ROG Xbox Ally devices get a slew of upgrades as part of Microsoft’s latest update, introducing improved functionality, performance adjustments both big and small, and lots of other things. ROG Xbox Ally came out in mid-October 2025, with the basic model being roughly comparable to the Steam Deck in most situations. Over time, ASUS and Microsoft have delivered key improvements to it that helped make using Windows on the device a much better experience.
This long-term approach to software polishing is set to continue as ROG Xbox Ally and the bigger, faster ROG Xbox Ally X age. Whereas Windows was a poor choice for handheld gaming in 2022, when the Steam Deck came out, it has since improved massively. ROG Xbox Ally X is a 2025 highlight for TIME, even, which speaks to these devices’ flexibility and utility in gaming.
ROG Xbox Ally Reveals Handheld Compatibility Program
ROG Xbox Ally dives deep into a new feature that suggests the Windows handheld may have taken a page out of Steam Deck’s book.
Microsoft has gone into substantial detail on all the new ROG Xbox Ally updates via a recent blog post. Highlights include substantial improvements to how the docking experience works, Auto SuperResolution availability, the Collective Library for aesthetic game overviews, improved vibrations, and lots more. The Gamepad Cursor is proving to be a particularly useful feature in games that aren’t optimized for handheld controls, as it allows users to use their controller as a mouse stand-in where necessary. As there’s allegedly no first-party Xbox handheld on the horizon anytime soon, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft would be going all-in on the ROG device lineup from ASUS in the interim.
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Another big boon is the refreshed Xbox PC app, which also extends to how the game library is displayed on the Ally devices. This makes it much easier to add, remove, edit, and launch games and applications installed on the handheld even if it’s not a full-featured Xbox App. A bit of a must-have for any serious Windows-based gaming device, really. This boon in particular should make it much easier for users to customize their ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, which is always a good thing.
ROG Xbox Ally devices get updates rather quickly even compared to Valve’s SteamOS efforts. There’s no denying the fact that Microsoft is thoroughly dedicated to making Windows the place to be if one wishes to play all their games without compatibility or anti-cheat concerns. These are something SteamOS is still struggling with, even though it’s becoming an increasingly interesting alternative to the entrenched Windows ecosystem. Had Microsoft not done something to finally make the OS work on handhelds, the usability gap would’ve simply kept growing, which thankfully hasn’t happened in the end.
In fact, all the big improvements ROG Xbox Ally handhelds have been getting will end up being a net positive for gaming on Windows as a whole. AutoSR upscaler will be broadly supported on all Windows PCs, for example, giving users a decent alternative to Nvidia DLSS, Intel XeSS, and AMD FSR upscalers. More competition is always a good thing, so that’s excellent news for the end-users no matter what hardware they use.
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ROG Xbox Ally Patch Notes for April 2026
Docking Improvements
- Docked play now defaults to the TV display; handheld screen turns off automatically, with resolution, refresh rate, and HDR supported
- Smart TV gaming enhancements auto-enabled on Samsung, LG, and Vizio TVs (ALLM, Auto Game Mode, VRR via ROG Bulwark Dock, HDR10)
- New Display Widget in Game Bar lets you adjust display resolution, refresh rate, and projection mode without leaving a game
- Improved controller pairing: docking with a paired Xbox/Designed for Xbox controller automatically disables the built-in handheld controls
- Gamepad Cursor added, allowing controller navigation in experiences that don’t natively support gamepad input (browsers, music apps, third-party storefronts, etc.)
Auto Super Resolution (ROG Xbox Ally X / Xbox Insiders only)
- Auto SR is now available in preview
- Game Bar integration added so Xbox Insiders can control when Auto SR is applied per game
Audio
- Bluetooth LE Audio on Xbox Ally handhelds now streams in super wideband stereo voice fidelity
Haptics
- Enhanced Vibration delivers richer, smoother in-game haptic effects more consistent with the broader Xbox device lineup
Library / Xbox PC App
- Unified library consolidates installed games from all PC storefronts and launchers in one place
- New “+” button allows manually adding any game or app to the library, with the ability to customize names, images, launch targets, and command-line options
- Removing a manually added game from the library does not affect the original installation
Game Optimization (Ongoing)
- Over 1,000 PC games are now supported through the Handheld Compatibility program
- Default Game Profiles and Advanced Shader Delivery supported on both ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X
- New titles added with all three features: Ninja Gaiden 4, Grounded 2, High on Life 2, The Outer Worlds 2, Ark: Survival Ascended, Monster Hunter Rise, Gears of War: Reloaded
- Forza Horizon 6 support incoming at launch.
