Microsoft has revealed a heavily optimized Windows 11 for portable gaming consoles. It is a special mode where the Xbox app acts like a shell. The OS itself will automatically shut down all processes not required for games. This frees up up to 2 GB of RAM and improves performance. But there will be optimizations made to the Windows 11's user interface, adapted for portable gaming consoles.
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These optimizations and changes have been for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portable gaming consoles. As said, the Xbox app will run on them in full-screen mode, similar to Steam's Big Picture. As a result, you'll see an interface tailored for use on devices of this form factor.
In this mode, the Xbox app will reduce the operating system's power consumption in standby mode by two-thirds, which will have a positive effect on the battery life of the device. In addition, the system will automatically shut down all processors not required for games, including the desktop, search indexing, background Office tasks, and Copilot. Microsoft believes that this will free up up to 2 GB of RAM.
There's also a new app-switching interface that's somewhat reminiscent of the task switcher on Android and iOS. It's been adapted for use with a gamepad, so you can easily switch to Discord, YouTube in the browser, Telegram, or other apps without having to go to the desktop.
The changes described will initially be exclusive to the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, which will hit the market in late 2025. However, Microsoft says they will be available on existing portable gaming consoles, such as the Lenovo Legion Go, in early 2026.
ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portable consoles
The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portable gaming consoles were revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025. They are created in partnership with ASUS. Previously, these devices were known under the code name Project Kennan.
The devices are built on the latest AMD Z2-A and Z2 Extreme chips, respectively, which promise excellent performance and long battery life for devices of this form factor.
Despite the above mentioned optimizations made to Windows 11, both consoles will run the regular desktop version of the operating system. The user will be able to access the regular Windows shell.
Finally, one of the most important things is that ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will not be able to play console games from Xbox. This means that you will only be able to play PC games downloaded from Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, or other stores.
ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X feature the recognizable ASUS ROG style, but with some Xbox gamepad elements. The logos, the signature font on the ABXY buttons, and the shape of the triggers and sticks directly reference the Xbox controllers. The shape of the consoles is optimized for ergonomic that will allow you to play the games for hours.
Differences between models
ROG Xbox Ally
The ROG Xbox Ally will likely be a more budget-friendly model aimed at the masses. The console comes with 16GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor. The chip is said to be designed with power efficiency in mind, but it also includes an NPU to support intelligent features like image scaling and frame generation.
ROG Xbox Ally X
ROG Xbox Ally X is the flagship portable gaming console from Microsoft and ASUS. It is based on the powerful AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, which should provide excellent performance. The company claims that the announced game Gears of War: Reloaded on this console runs in 1080p at 60 FPS. The console is expected to cost over $1000.
Device Comparison: ROG Xbox Ally vs. ROG Xbox Ally X
- Operating System: Both devices run on Windows 11 Home.
- CPU: ROG Xbox Ally - AMD Ryzen Z2 A; ROG Xbox Ally X - AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme.
- RAM: ROG Xbox Ally - 16GB LPDDR5X-6400; ROG Xbox Ally X - 24GB LPDDR5X-8000.
- Storage: ROG Xbox Ally - 512GB SSD M.2 2280 (replaceable); ROG Xbox Ally X - 1TB SSD M.2 2280 (replaceable).
- Display: Both have a 7-inch 1080p IPS display with 500 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, and Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC anti-glare coating.
- Graphics: ROG Xbox Ally - AMD Radeon RDNA 3; ROG Xbox Ally X - AMD Radeon RDNA 3 with AI Boost.
- Battery: ROG Xbox Ally - 60Wh; ROG Xbox Ally X - 80Wh.
- Ports:
- ROG Xbox Ally: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, microSD card reader, 3.5mm combo audio jack.
- ROG Xbox Ally X: 1x USB4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, DDR200 microSD card reader, 3.5mm combo audio jack.
- Networking: Both support Wi-Fi 6E (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.4.
- Audio: Both include Dual Smart Amp Speakers, Dolby Atmos, and AI Noise-Canceling Microphone.
- Dimensions and Weight: Both have the same dimensions of 290.8 × 121.5 × 50.7 mm; ROG Xbox Ally weighs 670g, while ROG Xbox Ally X weighs slightly more at 715g.
- Release Date: Both are expected to release by the end of 2025.
Both share identical displays, networking features, audio components, and physical dimensions, but the Ally X is obviously a more powerful device.
Source: Windows Central, thecommunity.
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