GHG
Member
The modifications would mean it would need to be able to run x64/86 executables, which means... Full fat windows under the hood.
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ROG Xbox Ally X price leaked.
- Thread starter Sebastian1295
- Start date
The modifications would mean it would need to be able to run x64/86 executables, which means... Full fat windows under the hood.
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
Some sort of dual boot to Windows or otherwise very securely isolating the actual "Xbox" portion.
There's a reason you don't need denuvo or ani-cheat on consoles as they refuse to run unsigned code. This is all tied to chip level security embedded on the hardware.
MS has similar hardware security features on Windows but it's all opt-in, and it's specific to Windows.
They can have a version of Windows that absolutely can't launch into any sort of desktop mode if they want at least some control but by and large it still basically needs to be windows.
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HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Sorry we had a second conversation going as far as next gen console goes and having Steam support because no obviously this Ally is not running GTA 6 day one, yet anyhow
Topher
Identifies as young
Microsoft is already creating a game mode for Windows that doesn't have access to the desktop. Very much like how Steam big picture mode works. Wouldn't be surprised if that is utilized for the next Xbox as well.
The executables would just need the libraries they are dependent on. They would not need the entirety of Windows.
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
I'm well aware, but it still can always also launch in Desktop mode.
Topher
Identifies as young
That doesn't mean the console will be able to.
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
GHG
Member
SteamOS is full fat Linux under the hood, which means no restrictions on what can and cannot run, hence you have access to desktop mode (hell, some games require you to tinker around in desktop mode to get them running well or at all in some cases).
Topher
Identifies as young
Ok? Guess we agree then.
bender
What time is it?
Judging by the SteamOS version of the Lenovo Go being $70 cheaper vs the Windows version I would say they get windows licensing money and the front page of your screen to advertise gamepass and MS wares. They don't give a shit about game sales/store cut because they are losing very badly on that front and killing it themselves with gamepass. That's why Epic Tim Sweeney and Phil are going after those who get a store cut together.
Fess
Member
This sticker talk is getting dumb, they've redesigned the shell.
The real question is who actually designed it. Is the outer shell made by the Microsoft team and ASUS moved over their innards?
Seems to be a collaboration, MS hired ASUS to redesign the outer shell after their specification with the handles and Xbox button etc. There was talk about sticks and bumpers and haptics too, but I can't tell what has changed there, looks the same.
I assume some money goes to both. But it's still ASUS product, otherwise they wouldn't have kept the ROG and Ally in the name. The official name is ROG Xbox Ally X. They also kept Armory Crate on a button and that's ASUS thing.
vaibhavpisal
Member
How will this mythical xbox troubleshoot if there is a issue in running a windows game?
vaibhavpisal
Member
Am thinking Xbox took some data from Asus on how people use handheld in designing OS UI.This sticker talk is getting dumb, they've redesigned the shell.
The real question is who actually designed it. Is the outer shell made by the Microsoft team and ASUS moved over their innards?
Seems to be a collaboration, MS hired ASUS to redesign the outer shell after their specification with the handles and Xbox button etc. There was talk about sticks and bumpers and haptics too, but I can't tell what has changed there, looks the same.
I assume some money goes to both. But it's still ASUS product, otherwise they wouldn't have kept the ROG and Ally in the name. The official name is ROG Xbox Ally X. They also kept Armory Crate on a button and that's ASUS thing.
A hardware vendor giving inputs on control system they have must be valuable.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
I honestly think this is all being done on purpose because there is no way people can be this stupid.
And I mean not understanding the difference between a rog ally xbox edition or an xbox edition quest 3 s vr headset and a traditional console.
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DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Ding ding ding.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Everything you just explained, is everything MS is NOT saying. You are correct. So, why doesn't Microsoft express to the public what this device is and what it isn't? To me that's the issue.
This isn't a good thing and can't be a winner long term. I'm assuming you understand that part, right?
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Fess
Member
It's just because it seems like an impossible task to get Steam and other stores working well if they don't turn it into a PC. If that multi store rumour wasn't there I would believe it no doubt. But if they don't actually plan to have multi store access on a supposed traditional console, then why are they banging the drum so hard about not being tied to a specific store or hardware?
They could be doing two separate things. One traditional console with no other store and also branded PCs with multi store access.
But… Who would buy the traditional console in that case???
All their moves right now will lead to a traditional Xbox console struggling to get software support. That box needs ports. A branded PC don't. Devs will skip it when it's not big enough on the market. Already happening.
//DEVIL//
Member
Marketing man. It's part of their marketing that this is an Xbox. They want to assure people that these devices can play your favourite Xbox games.
Asus wont be the only company with an Xbox logo, I am sure MSI and Lenovo probably are in talks with MS for something similar.
