Asus and Microsoft will be launching their ROG Xbox Ally series of handheld gaming PCs starting October 16, according to an Asus announcement that went out today.

Microsoft announced Wednesday during Gamescom 2025 that not only will its Xbox Ally handhelds be released on October 16, but the company is spinning up a new initiative to support optimized gaming on these devices called the Handheld Compatibility Program.

Asus and Xbox have introduced a ROG Ally Certified program that will help players discern what will work on the upcoming handheld, and what won't.

Today, Microsoft has made its release date official, declaring that on October 16 we’ll be able to get hold of both models, with pre-orders due “in the coming weeks.” Despite this, we still don’t have a price for either model. However, rumors about the potential cost continue to appear—see below.

Earlier this year, a Windows Central report stated that Microsoft had sidelined its own internal plans to build a portable Xbox gaming device in order to double down on the ROG Xbox Ally line in the short-term. However, that report also suggested that Microsoft's own ambitions were only shelved "for now".

Still, 2025 is a very different time from 2022. Nintendo is back with a vengeance, and there are more powerful handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally. Even Xbox is looking to get in on the action, so if you’ve not picked up a Steam Deck as of yet, have you missed your chance, especially as rumors swirl of a Steam Deck 2?

( NewsNation) — Global sales of PC gaming handhelds, including Valve’s Steam Deck, are projected to reach 2.3 million units this year, according to new research from Omdia. That would mark a 32% increase from last year, when 1.7 million devices were sold. Omdia forecasts yearly sales will grow to 4.7 million by 2029.