The ROG Xbox Ally was shown off during Xbox’s Gamescom showcase, and it looks like a pretty good handheld. It looks like Xbox learned from the other Windows handhelds released, as this will launch with the game-friendly Xbox OS, ensuring everything is accessible with all of the device’s buttons in mind. Simply put, the Xbox OS might be the best PC handheld OS since, well, the Steam Deck.
Unfortunately for Xbox, I really like my Steam Deck right now. Valve’s device has everything I would want from a handheld PC, and this writer can’t imagine abandoning ship for the hot new thing.
We’re sure the Xbox Ally is going to be a great handheld, especially the Xbox Ally X, which will have even more power. But even with all of its great features, this announcement makes me wish Valve would announce the Steam Deck 2 already.
One Gaming Library
It’s admirable how the Xbox Ally will attempt to make games playable across most of the big PC platforms, including Epic and Steam. Seeing this be one of the default features is great news and should be celebrated, as these PC handhelds usually make it difficult to switch between games. Even the awesome Steam Deck still requires some tinkering if you want games from Epic or Windows to play properly.
Unfortunately, I have so many games in my current library that adding a whole Xbox library to that sounds insane right now. Plus, games designed for Steam might have noticeable differences on Xbox, so some of these titles might not be playable right away.
As much as I want to play Blue Dragon or Lost Odyssey on Xbox’s handheld, there are too many games I haven’t touched on my Steam Deck. Knowing Valve, transferring all of that to the Steam Deck 2 would probably be easy, as you just need the cloud and internet.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
While the ROG Xbox Ally looks comfortable, the device also looks like a pain to bring around. It feels like handheld gaming has lost some purpose in recent years, as these PC handhelds keep getting bigger and thicker. Although they make the playing experience more comfortable, their size makes bringing them around a pain, which shouldn’t be the case with “handheld gaming.”
Valve’s Steam Deck seemed enormous at first, and it still is when you compare it to Nintendo’s Switch or Switch 2, but the device feels nerfed compared to its competitors. The ROG Ally was already bigger, as was the Lenovo Legion GO, and now this Xbox Ally takes the cake. We know those grips are comfortable, but thinking about putting it on a backpack hurts our hearts.
Over time, we’re sure the Xbox Ally will be a natural fit for most handheld gamers. Heck, Valve could make the Steam Deck 2 enormous and ruin this whole argument, but as it stands, the current Steam Deck still “feels” like a handheld. The grips are comfortable, those button placements are perfect, and it’s still feasible putting one in a bag.
I’m just Biased
Honestly, these biases against the ROG Xbox Ally are just me being in love with Valve’s Steam Deck. This writer has spent so much time and energy playing games on this system comfortably, so switching to something else seems frightening. I like this handheld PC so much that the Switch OLED is picking up dust; that’s how bad things are.
Who knows? The ROG Xbox Ally could be enough, and this writer might end up selling his “old” Steam Deck OLED in the future. Even the Switch 2 is technically stronger than Valve’s older machine. A Steam Deck 2 could fix all of these things, but if I’m being honest, PC handhelds aren’t great at release, so waiting for the Steam Deck 2 OLED would be wise.
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