TheSoulWalker TheSoulWalker
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Hi folks, I wanted to just post a quick info dump on what to actually expect regarding the ROG Xbox Ally based on everything I've read and watched up to this point and I'll wrap it up with my thoughts and why I am going to be a day 1 buy.
- What is an ROG Ally?
An ROG Ally is a handheld laptop. It runs on windows primarily, with more recent efforts from groups like Universal Blue (Bazzite) to run like a Steam Deck
- What's the advantage to having an ROG Ally over a Steam Deck?
Love or hate windows, it fully comes down to compatibility. While the heroic launcher and lutris for linux is an amazing tool to have, the biggest caveat is anti-cheat. More and more games are requiring a kernal level anti-cheat system like Battlefield 6, Fortnite, and any RIOT game. These do not run on the Steam Deck whatsoever, I've tried personally with Skate., 2XKO, Fortnite, and Battlefield 6's Beta.
- Could it replace my Switch 2?
Really depends on what you have your Switch 2 for, if you use your Switch 2 mainly for 3rd Party titles that are available elsewhere then I'd say yes. If you're like me who only looks at the Switch as a 1st party only system, no it will not.
- Why is this new ROG Ally called the ROG Xbox Ally?
Because while this is essentially the ROG Ally 2, Xbox partnered with Asus to change the ergonomics of the controller side of the system. Xbox is also being put in charge of redoing the portable Windows experience with the Xbox "Full Screen Experience." It's designed the same way Steam OS is where Steam OS is a front plate for KDE Plasma, the desktop environment for the linux build.
- What if I don't have a library on PC?
Starting from scratch on PC is a lot easier than I think people make it out to be. Some free to play games I would recommend would be Zenless Zone Zero, Warframe, Marvel Rivals, and Hearthstone, I would also highly recommend linking your Xbox account if you have one to the system so you can access any possible "Play Anywhere titles" you may already own. This is where Xbox Game Pass would shine at it's brightest to aid with the transition to PC gaming.
- What is the horsepower under the system going to be like?
If I had to take a guess I would ballpark PS4 Pro level performance. The ROG Xbox Ally systems are running on an AMD APU (Basically a single chip housing the graphics and cpu brain power) so you'll have access to things like FSR which is a great tool to have that will extend the life of your handheld system. People have touted that Doom the Dark Ages runs at a butter smooth 60fps on the system but I unfortunately don't know what settings there were. Luckily we do have a hands on video available from Deck Wizard showcasing it here:
- What's the Price?
The Base Model has been confirmed at $600 and the X model at $900
- That's extremely expensive!
That's the main cost of PC gaming, You spend more on the hardware than you do the actual games, luckily the hardware if utilized right can last you nearly double the length of a regular console. The other kicker is once you buy a game on Steam or GOG or whatever storefront, as long as it works on the OS that you're using, you can still play it. No need to have to rebuy a game you already own on a previous system. Everyone totes steam as this amazing storefront for having steam sales which, are still good to a point don't get me wrong, but you're more buying for longevity.
- Why not just get a Steam Deck or the previous ROG Ally in comparison?
The 256GB LCD Steam Deck is $400 and would require you to go and buy a microSD card to really download anything heavy. You are also going to deal with the Compatibility issues stated before. If you're wanting something that plays more lighter games like say Cuphead and other titles, it's a totally valid option. Add the fact that you can't use game pass on the Steam Deck without having to heavily tinker with it to get a Windows install and the like.
- Can it dock to a TV?
It can! You don't need a proprietary dock either, just any thunderbolt dock that supports power passthrough and an HDMI out and you're golden, you can find them normally for $20-$30 on Amazon.
What people don't realize is this. You are moving out of a console ecosystem and transitioning to a PC ecosystem regardless of how much PR wants to spin it with the "This is an Xbox" slogan. Xbox is moving forward from being a console exclusive wheelhouse into a ecosystem wheelhouse where they are trying to sell the UI and the brand because customers that are buying from Xbox are demanding for more PC-centric things, Cross-play, Keyboard and Mouse support, etc. People are also using this to spin a narrative of "Well this isn't going to replace my Switch 2" to which, yeah, no shit you just bought that system less than half a year ago, no one in their right mind would look at something they spend hundreds on and go "yeah I'm ready to dump this thing" within 6 months unless it was that bad for them.
On my end, I've been a Steam Deck owner since wave one of the 512GB Etched LCD Screen model I then upgraded to the OLED Model 1TB. For years I've been hoping for a proper upgrade because more often than not most handheld PCs would trade blows with the Steam Deck offering a small variance of performance between titles. The ROG Xbox Ally is the first system that feels like a proper upgrade to what I already have. I've been on PC Gaming since 2010 so my library is well built with games I actively play along with a healthy backlog to go through. For me I will be buying the ROG Xbox Ally X for the Extra Ram and beefier battery. Couple all this with how Nintendo has been lately and I am pulling out of buying any of their products after this year. Metroid Prime 4 is my last game I will be buying personally.
