Microsoft surprised many of its fans with a peek at the future of Xbox. Instead of announcing the new Xbox console, they revealed two powerful Xbox Ally handhelds, ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. These devices are built with Asus with a design to bring Xbox gaming on the go.
These new handhelds are Windows-based, but they directly boot into the Xbox interface without even showing any signs of Windows. Users see a console-style dashboard, which makes the entire UI much easier to navigate. That way, they can access the games and apps like Discord conveniently.
An Xbox on PC Hardware
Microsoft was not playing around, they were clear about their goals. During the reveal, they stated: “This is an Xbox.” It’s no longer a box under the TV. It has now emerged as an advanced handheld that can be any device, including handheld PCs.
Xbox President, Sarah Bond, said that users can now hold the power of the Xbox experience in their hands with these new handhelds. It’s a bold statement for the future vision of Xbox.
Growing the Xbox Platform on Third-Party Devices
This is not just about the new gadgets, it’s now all about the software. These handhelds have allowed Xbox to transform into a platform that spreads across various devices.
With these handhelds, users will have full control to stream console games via Xbox Cloud. Moreover, PC games, including the Steam titles, can also be launched to enjoy a full gaming experience anywhere and anytime.
Gamers are doubting that these new ROG Xbox handhelds will give tough competition to Sony and Nintendo consoles based on the sales.
With these releases, Microsoft didn’t just tease a handheld, they hinted at a whole new console-less future of Xbox that will change the way people used to do gaming on big consoles.
