ROG Xbox Ally gets new update and teased with even more improvements to come

ROG Xbox Ally devices are getting a slew of upgrades as part of Microsoft's latest update, which introduces improved functionality, performance tweaks both big and small, and tons of other stuff. The ROG Xbox Ally came out in mid-October 2025, with the base model roughly comparable to the Steam Deck in most situations. Over time, ASUS and Microsoft have delivered key improvements that have helped make using Windows on the device a much better experience.

This long-term strategy of software polish will continue as the ROG Xbox Ally and the bigger, faster ROG Xbox Ally X age. While Windows was a poor choice for handheld gaming in 2022, when the Steam Deck came out, it has since improved tremendously. The ROG Xbox Ally X is a 2025 highlight for TIME, even, which speaks to the flexibility and utility of these devices in gaming.

Microsoft has gone into significant detail about all the new ROG Xbox Ally updates via a recent blog post. Highlights include significant improvements to the way the docking experience works, Auto SuperResolution accessibility, the collective library for aesthetic game overviews, improved vibrations and much more. Gamepad Cursor has proven to be a particularly useful feature in games that are not optimized for handheld controllers, as it allows users to use their controller as a mouse stand-in when needed. With allegedly no first-party Xbox handheld on the horizon anytime soon, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft would go all-in on ASUS' ROG device lineup in the meantime.

Another big boon is the updated Xbox PC app, which also extends to how the game library is displayed on the Ally devices. This makes it much easier to add, remove, edit and launch games and applications installed on the handheld even if it's not a full-fledged Xbox app. A bit of a must have for any serious Windows based gaming rig, really. This boon in particular should make it much easier for users to customize their ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, which is always a good thing.

ROG Xbox Ally devices get updates pretty quickly even compared to Valve's SteamOS efforts. There's no denying the fact that Microsoft is thoroughly dedicated to making Windows the place to be if you want to play all of their games without compatibility or anti-cheat issues. These are something SteamOS still struggles with, even as it becomes an increasingly interesting alternative to the entrenched Windows ecosystem. Had Microsoft not done something to finally make the OS work on handhelds, the gap would have simply widened, which thankfully hasn't happened in the end.

Image from Microsoft

In fact, any major improvements ROG Xbox Ally handhelds have received will end up being positive for Windows gaming as a whole. The AutoSR upscaler will be widely supported on all Windows PCs, for example, giving users a decent alternative to Nvidia DLSS, Intel XeSS and AMD FSR upscalers. More competition is always good, so this is excellent news for end users regardless of the hardware they use.

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Drag weapons to fill the grid

EasyMediumHardStart

Loadout Logic

Tap a weapon to rotate it or press R while dragging.

Time—

Filled0/36

NewEnd

ROG Xbox Ally Patch Notes for April 2026