ASUS ROG Ally
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for ASUS ROG Ally.
Latest coverage
If you're a sicko, you can now run Windows on the Steam Machine
Valve has released official Windows 11 drivers for the Steam Machine, enabling full hardware support for Microsoft's operating system on the device. While this allows users to install Windows 11 and gain wider compatibility with PC storefronts and services like Xbox Game Pass, it requires wiping the existing SteamOS. The release is seen as a potential precursor to dual-booting functionality, which could make the Steam Machine a more competitive console-like PC hybrid.
MAVRIX Full Global Release on July 16th
MAVRIX, an open-world mountain biking game created by Matt Jones, developed by Third Kind Games, and published by Cascade Interactive, will have its full global release on July 16th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game will also debut on Xbox Game Pass on day one, featuring new competitive modes, trails, and technical improvements based on community feedback from Early Access.
Nobody Plays New Games Anymore: The 2026 Playtime Data | TAG
Recent data from Valve's Steam Replay and Newzoo reports indicate that new game releases consistently capture only 14-17% of player playtime on PC, with older titles dominating the remaining hours. This trend holds true across platforms, with Xbox showing the highest engagement for new releases at 18%. The analysis suggests this is due to factors like the prevalence of live service games, adult time constraints, and the value proposition of established back-catalog titles, rather than a decline in player interest.
Evening Reading - July 6, 2026
The video game industry is facing significant challenges, with Microsoft confirming mass layoffs that will lead to Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games becoming independent. Xbox has appointed Helen Chiang, head of Mojang Studios, as its first Chief Operating Officer. Additionally, Nintendo plans to discontinue original Switch consoles in Europe in 2027, while Microsoft is being sued in Wisconsin over data center practices.
New Playable Demo of ‘Escape From Umbra’ Now Available on GOG and Steam
WildSphere has released a free playable demo for their upcoming psychological horror and puzzle game, Escape From Umbra, on Steam and GOG. The demo offers a 10-15 minute preview of the game's mechanics and story. The full game is set to launch on July 10, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders available on Xbox consoles.
Somehow, the $1,000 Asus ROG Ally Xbox X is the best value gaming handheld I can think of right now
Despite its initial high price, the ASUS ROG Ally Xbox X is now considered the best value handheld gaming PC due to current market conditions and rising prices of competitors like the Steam Deck OLED, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. The article highlights the ROG Ally's strong performance with its AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU and Windows operating system as key factors in its current appeal.
No sign of cheaper vanilla Arc G3 drivers in Intel's latest handheld driver update, and I'm worried the scene is taking a "go Extreme or go home" approach
Intel's latest graphics driver update for Windows, version 32.0.101.8860, exclusively supports Arc G3 Extreme chipsets, raising concerns about the availability of cheaper, non-Extreme Arc G3 APUs for gaming handhelds. This lack of support in the driver suggests that devices utilizing the standard Arc G3 may not be imminent, potentially leading to a market dominated by high-priced premium portables.
Why Modern Xbox Players Spend More Time in Menus Than Games
Modern Xbox consoles are criticized for excessive menu navigation and promotional content that delays gameplay. While Microsoft has introduced customization options and faster navigation, the dashboard's design prioritizes business interests over player experience. The article suggests that simplifying menus and utilizing features like Quick Resume can improve playtime efficiency.
A PS6 handheld is seemingly on the table as PlayStation CEO says Sony will be "leveraging technologies that can be…
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino has indicated that the company is exploring technologies for future game consoles that can be used in various forms and locations, suggesting a potential for a handheld PlayStation 6. While not officially confirmed, Nishino's comments, coupled with the success of the PlayStation Portal, point towards Sony's continued interest in the handheld market. Analysts suggest a PS6 console could launch around 2028 or 2029.
Virtual Reality Check
The XREAL R1 glasses are presented as a viable gaming companion, particularly for devices like the ASUS ROG Ally. This technology offers a new way to experience games through virtual reality.