MS has a bigger issue in hand right now which is streamlining the windows experience to a pure gaming experience. Once they get this sorted first, you will see a platoon of devices forming in the horizon with Xbox logo or Xbox certificate ( like the Xbox certification for 3rd party controllers )
This Asus Xbox rog ally x is just a pilot device for what is next to come.
Us hardcore gamers can see though this marketing and we know what's up's. But most casual gamers don't, they will see an Xbox logo and can play Xbox games ? Yeah ill
Buy it since I can play now my favourite Xbox games on the go . This is the marketing MS is trying to reach.
They've lost on that front already, they know that. They're a third party publisher now and loathe the 30% cut they have to pay others. They've given up on xbox store sales hence why they're allowing other stores too. It isn't their intention to compete there, only destroy it through gamepass and regulators. They're after disruption and not winning those store sales. If people didn't buy games from stores anymore but subbed to gamepass instead they're fine with that.
jm89
Gold Member
MilkyJoe
Member
"Introducing new Lynx from Atari..."Lmfao, the same PC Gamer that gave the ROG Ally X a 91% rating is now 'not going to put up with MS crap' for a follow up with significant improvements at the same price as the original?
'Desperate infiltration of the PC gamer space' indeed. It's a Windows gaming handheld. They've been a thing for years
Even for you, this is truly bizarre
sendit
Banned
Agrees. 5 pages for the 3 people that will buy this device is shocking to say the least.
They've pretty much told the public exactly what this is. Basically a handheld PC that can play Xbox games (PC version), and will run an optimized version of Windows.
Hard to argue their deep loathing for that cut when they're putting their games on even more storefronts where they pay that cut.
"Microsoft is putting their games on Steam, Nintendo store and PSN but they don't really intend to sell anything there"
Duh
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
I hear ya, but why couldnt a traditional console run steam? Say, if it was an app?
It's not my fault you're illiterate and don't realise the store sales I'm talking about are xbox store sales they're no longer trying to win. 'Duh'"Microsoft is putting their games on Steam, Nintendo store and PSN but they don't really intend to sell anything there"
mayham2199
Member
That's the real question and there will be issues.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
The answer to your question that I bolded is........the Xbox hardcore that want to keep their previous purchases.
Oh god! I didn't catch what you were saying at first. So you think MS will go the Epic route (like they did to Apple) and try to undermine the whole "wall-garden" approach that console gaming has had with digital games for the last 20 or so years? I swear if Microsoft sues Sony and Nintendo for that I'll.......................break something!
Fess
Member
An app? That's just an "application", a program, compiled to run on whatever hardware and OS it's built for.
Theoretically you could run Steam on a Commodore 64.
IF Valve ported it to the Commodore 64…
Problem is, no games would run on it. Unless devs started doing some black magic C64 ports of their games. Or unless Valve bought some licenses and started selling 80s C64 games on that C64 version of Steam.
To bring the talk back to the reality. A traditional Xbox console built with the usual unique hardware setup we usually see on consoles just isn't a PC. That's the problem. So you can't run regular PC versions on it. You would either need a Windows PC emulator, Virtual Machine, or ports for Xbox. If either thing was simple then why don't we see Steam games everywhere? As said earlier, Mac got Cyberpunk now, 5 years late, because a Mac isn't a PC.
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Yeah, I think their aspirations align more with a publisher now than a platform/store owner so they will push for things that benefit a publisher more. The only platform they really have now is gamepass. A bit like Ubisoft+ or EA play. Ubisoft, EA, and ABK all tried a store/launcher but ultimately failed. MS is still at the launcher phase now.
Just like Epic didn't I don't think MS will sue Sony or Nintendo, especially any time soon before releasing their console. Judging by their push against Apple along with Tim you can already see their position is as a publisher/content provider and they don't mind destroying those walls anymore to get better percentages for game sales or push gamepass on to those devices. Depending on how their next console does it will determine where they push and MS has a habit of changing strategy often. Publishers who rely too heavily on specific platforms normally don't want to burn bridges either so who knows really if they will sue or which way they go in 5 years time.
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Fess
Member
I mean I too don't want my purchases from 360 days to just go poof, but I don't need a new device specifically for just that.
Going by our internet favorite Colt Eastwood Microsoft is going to launch Xbox branded OEM PCs next year.
Heavily compressed AI summary:
Microsoft's 2026 Xbox OEM console is essentially a fixed-spec PC built for gaming. Developed with AMD and major PC brands, it features RDNA 4 graphics, AI-powered upscaling, and a modular Windows OS tailored for Xbox. It supports both Xbox and PC games, offering plug-and-play simplicity without upgrade options. Designed to bridge console and PC ecosystems, it aims to streamline development and deliver high performance with unified APIs and cross-platform features.
If this can play Xbox games, as said, through the new silicone AMD are doing. Why is a traditional Xbox console needed?
