The ROG Xbox Ally line of handhelds has fans talking, with many excited to play Steam games and PlayStation titles on this juggernaut of a system. Sure, it might just be an ROG Ally with big grips, but they do make gaming more comfortable. We know Microsoft is going to tout upcoming games like Hollow Knight Silksong, but fans also want classic Xbox games on the handheld.
Simply put, classic Xbox games on PC handhelds like the Ally would be a win-win situation. Xbox can profit off of their older titles, and fans can finally play Blinx: The Time Sweeper properly on a Microsoft handheld.
Rumors of classic Xbox games coming to the ROG Xbox Ally made the rounds on Reddit recently. While they were eventually proven false (at least for now), this has made the desire for classic Xbox games even stronger than before. Considering how a majority of the library isn’t available elsewhere, and emulation for the system is a pain, their addition would be a winner.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 is proof of this, as the company was praised for adding GameCube games to its paid online service. Although fans can easily emulate these games on a PC or Android handheld, nothing quite beats playing these classic titles on official hardware. It just feels right, we can’t explain it.
Admittedly, fans were going to use the ROG Xbox Ally for emulation anyway. Systems like the Steam Deck were practically made with them in mind, so there is a solution if Xbox won’t give fans a modern port of Conker: Live and Reloaded.
However, the Steam Deck has proven that convenience and easy access can make piracy less of an option. Because there are so many games on Valve’s store, which tend to go on sale, they make purchasing these titles feel more convenient. It takes time to make emulation work properly, so easy access to classic Xbox games would be a lot better.
Microsoft has done a pretty good job of making its older Xbox library available to modern systems. There are plenty of Xbox 360 games that can be played on Xbox One and Xbox Series systems, often with performance and visual upgrades. Even the company’s first system has some representation, with Halo: The Master Chief Collection being proof of that.
We’re not sure if the ROG Xbox Ally will make things better for the company, but gamers love handhelds, and this system could change their luck. Classic Xbox games can only sweeten that deal, considering how nostalgic most gamers are. Here’s hoping we get some of these classic titles soon, even if they’re disguised as remakes.
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