Xbox President says Asus set ROG Xbox Ally price, but confusion over gaming handheld persists
Even after the ROG Xbox Ally release date, some gamers still have questions about the handhelds. Although they sport Xbox logos, it’s unclear whether Microsoft or Asus made key decisions about specs or cost. During a recent Variety interview, Xbox President Sarah Bond lent more insight into the ROG Xbox Ally pricing.
Bond explains that, considering Asus’ experience with Windows gaming handhelds, Microsoft relied on the manufacturer to “determine the ultimate prices of the devices”. That said, she believes that the $999.99 ROG Xbox Ally X offers value to enthusiasts who prioritize performance. Meanwhile, at $599.99, the ROG Xbox Ally is an option for more casual gamers.
Despite concerns over the pricing, Bond notes the rapid pre-order sales of the systems. The more expensive model with the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor sold out on the Microsoft Store. Even so, some gamers suspect that the companies intentionally kept supplies low. Other critics believe that even the ROG Xbox Ally is too expensive for its capabilities.
Microsoft isn't absorbing any costs with the ROG Xbox Ally
The delay of a ROG Xbox Ally price announcement at Gamescom raised eyebrows. Pure Xbox discussed rumors suggesting that there were considerations of subsidizing their costs. Manufacturers may lose money on hardware sales in the hopes of lucrative games and accessory revenue. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen with this launch, and the handhelds cost even more than expected.
Some buyers don’t only object to the prices of the Windows 11 handhelds. Their failure to boot all Xbox games makes them a questionable value. Emulation could be one route Microsoft takes to fill gaps in compatibility. Bond also assures loyalists that Microsoft is designing new Xbox consoles in-house. Still, with AMD reportedly leading the way, it’s to be determined if these systems will resemble traditional consoles.
Even at its lofty price, the ROG Xbox Ally X does outperform most competing handhelds. Buyers can see how the system fares during testing in Notebookcheck's review:
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