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
But what if its traditional console hardware with a new custom OS like we see more or less every gen and this custom os can run windows software. It just sees the console as an AMD apu and you can tweak with your steam software and, yes a user could ruin their framerate but another user could get thw performance they want?
So its console hardware but the software and sdk sees it as a pc with custom amd hardware. That hardware spec is baked into AMDs drivers / microsofts.
I could be talking absolute impossibilities as I am not a software engineer but thats how my logical brain invisions it could work.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Most likely cost
Fess
Member
If it's running a Windows version able to run regular PC games, then it's a PC, with standard PC architecture.
If it's a special version of Windows then it'll just run games compiled to run on that special version of Windows and on that special hardware architecture.
Don't know how old you are but maybe you remember when Windows CE was on handheld PCs like Compaq iPAQ?
If a program was made for Windows CE then it could run on any Windows CE device. But regular Windows programs didn't work. It was it's own little bubble. It was fun though, I had like 4 devices, this is way before iPhone.
That's what I think a traditional Xbox console running Windows would be like. You wouldn't be able to simply install regular PC Windows 10/11 game on it, which is what everybody is expecting at this point for it to be interesting.
There is (or was?) UWP, Universal Windows Platform. That's supposed to be platform independent in a wider way, mobile, tablets, PC, Xbox. But programs need to be compiled for that and PC games aren't.
GHG
Member
The installation of the dependancies themselves for some games also come in the form of executables.
The way that steam runs under the hood is that it's a stack of executables (steam -> game installer - > game dependancies - > game executable).
What people are expecting/asking for here is for Microsoft to go and manually verify all dependancies, both current and future, which is frankly insane.
Yep, all someone with these "contacts" needs to ask is whether this future "console" will require developers to go and make specific Xbox hardware versions of games going forwards (which will require Xbox console certification), or if this new machine will simply run PC games and "Xbox games" will simply become a thing of the past.
If its the latter, then everyone knows the answer. They can call it what they want for marketing purposes, they can call it what they want for whatever ridiculous demands they want to make to regulators in the future in an attempt to force Nintendo and Sony to open their hardware up to external stores. But frankly, if it's designed to run only PC games going forwards, then it's a PC.
People can point to what valve are doing with Proton, steamOS and the Steam Deck all they want, and that's fine, but remember, Steam deck is a PC, and SteamOS is a PC operating system:
They aren't mincing their words and trying to confuse/mislead people with all of this, so why are Microsoft? My guess is whatever they are planning on the regulatory side (they want gamepass on other consoles, but the only way to achieve that is by opening up Nintendo and Sony hardware up to other storefronts), so in a way this upcoming device is nothing more than a measured and calculated attempt to try and change what the "console" classification means.
And that is why they will happily open the system up to other storefronts in the knowledge that people will likely purchase PC games on other storefronts instead of their own.
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//DEVIL//
Member
cmon man . redesigned shell ? you are smater than that.This sticker talk is getting dumb, they've redesigned the shell.
The real question is who actually designed it. Is the outer shell made by the Microsoft team and ASUS moved over their innards?
Seems to be a collaboration, MS hired ASUS to redesign the outer shell after their specification with the handles and Xbox button etc. There was talk about sticks and bumpers and haptics too, but I can't tell what has changed there, looks the same.
I assume some money goes to both. But it's still ASUS product, otherwise they wouldn't have kept the ROG and Ally in the name. The official name is ROG Xbox Ally X. They also kept Armory Crate on a button and that's ASUS thing.
Also. whatever is on Xbox ally X is coming to Rog Ally and Ally X and any windows 11 pc on the planet. whats new ?
oh and.. its a MS redesign. Asus has nothing to do with it. They have their own armoury crate software for their own garbage
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GHG
Member
Fess
Member
Huh? It's not a sticker and it's not a Xbox.
It IS a ROG Ally X with redesigned shell. It has handles on the side, a new Xbox button, possibly moved buttons a little bit, new bumpers I think, they talked about haptics too so might be the same as on the Xbox controller.
What's new?
Well… The redesigned shell…
And the Xbox button, said to pull up Gamebar and hold to Alt-Tab between programs.
ASUS definitely has something to do with it. Go watch the unveil video, ASUS people was all over the place. And Armoury Crate is there on a button just like on the regular Ally.
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mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
RDNA 4? WHAT?! No freaking way Microsoft will be this stupid to do this. Mark Cerny is literally co-creating RDNA5 with AMD right now. Surely they wouldn't rush this OEM PC Xbox out the door with a RDNA4 enabled GPU.
Fess
Member
I agree on everything except that last paragraphs. Why would Microsoft want people to purchase games on other storefronts?The installation of the dependancies themselves for some games also come in the form of executables.
The way that steam runs under the hood is that it's a stack of executables (steam -> game installer - > game dependancies - > game executable).
