Microsoft announced Wednesday during Gamescom 2025 that not only will its Xbox Ally handhelds be released on October 16, but the company is spinning up a new initiative to support optimized gaming on these devices called the Handheld Compatibility Program.

ASUS reveals how the Xbox Ally X's new AI-powered Neureal Processing Unit (NPU) will affect gameplay, hinting at similar features in the next-gen Xbox.

Regular folk can now play on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, even if they still can't preorder it yet.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Xbox showcase at Gamescom 2025, including every game announced.

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The most notable difference between the Xbox Ally and the Steam Deck is the operating system. Like the ROG Ally, the Xbox Ally will also use Windows 11, while the Steam Deck uses Valve's SteamOS.

With all that said, "wrap up" is a pretty difficult phrase to define here. Microsoft has made an effort to make its software cross-generational since the Xbox One. Announced games will still be compatible with the Xbox Series consoles, and future, unannounced ones likely will, too.

So, as things stand, pre-orders for the ROG Xbox Ally are expected to begin on September 25th, 2025. The outlet says this date should be "taken with caution" though, as there's every chance Microsoft could move the goalposts again.

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"We’re back for Day 2 of our broadcasts live from the show floor of the Xbox booth at gamescom 2025, and the lineup is just as stacked as Day 1! Expect fresh gameplay, developer insights, new trailers, and a few surprises along the way."