PC game laptop that takes advantage of the complete versatility of Windows without its compromises on performance.

… Providing the price is correct, of course. Prepare your wallets, your players.