A release date for the ROG Xbox Ally — essentially, the first portable third-party Xbox — has popped up online, suggesting there’s only two months to go until the Steam Deck-like handheld will be available to play.
According to Dealabs‘ ever-reliable billbil-kun, the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will both launch on October 16, allowing you an easy method of playing your Xbox game library on the go.
Pre-orders will open on August 20, Dealabs previously reported, with the Xbox Ally set to cost €599. Alternatively, the premium Xbox Ally X will cost €899 (US prices to be confirmed).
Dealabs cautions that this release date has only been verified via its sources for the machine’s European launch — so there may still be some slight difference here for other markets, though likely not by much.
Microsoft is set to showcase more of the ROG Xbox Ally this month at Gamescom, with the handheld available to try publicly on Microsoft’s trade show booth, alongside the highly-anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong.
But whether this gives us a firmer grasp on Silksong’s elusive release date remains uncertain. During June’s Xbox Games Showcase 2025, Xbox president Sarah Bond stated that Silksong would be “available at launch and in Game Pass when Ally releases later this year” — leading many fans to believe the game was being lined up to arrive as a launch title for the handheld.
However, writing on the game’s official Discord, Silksong developer Team Cherry subsequently clarified that the game was not sat waiting for the ROG Ally X to launch. Instead, according to marketing manager Matthew ‘Leth’ Griffin wrote, fans should simply expect the game to arrive before the holidays.
“I confirmed BEFORE Holiday,” Griffin wrote, adding: “we are not tied to a console release.” And just in case of confusion, when asked which holiday he was referring to, Griffin added: “Christmas yes.”
Silksong will be playable at Gamescom on both the Xbox and Nintendo booths, in a big marketing push. Surely, then, it can’t be much longer?
“Powerful hardware, a streamlined operating system, and the ideal ergonomics for a gaming handheld are all key areas that are addressed,” IGN wrote after previously going hands-on with the Xbox Ally X, “but it shouldn’t come at a cost that boxes out a large swath of interested folks.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
