About a month ago, images leaked of an Xbox-branded gaming handheld that looked a lot like an Asus ROG Ally. Now we know why.

During a showcase livestream on Sunday, Microsoft's gaming division confirmed the device's existence in an official capacity. Well, there are two devices, actually: The ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. They both appear to take the basic concept of the original ROG Ally and adapt it for Xbox players by adding controller-like grips and a new user interface that retains all the compatibility with Windows while presenting things in a more game console-like manner.

Both devices will launch this holiday season, but unfortunately, you'll have to wait to find out how much they cost and when you can pre-order them. Microsoft has an online sign-up page for pre-order info whenever that becomes available.

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The main reason why you might want to get one of these instead of a Steam Deck is if you're already an avid Xbox Game Pass user. Microsoft is promising the full suite of Game Pass features, such as local downloads, game streaming, and remote play. It's possible to access Game Pass on a Steam Deck if you feel like jumping through some technical hoops, but by default, that device is locked to whatever is on your Steam library.

Since the Xbox Ally consoles are Windows-based, you can access any PC gaming library you want as long as it's compatible with Windows. The central UI will consolidate all of your games across every app into one place, too, which is nice. As for specs, both Xbox Ally handhelds have the same 7-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, putting it roughly in line with the Nintendo Switch 2. The Xbox Ally has an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, while the Ally X has a more powerful Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, meaning it will be more powerful and certainly more expensive, too.

Other differences between the two models that we know about right now mostly come down to memory and storage. The base Xbox Ally has 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, while the Ally X has 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. Other, more detailed specs will have to wait until later.

In many ways, this is a better value proposition right now than a Steam Deck, but it's also possible that the Xbox Ally costs significantly more. And there's only one gaming handheld that can (legally and legitimately) play Mario Kart World.

Topics Microsoft Xbox