The handheld gaming scene just got a lot more interesting. With the release of the ROG Xbox Ally, Microsoft’s newest branded portable gaming device, players can now experience a crossover that once seemed impossible—PlayStation exclusives running on Xbox hardware. Powered by Windows and developed in partnership with Asus, the ROG Xbox Ally is blurring the traditional console boundaries that have long separated PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems.
While the ROG Xbox Ally isn’t technically a first-party Xbox console, it’s deeply integrated with Microsoft’s ecosystem. Thanks to its custom Windows 11 operating system and access to Steam, Epic Games Store, and other PC launchers, it can natively run PlayStation titles that have been ported to PC.
That means gamers can enjoy a lineup of Sony’s biggest hits on an Xbox-branded device — titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. It’s an ironic twist: the Xbox Ally may not have Ghost of Yotei, but it can run Ghost of Tsushima just fine.
All PlayStation exclusives available on Steam are compatible with the ROG Xbox Ally. The confirmed titles include:
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Helldivers 2
- Lego Horizon Adventures
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Until Dawn (2024)
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarok
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Returnal
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
- Days Gone
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
- The Last of Us Part I
- The Last of Us Part II RemasteredData-1
Even Bloodborne has been successfully emulated by enthusiasts, showcasing the Ally’s flexibility as a true cross-platform machine.
See also: ROG Xbox Ally Review: Performance, Price, and Why Windows Holds It Back
The secret to the ROG Xbox Ally’s cross-platform capabilities lies in its design philosophy. This isn’t a traditional console—it’s a fully fledged Windows PC in handheld form, built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor and Radeon 890M graphics. It’s marketed under the Xbox brand, but functionally, it’s a portable PC tuned for gaming.
The Windows-based OS allows users to install virtually any launcher or emulator, meaning both official PC ports and emulated titles can run smoothly. YouTuber Deck Wizard even demonstrated Bloodborne—still absent from PC—running via emulation on the Ally, showing just how flexible this device can be.
The ROG Xbox Ally’s interface consolidates multiple launchers into a unified library, making it simple to access games from Steam, Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect, and Game Pass without juggling different apps. This unified front is one of the device’s biggest selling points, especially for gamers with diverse libraries across platforms.
Hardware Strengths and Weaknesses
The ROG Xbox Ally X (the $1,000 premium version) delivers impressive specs for its size:
- Display: 7-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen (120Hz, 500 nits)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
- Memory: 24GB LPDDR5X-8000
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Weight: 715 grams
Performance-wise, it rivals gaming laptops, easily handling modern AAA titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Doom: The Dark Ages with moderate settings. However, reviewers note that its battery life averages around 3 hours, depending on load, and that Windows’ inconsistent interface can occasionally disrupt the handheld experience.
Despite its strengths, the Ally’s biggest criticism remains its software complexity. Reviewers have pointed out that the overlapping layers of Xbox’s full-screen mode, Steam, and Asus’ Armoury Crate can clash, creating occasional input delays or frozen menus. In contrast, competitors like the Steam Deck OLED offer smoother, console-like operation through SteamOS, though with less raw power. Buy Now!
