Microsoft has released the Xbox Ally devices, which mark a significant step towards integrating Windows and Xbox gaming experiences. These handheld devices offer a simplified interface that allows users to seamlessly switch between the Xbox full-screen experience and a regular Windows desktop.
During our time with the Xbox Ally devices, we noticed the Xbox PC app taking over and going full-screen as soon as Windows 11 loaded up, allowing for an immersive gaming experience without the complexities of the Windows desktop. The Xbox full-screen experience is essentially taking over for Windows, hiding the OS away.
The interface on the Xbox Ally is similar to what can be found in the current Xbox app on Windows 11, with a Game Bar integration that keeps users far away from the complexities of the Windows desktop. Microsoft has also suppressed unnecessary parts of a typical Windows 11 installation, saving around 2GB of memory by suppressing all the processes you don’t need for gaming.
Switching between Windows and Xbox modes is relatively quick, but after switching into the Windows desktop mode once, users will need to fully reboot the device to regain the performance savings. The Xbox team has acknowledged this challenge and is working to improve it.
While the handheld-optimized Xbox UI on the Xbox Ally devices is a great improvement over what exists today, we still fear that the complexity of Windows might creep through during daily use. Microsoft is still working to merge the best parts of Windows and Xbox together, aiming for a gaming-optimized Windows operating system.
The Xbox Ally devices are set to launch on October 16th, with no price or preorders announced yet. The devices will be available at Best Buy starting from $549.99 for the Xbox Ally and $899.99 for the Xbox Ally X. Microsoft has hinted at making its Xbox Cloud Gaming plan more affordable in the future.
The Xbox Ally devices also bring Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) and a highlights reels feature that uses AI models to capture gameplay moments, making them easily shareable with friends or on social networks. The DirectX team is working on a new “advanced shader delivery” system to improve game performance without stutters.
Overall, the Xbox Ally devices represent an exciting step towards a unified Windows and Xbox experience, offering users a streamlined gaming solution that blends both worlds together.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/notepad-microsoft-newsletter/763357/microsoft-asus-xbox-ally-handheld-hands-on-notepad