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 is testing a new feature in its Xbox app for Windows 11, allowing users to install and launch third-party gaming apps and rival storefronts directly.

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.

Microsoft is upgrading the Xbox app on Windows again, letting users install third-party applications, including other storefronts, directly from the library.

ASUS reveals how the Xbox Ally X's new AI-powered Neureal Processing Unit (NPU) will affect gameplay, hinting at similar features in the next-gen Xbox.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Xbox showcase at Gamescom 2025, including every game announced.

With all that said, "wrap up" is a pretty difficult phrase to define here. Microsoft has made an effort to make its software cross-generational since the Xbox One. Announced games will still be compatible with the Xbox Series consoles, and future, unannounced ones likely will, too.

My apps is a new tab within the Xbox PC app’s library that allows players to locate, view, and download third-party applications and most commonly used storefronts,” explains Devin Dhaliwal, a product manager for Xbox experiences.

An Xbox executive has suggested the brand wants to offer cloud gaming at a lower price. An exact plan from Microsoft has yet to be announced.