ROG Xbox Ally X impressions find its UI buggy and lacking the polish of a console interface

One of the challenges for Microsoft with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is optimizing the Windows interface for gaming. Recent Gamescom impressions of the handheld gaming PC suggest that its UI has plenty of room for improvement. One Digital Foundry member encountered numerous bugs and even crashes. While the tech podcasters see potential, the ROG Xbox Ally X is currently much less intuitive for gamers than Xbox consoles.

Richard Leadbetter offered the most concerning viewpoint on the handheld’s UI. The Xbox Ally X tries to make finding and loading games on a portable Windows device less painful. Unfortunately, at one point, the analog sticks used for browsing menus stopped working. Doom: The Dark Ages also crashed, preventing navigation within the game.

The ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X manage Windows resources in order to prioritize gaming functionality. However, during Digital Foundry’s testing, this may have resulted in unexpected behavior. After playing Gears of War: Reloaded and switching to Doom: The Dark Ages, the handheld gaming PC failed to close Gears of War. As a result, the machine became sluggish when running two games.

Based on other previews, it’s not surprising that new handhelds don’t offer a seamless console interface. The devices rely on a traditional Windows OS, which is designed for more tasks than just gaming. Still, Digital Foundry found the UI is in a less stable state than some gamers might have hoped. It's questionable whether Microsoft can work out the kinks by the October 16th ROG Xbox Ally X release date.

Despite the negativity, Digital Foundry believes that the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds also showcase accomplishments. They integrate multiple marketplaces onto a single screen, which is a drawback of existing handheld gaming PCs. Nevertheless, other parts of the UI are more fragmented. Gamers expecting a more polished Xbox console experience may quickly become frustrated.