Microsoft has confirmed the price of the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally ahead of the release of both handheld gaming PCs on October 16.
The company has gone for $999.99 for the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X, and $599.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally.
The pricing announcement comes in hot from Microsoft, with just a few weeks to go until the handhelds launch. At gamescom in August, Microsoft and Asus told IGN the companies still needed “more time to figure out the macro-economic impact to pricing,” a statement issued amid frequently shifting market conditions fuelled by ever-changing U.S. tariffs.
“This is always a challenge,” Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s vice president of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem, told IGN last month, “and you always try to find the right balance between affordability and price point, and I think especially in a mobile form factor that also adds in dimensions such as battery life in as well. And then, as you said, the macro-economic climate is challenging.”
“I think we will have to… we need more time to figure the macro-economic impact to pricing, and that’s why we’ll be sharing more later, in September and October,” Asus senior vice president Shawn Yen added.
As part of the same interview, we also asked Ronald about Microsoft’s internal plans to make a first-party Xbox handheld, following a report that suggested the idea had been sidelined.
The ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally launch into an increasingly competitive market for handheld gaming hardware, with the cheaper Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 now firmly entrenched. Meanwhile, Microsoft has come under fire for repeatedly hiking the price of its Xbox hardware. Just last week, Microsoft announced that Xbox console prices would go up once again in the U.S. after already rising back in May.
Microsoft said the Xbox console price increases occurred “due to changes in the macro-economic environment,” and added that in the future, it would “continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and providing value for Xbox players.”
This move comes as many video game companies are raising prices on everything from consoles to accessories to games, with price hikes affecting the U.S. in particular amid ongoing tariff fluctuation and uncertainty. Last month, Sony implemented a price increase in the U.S. on its hardware, and after releasing its Nintendo Switch 2 at $450, Nintendo raised the price on its original Switch 1 and various accessories as well. Video games and subscriptions are being impacted: Xbox raised its prices for Game Pass earlier this year, Mario Kart Tour launched at an unheard-of $80, and Xbox announced it would also introduce $80 games this holiday, though it backtracked on that decision shortly after.
We’ve previously spoken to expert analysts about the rising prices of all gaming items, and they explained that the increases are likely occurring due to a mixture of increased manufacturing costs, competition, and U.S. tariffs, with the latter particular relevant in cases where prices are climbing in the U.S. and nowhere else.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has issued statements on the impact of tariffs in the U.S., with ESA spokesperson Aubrey Quinn telling IGN in April: “There’s going to be a real impact regardless of company. This is company-agnostic, this is an entire industry. There’s going to be an impact on the entire industry.”
ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally prices globally:
- ROG Xbox Ally X: $999.99 / £799 / €899 (ERP)
- ROG Xbox Ally: $599.99 / £499 / €599 (ERP)
Alongside its pricing announcement, Microsoft has opened up pre-orders for both the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally through the Microsoft Store, ASUS eshop, and select global retailers in 38 countries.
Here’s the official blurb on the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally from Microsoft:
One of our core goals with the Xbox Ally was to deliver a distinctly Xbox experience in the palm of your hands. With the Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally, you can look forward to an approachable gaming experience that travels with you wherever you go, featuring several new and first-of-its kind features on both devices.
Here’s what you can look forward to on your Xbox Ally handheld:
- Launch directly into the Xbox full screen experience, a dedicated experience purpose-built for gaming, powered by Windows 11, and inspired by the console user experience. With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay.
- A dedicated Xbox button opens an enhanced Game Bar overlay for Windows 11, making it easy to return home, browse your library, launch or quit games, chat with friends, access ROG’s innovative Armoury Crate SE, and more.
- An aggregated gaming library gives you quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass (where available), and installed games from Battle.net and other leading PC stores.
- Xbox controller-inspired grips, with ergonomics that allow you to play comfortably for longer gaming sessions.
Whether you love playing on PC, console, or streaming your games on the go, the Xbox Ally opens up new ways to access your Xbox library, through:
- Native play, which allows you to play PC games from any store that are installed and run directly on the device. And with Xbox Play Anywhere, you can play more than 1,000 supported titles from Xbox across console, PC, and handhelds with a single purchase. Today, Xbox Play Anywhere titles are where the majority of console players spend their time on Xbox, and you can now experience those same games on the go with the Xbox Ally handhelds.
- Remote play, which allows you to stream your full console library from your Xbox console anywhere in your home – all via a smooth and intuitive user experience built for handheld.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), which takes portability even further by allowing you to stream your Xbox library of console games to your handheld on the go. Whether you’re traveling, commuting, or just stepping out, you can pick up where you left off (where available).
- Our Handheld Compatibility Program, a new Xbox initiative that indicates which games play great on handheld. At launch, thousands of titles will be Handheld Optimized or Mostly Compatible, making it easier to find games that are ready to play on your Xbox Ally.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