Don't let buzzwords and ragebait videos cloud judgement because that's how you end up with purchases that you will suffer buyers remorse over. Good Luck, hope this helps!
- What is an ROG Ally?
An ROG Ally is a handheld laptop. It runs on windows primarily, with more recent efforts from groups like Universal Blue (Bazzite) to run like a Steam Deck
- What's the advantage to having an ROG Ally over a Steam Deck?
Love or hate windows, it fully comes down to compatibility. While the heroic launcher and lutris for linux is an amazing tool to have, the biggest caveat is anti-cheat. More and more games are requiring a kernal level anti-cheat system like Battlefield 6, Fortnite, and any RIOT game. These do not run on the Steam Deck whatsoever, I've tried personally with Skate., 2XKO, Fortnite, and Battlefield 6's Beta.
- Could it replace my Switch 2?
Really depends on what you have your Switch 2 for, if you use your Switch 2 mainly for 3rd Party titles that are available elsewhere then I'd say yes. If you're like me who only looks at the Switch as a 1st party only system, no it will not.
- Why is this new ROG Ally called the ROG Xbox Ally?
Because while this is essentially the ROG Ally 2, Xbox partnered with Asus to change the ergonomics of the controller side of the system. Xbox is also being put in charge of redoing the portable Windows experience with the Xbox "Full Screen Experience." It's designed the same way Steam OS is where Steam OS is a front plate for KDE Plasma, the desktop environment for the linux build.
- What if I don't have a library on PC?
Starting from scratch on PC is a lot easier than I think people make it out to be. Some free to play games I would recommend would be Zenless Zone Zero, Warframe, Marvel Rivals, and Hearthstone, I would also highly recommend linking your Xbox account if you have one to the system so you can access any possible "Play Anywhere titles" you may already own. This is where Xbox Game Pass would shine at it's brightest to aid with the transition to PC gaming.
- What is the horsepower under the system going to be like?
If I had to take a guess I would ballpark PS4 Pro level performance. The ROG Xbox Ally systems are running on an AMD APU (Basically a single chip housing the graphics and cpu brain power) so you'll have access to things like FSR which is a great tool to have that will extend the life of your handheld system. People have touted that Doom the Dark Ages runs at a butter smooth 60fps on the system but I unfortunately don't know what settings there were. Luckily we do have a hands on video available from Deck Wizard showcasing it here:
The Base Model has been confirmed at $600 and the X model at $900
- That's extremely expensive!
That's the main cost of PC gaming, You spend more on the hardware than you do the actual games, luckily the hardware if utilized right can last you nearly double the length of a regular console. The other kicker is once you buy a game on Steam or GOG or whatever storefront, as long as it works on the OS that you're using, you can still play it. No need to have to rebuy a game you already own on a previous system. Everyone totes steam as this amazing storefront for having steam sales which, are still good to a point don't get me wrong, but you're more buying for longevity.
- Why not just get a Steam Deck or the previous ROG Ally in comparison?
The 256GB LCD Steam Deck is $400 and would require you to go and buy a microSD card to really download anything heavy. You are also going to deal with the Compatibility issues stated before. If you're wanting something that plays more lighter games like say Cuphead and other titles, it's a totally valid option. Add the fact that you can't use game pass on the Steam Deck without having to heavily tinker with it to get a Windows install and the like.
- Can it dock to a TV?
It can! You don't need a proprietary dock either, just any thunderbolt dock that supports power passthrough and an HDMI out and you're golden, you can find them normally for $20-$30 on Amazon.
What people don't realize is this. You are moving out of a console ecosystem and transitioning to a PC ecosystem regardless of how much PR wants to spin it with the "This is an Xbox" slogan. Xbox is moving forward from being a console exclusive wheelhouse into a ecosystem wheelhouse where they are trying to sell the UI and the brand because customers that are buying from Xbox are demanding for more PC-centric things, Cross-play, Keyboard and Mouse support, etc. People are also using this to spin a narrative of "Well this isn't going to replace my Switch 2" to which, yeah, no shit you just bought that system less than half a year ago, no one in their right mind would look at something they spend hundreds on and go "yeah I'm ready to dump this thing" within 6 months unless it was that bad for them.
On my end, I've been a Steam Deck owner since wave one of the 512GB Etched LCD Screen model I then upgraded to the OLED Model 1TB. For years I've been hoping for a proper upgrade because more often than not most handheld PCs would trade blows with the Steam Deck offering a small variance of performance between titles. The ROG Xbox Ally is the first system that feels like a proper upgrade to what I already have. I've been on PC Gaming since 2010 so my library is well built with games I actively play along with a healthy backlog to go through. For me I will be buying the ROG Xbox Ally X for the Extra Ram and beefier battery. Couple all this with how Nintendo has been lately and I am pulling out of buying any of their products after this year. Metroid Prime 4 is my last game I will be buying personally.
Don't let buzzwords and ragebait videos cloud judgement because that's how you end up with purchases that you will suffer buyers remorse over. Good Luck, hope this helps!
