A launch date for the ROG Xbox Ally — basically, the primary moveable third-party Xbox — has popped up on-line, suggesting there’s solely two months to go till the Steam Deck-like handheld will probably be accessible to play.
In keeping with Dealabs‘ ever-reliable billbil-kun, the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will each launch on October 16, permitting you a straightforward methodology of taking part in your Xbox recreation library on the go.
Pre-orders will open on August 20, Dealabs beforehand reported, with the Xbox Ally set to price €599. Alternatively, the premium Xbox Ally X will price €899 (US costs to be confirmed).
Dealabs cautions that this launch date has solely been verified by way of its sources for the machine’s European launch — so there should still be some slight distinction right here for different markets, although seemingly not by a lot.
Microsoft is about to showcase extra of the ROG Xbox Ally this month at Gamescom, with the hand-held accessible to attempt publicly on Microsoft’s commerce present sales space, alongside the highly-anticipated Hole Knight: Silksong.
However whether or not this offers us a firmer grasp on Silksong’s elusive launch date stays unsure. Throughout June’s Xbox Video games Showcase 2025, Xbox president Sarah Bond said that Silksong can be “accessible at launch and in Recreation Cross when Ally releases later this 12 months” — main many followers to imagine the sport was being lined as much as arrive as a launch title for the hand-held.
Nevertheless, writing on the sport’s official Discord, Silksong developer Workforce Cherry subsequently clarified that the sport was not sat ready for the ROG Ally X to launch. As an alternative, based on advertising and marketing supervisor Matthew ‘Leth’ Griffin wrote, followers ought to merely anticipate the sport to reach earlier than the vacations.
“I confirmed BEFORE Vacation,” Griffin wrote, including: “we’re not tied to a console launch.” And simply in case of confusion, when requested which vacation he was referring to, Griffin added: “Christmas sure.”
Silksong will probably be playable at Gamescom on each the Xbox and Nintendo cubicles, in an enormous advertising and marketing push. Absolutely, then, it may well’t be for much longer?
“Highly effective {hardware}, a streamlined working system, and the best ergonomics for a gaming handheld are all key areas which can be addressed,” IGN wrote after beforehand going hands-on with the Xbox Ally X, “however it shouldn’t come at a price that bins out a big swath of people.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You may attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social