What people are expecting/asking for here is for Microsoft to go and manually verify all dependancies, both current and future, which is frankly insane.
Yep, all someone with these "contacts" needs to ask is whether this future "console" will require developers to go and make specific Xbox hardware versions of games going forwards (which will require Xbox console certification), or if this new machine will simply run PC games and "Xbox games" will simply become a thing of the past.
If its the latter, then everyone knows the answer. They can call it what they want for marketing purposes, they can call it what they want for whatever ridiculous demands they want to make to regulators in the future in an attempt to force Nintendo and Sony to open their hardware up to external stores. But frankly, if it's designed to run only PC games going forwards, then it's a PC.
People can point to what valve are doing with Proton, steamOS and the Steam Deck all they want, and that's fine, but remember, Steam deck is a PC, and SteamOS is a PC operating system:
They aren't mincing their words and trying to confuse/mislead people with all of this, so why are Microsoft? My guess is whatever they are planning on the regulatory side (they want gamepass on other consoles, but the only way to achieve that is by opening up Nintendo and Sony hardware up to other storefronts), so in a way this upcoming device is nothing more than a measured and calculated attempt to try and change what the "console" classification means.
And that is why they will happily open the system up to other storefronts in the knowledge that people will likely purchase PC games on other storefronts instead of their own.
I'm thinking they're doing a multi launch device simply to make the device more appealing, Xbox only isn't working. And then they can pull more people into their UI, where they can lure people into Gamepass.
mayham2199
Member
Yea I've heard a few people claim this. Epic didn't even win their case in the USA last I heard unless something changed. Epic still can't get their store on IOS in the USA. They go it through the EU only. So now I'm supposed to believe MS is doing everything in the hopes of getting an even bigger win than Epic? I doubt it. I think this is just them making a soft exit and pushing people towards PC gaming where they are more likely to sign up for GP.
I just don't think this is appealing to anyone though. Is the mass majority of gamers really saying to themselves right now "You know what I wish I had? More stores to buy games from.". People are buying 1 or 2 games a year they are good with just PSN, Steam, Xbox stores.
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Fess
Member
Sony is likely years away with PS6. These Xbox OEM devices are coming 2026, if the leaker can be trusted.
There is nothing stopping MS, or their OEM partners, from doing RDNA5 devices later. Once they unlock themselves from traditional isolated console bubbles they can do whatever they want, there will be no standard spec or specific hardware for their games, just a jungle of "Xbox" Windows PCs with console-like UI.
Note: This is my own guess… I don't know a guy. Do whatever you want with my ramblings.
sendit
Banned
What you described is what SteamOS already does. Do some research on what SteamOS Proton is.
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Fess
Member
Consoles are much easier in this regard. You just have your one account and can access "everything" through that.
Such luxury don't exist on PC. Doesn't matter what people want, it is what it is. I use at least 5 launchers; Steam, GOG, Epic, Battle.net, Gamepass.
When MS go full PC they need Epic for Fortnite and Epic exclusives, for anyone coming from the Xbox side they need Gamepass, Battle net they should merge into Xbox App, and Steam obviously needs to be there for most PC games.
Minimum 3 launchers is needed to make a catch'em all device for me.
GOG is nice to have too, DRM-free and all that, but I mostly use it for really old games, like Sierra adventures and things like that. And mouse and keyboard is needed then, so in my case it might not be necessary for a living room console-like PC.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Oh heck naw! Ain't no way the bolded will be able to work for MS with this new "Xbox"
I know PCs are PCs, but there's many reasons as to why consoles have always exists and still do. I know you are just guessing, but it'll be suicide for MS to go this route.
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Fess
Member
They're already dead. This is about being revived…Oh hell naw! Ain't no way the bolded will be able to work for MS with this new "Xbox"
I know PCs are PCs, but there's many reasons as to why consoles have always exists and still do. I know you are just guessing, but it'll be suicide for MS to go this route.
I said it awhile ago. When Xbox consoles died they died like a badly cut down aspen tree. If you have such tree on your lawn and it's not cut down the right way it'll shoot out sprouts all over your lawn from the roots. Fast.
That's basically how Microsoft is acting right now… They're about to flood the market with "Xbox" sprouts…The Ally, Quest 3, Cloud on Smart TVs, OEM devices, apparently a traditional console too if Heisenberg is right, and they're attempting to pull in Steam users to Xbox App.
Expect new devices often. From all kinds of partners.
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mayham2199
Member
They'll also need Mihoyo launchers for Genshin, ZZZ, and Starrail
Fess
Member
Haven't played those but there are more examples, it's a jungle really.
I currently use Playnite as a catch'em all solution, takes some effort to get logged in everywhere and set up some extensions but I have 500+ games now ready to start with a click (or two clicks if an install is needed).
Playnite is what Microsoft is competing with for me. They have a long way to go……..