I tested out the ROG Xbox Ally in person at Gamescom 2025, and I came away optimistic about Windows 11's future handheld gaming prospects.

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.

Xbox had a massive presence at Gamescom this year, but opted to dedicate a huge booth to demoing games not on its traditional hardware, but instead the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X. Officially announced earlier this year,