Xbox and the way forward for handheld gaming PCs 

The launch of ROG Xbox Ally, anticipated October 16, could give handheld gaming PCs a lift, however consultants don’t count on demand for the minicomputer to blow up anytime quickly. 

The ROG Xbox Ally is the closest factor but to a transportable Xbox console.  

The gadget is the newest handheld gaming PC because the first of its sort, Valve’s Steam Deck, was launched in 2022. It’s really a tiny Windows 11 laptop you’ll be able to carry round to play PC video games. 

Improved processor, extra user-friendly 

The ROG Xbox Ally and the extra highly effective ROG Xbox Ally X are up to date variations of the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, launched in 2023 and 2024, respectively. 

Many options, together with processors, have been improved, and the gadgets are extra user-friendly. The new controller appears like an actual Xbox and, as a result of the load has been distributed extra evenly, it feels lighter in your arms. 

The gadget’s Windows 11 interface has been modified to be harking back to the Xbox Series consoles. Not solely will customers get direct entry to PC video games from the Xbox retailer, they will additionally set up software program from different app shops, together with Steam and Epic Games, simply navigating their approach utilizing the acquainted Windows 11 interface.  

One factor to notice, regardless of having “Xbox” within the title, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X should not appropriate with video games unique to the Xbox One or Xbox Series consoles. However, you’ll be able to management any Xbox remotely with the gadget or play Xbox video games within the cloud. 

Popular, however solely with a small crowd 

While those that love handheld gaming PCs are devoted, their numbers are small. The International Data Corporation (IDC) estimated in February that lower than six million handheld items had been offered between 2022 and 2024, for all manufacturers, worldwide. 

For perspective, final yr IDC estimated that 65 million gaming PCs could be offered worldwide in 2025. The share of gamers utilizing handheld gaming PCs in comparison with the whole variety of typical gaming PC gamers is minuscule. 

According to info from Montreal-based Behaviour Interactive, lower than one % of players taking part in Dead by Daylight on Steam are doing so on a transportable Steam Deck. The overwhelming majority play on a pc or laptop computer. 

Other video games are faring barely higher. 

“About 4.5 percent of the hours played on our games on Steam this year were played on Steam Deck, a percentage that’s stable since last year,” says Rodrigue Duperron, director of selling and publishing at Montreal’s Thunder Lotus, the studio behind Spiritfarer, which is on the market on Steam, and 33 Immortals, which isn’t. 

Spiritfarer is very well-suited to handheld gaming PCs because the sport doesn’t want a ton of energy, and its slower tempo is definitely dealt with by the console’s built-in controls. 

Thunder Lotus is the exception that proves the rule, in response to Lewis Ward, writer of the IDC report on handheld gaming PCs. “I suppose some studios could see a higher penetration, but it’s less than one percent,” he says. 

Ward doesn’t anticipate the upgraded ROG Xbox Ally will do something to shake up {the marketplace}, definitely not within the quick time period. The newest forecast predicts that not more than three million handheld gaming PCs can be offered globally in 2026, all manufacturers included. 

“I don’t do a ’27, ’28, ’29 forecast for this, for the very good reason that the numbers are fluctuating all over the place in terms of shipment numbers that we can see,” he says.  

If new handhelds with extra highly effective processors are launched, the state of affairs may change. 

Games are simply tailored 

While players who go for handheld PCs will not be massive in numbers, they nonetheless need video games they will play. 

“I think there’s a player persona of gamers who are in transit or who travel, and want to bring their gaming library with them. I also hear about people who get them as a curiosity and it ends up becoming their primary gaming platform,” says Scott Christian, director of Toronto-based Hilltop Studios, the creator of Lil’ Guardsman. “I sort of fall into this camp. I bought a Deck to playtest as we developed the new game. Since I bought it, I haven’t touched my Xbox.”  

For Christian, it’s important that Lil’ Guardsman is appropriate with the Steam Deck. 

Both Steam and Xbox are fastidiously analyzing video games of their shops to see how they carry out on handheld gaming PCs. 

Valve, Steam’s developer, classifies a sport as verified when it’s appropriate with the Steam Deck controller, show and working system. The expertise must also be seamless, that means no compatibility warnings, you need to be capable to launch it utilizing the controller, and all textual content needs to be legible.  

In many instances, builders don’t need to do something to grow to be verified.  

“Our games didn’t require any major adaptations to better support handhelds, aside from some extra attention to readability on portable screens,” Duperron confirms in an e-mail. “We had taken this into account for our releases on Nintendo Switch and, in particular, for smartphones long before Steam Deck came along.” 

Xbox not too long ago launched the Xbox Handheld Compatibility Program to investigate how video games will carry out on handheld gaming PCs. Games are evaluated robotically, with out builders needing to submit them. 

In August, Microsoft revealed five key guidelines for builders to make sure their video games are appropriate, with recommendations on comply: video games should work by default with out players having to alter settings, iconography should be acceptable for handheld gaming PCs, inputting textual content should be simple on the gadgets, the interface should be legible from a distance of 12 inches, and the sport should be appropriate with the gadget’s decision. 

“The excitement from our developer community has far exceeded our expectations,” says Xbox senior technical program supervisor Casey Bates. “The work that developers do for this will work for every handheld. It’s going to benefit the entire ecosystem.”  

Maxime Johnson

Maxime Johnson is a contract journalist specializing in expertise, and has contributed to quite a few publications, together with L’actualité, Les Affaires, Infobref, Pèse sur begin and Protégez-Vous.

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