Samsung’s Entry Level Curved Gaming Monitor Is $190 For Prime Day
Samsung's 32-inch Odyssey G55C Series curved gaming monitor is available for $190 during Prime Day, a significant discount from its usual price. This monitor features a 1440p resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time, making it an attractive option for gamers seeking an immersive display.
Hundreds Of 4K Blu-Rays Are On Sale For Prime Day, Some Up To 60% Off
Amazon's Prime Day event features significant discounts on hundreds of 4K Blu-ray movies and TV series, with some items up to 60% off. Notable deals include film series collections like The Lord of the Rings and Back to the Future, alongside individual titles and TV box sets such as Chernobyl and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The sale also extends to various gaming hardware and software, with discounts on consoles, accessories, and select video games.
This Prime Day Deal Is For Anyone Traveling With A Switch 2 This Summer
A Prime Day deal offers the JSAUX All-in-One Carrying Case for the Nintendo Switch 2 at a discounted price of $28, down from $46. This case is designed to hold not only the console but also its dock, a Pro Controller, headphones, game cards, and all necessary wires, making it ideal for extended travel. While specifically designed for the Switch 2, it can also accommodate other handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally.
Samsung SSD Prime Day Deals: Save On Portable And Internal Storage
Samsung is offering significant discounts on its SSDs during Prime Day, including the 990 Pro 2TB internal SSD for $370 and the 9100 Pro 2TB PCIe 5.0 SSD for $350. Portable T9 SSDs and microSD Express cards for handhelds are also on sale.
The seven best anti-Prime Day deals we can find in the UK and US — no Amazon required
This article highlights seven non-Amazon deals available in the UK and US during Prime Day, focusing on gaming peripherals and tech accessories. Featured items include SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, a Ugreen power bank, Corsair PSU, Logitech keyboard, Razer mouse, SanDisk MicroSD card, and an LG OLED gaming monitor, with discounts available from various retailers.
I don't care if MSI's latest handheld costs $1,800, don't pay over a grand for any handheld this Prime…
The author advises consumers against overspending on expensive handheld PCs, particularly during Prime Day sales, citing the high price of the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ at $1,800. While acknowledging the cost of devices like the Steam Deck OLED, the article suggests looking for more affordable alternatives and considering refurbished or older models to avoid price inflation in the gaming handheld market.
I spent an entire day with a fan-mod of North Korea's homegrown operating system, and I'm sorry to say…
An attempt to install and run a fan-modded version of North Korea's RedStar OS 3.5 on a PC proved largely unsuccessful. Despite improvements over the base 2011 version, the modified OS still suffered from installation issues, graphical glitches, and an inability to run modern applications or games, highlighting the significant gap between the OS and contemporary computing standards.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite video game comeback?
Shacknews staff members discuss their favorite video game comebacks, highlighting titles like Overwatch 2, Guilty Gear Xrd, F-Zero 99, Destiny 2, Half-Life: Alyx, and No Man's Sky. The discussion also touches on Nintendo's successful transition from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch as a significant comeback for the company.
Warframe Drops a Massive Update, Jade Shadows: Constellations
Digital Extremes has released a major free update for Warframe titled Jade Shadows: Constellations. This update expands the existing Jade Shadows content with a new story quest continuing the Stalker's narrative, a new playable Warframe named Sirius & Orion, new Railjack missions, Prime gear, cosmetics, and weapons. Players can choose to ally with one of two Protoframe mentors, Ryoku or Vena, which impacts new Railjack crew members and space battles.
My quick test of Lumen Lite shows that it's probably good news for ray-traced gaming on handheld PCs, but I suspect that it will be used everywhere because of the pressure developers are now under
Epic Games has introduced Lumen Lite in Unreal Engine 5.8, a scalable ray-traced global illumination feature designed to improve performance on hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2 and PC handhelds. While the feature offers significant performance gains with minimal visual compromise, the author expresses concern that its ease of use might lead developers to rely on it as a quick fix rather than implementing more thorough, hardware-specific optimizations.
