Lengthy earlier than the Change modified all the pieces, I discovered myself extra drawn to handheld gaming than the house console. I keep in mind feeling extra keen about my Sport Boy Advance library than the PlayStation 2. So it did not come as a lot shock to me when the Change, after which the Steam Deck, captured a lot of my consideration and gaming time. The Steam Deck has since change into my major gaming system, as a consequence of its degree of adaptability and wealth of low cost video games on Steam. However at the same time as a faithful Steam Deck acolyte, the ROG Xbox Ally X made an impression on me. There’s rather a lot to be seen concerning the quasi-Xbox handheld, however it might even make a convert out of me.
I used to be in a position to attempt the ROG Xbox Ally X briefly on the Xbox showcase adjoining to Summer season Sport Fest. The presentation was largely hands-off, with a quick interval during which we have been allowed to play Gears of Struggle: Reloaded on it. So my impressions are a mix of sensible expertise and massive guarantees, however to this point I like what I’ve each seen and heard.
For starters, the precise ergonomics of the system really feel very good by default. I’ve outfitted each my Steam Deck and my Change 1 with third-party grips, rising their bulk in change for a greater feeling of holding it. The ROG Xbox Ally X cuts out the intermediary and simply consists of the extra substantial handles from the beginning, making it somewhat bigger and weightier than competing gadgets, however not more than I’ve already been doing for myself with add-ons. As somebody who primarily performs handheld programs at dwelling or whereas touring, I often have a spot to relaxation my arms whereas I play, so the elevated weight will not be an issue.
The controller format is supposed to emulate the acquainted Xbox controller, and to that finish, it appears to be like to succeed moderately properly. The Xbox button is now not centered–obviously, since there is a display screen within the middle–but its new placement inside a ROG trapezoid form makes sufficient sense. Every thing else, from the sticks to the face buttons to the triggers, felt to my palms identical to you have been holding onto an Xbox controller, albeit one which had been stretched out within the center to accommodate a display screen.
The person interface, too, appears to be like similar to the present Xbox UI. Meaning the identical giant sq. icons to signify video games in your library, with a sequence of panels to succeed in completely different areas of the interface. Impressively, although, Microsoft is promising that it’ll convey collectively all your third-party libraries in a single place. Meaning your Xbox and Sport Cross library, naturally, but in addition storefronts like Epic and Steam. (The presentation did not name Steam by identify, however a Steam brand was prominently displayed in its slide about third-party storefronts).
I’ve gotten Xbox streaming and storefronts like Epic working on my Steam Deck, but it surely took a little bit of setup, and I nonetheless neglect which video games I already personal in Epic as a result of I’ve to launch into its personal storefront to see that library. Having all of my owned video games throughout a wide range of platforms is the sort of quality-of-life characteristic that makes the ROG Xbox Ally X really feel extra like what you’ll count on from the console expertise: It simply works the best way you suppose it ought to work.
Likewise, parts like system efficiency are foregrounded in a means that feels extra approachable for players who could not need to delve deep into system menus. Tapping or holding the Xbox button brings up completely different contextual menus displaying issues like energy, RAM utilization, and extra. That is much like the “…” button on the Steam Deck, however being tied to the principle Xbox button makes it really feel much less like an afterthought.
When the Xbox representatives handed the ROG Xbox Ally X programs for us to demo, they have been being handled very delicately, and our time was pretty brief. It does really feel like it is a piece of in-development tech and we have been warned there might be hiccups. I did not expertise any, however the warning itself goes to point out that the product is not finalized. And later within the day after I went to play an prolonged Gears of Struggle: Reloaded demo, the ROG choice was simply there alongside the Xbox and PS5 variations, in order that gave me a bit extra time with it.
Gears of Struggle: Reloaded is, at its coronary heart, nonetheless a sport from the Xbox 360 period, but it surely’s gotten a collection of visible enhancements that actually stand out when proven facet by facet to the unique. Every thing is cleaner, and whereas the world continues to be grim, each Final Version and Reloaded have made it much less muddy and brown. So it is onerous to understand how this needs to be judged as a benchmark in comparison with extra trendy performance-pressing video games like Cyberpunk 2077. However the sport regarded and ran superbly, and on high of that, the fan was good and quiet.
There are plenty of unknown parts to the ROG Xbox Ally X, not least of all being its price ticket. The 2024 Rog Ally X, sans Xbox parts, begins at a whopping $900, so we will in all probability count on the ROG Xbox Ally X to demand an analogous price ticket, if no more. Nonetheless, my temporary hands-on did one thing that I have never skilled since falling in love with my Steam Deck in 2022. It made me really feel jealous.
