Microsoft has confirmed the pricing for the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally ahead of their October 16 release.
The company has set the price at $999.99 for the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X and $599.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally.
This pricing announcement comes just weeks before the handhelds launch. At gamescom in August, Microsoft and Asus told IGN they still needed “more time to figure out the macro-economic impact to pricing,” a statement made amid volatile market conditions driven by shifting U.S. tariffs.
“This is always a challenge,” Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s vice president of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem, told IGN last month. “You always try to find the right balance between affordability and price point, and I think especially in a mobile form factor that also adds in dimensions such as battery life. And then, as you said, the macro-economic climate is challenging.”
“I think we will have to... we need more time to figure the macro-economic impact to pricing, and that’s why we’ll be sharing more later, in September and October,” added Asus senior vice president Shawn Yen.
In the same interview, we also asked Ronald about Microsoft's internal plans to make a first-party Xbox handheld, following reports that the idea had been shelved.
The ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally enter a market growing increasingly crowded with handheld gaming hardware, where the more affordable Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 are now firmly established. Meanwhile, Microsoft has faced criticism for repeatedly increasing the prices of its Xbox hardware. Just last week, Microsoft announced another price hike for Xbox consoles in the U.S., following an earlier increase in May.
Microsoft said the console price increases were made “due to changes in the macro-economic environment,” and added that it would “continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and providing value for Xbox players.”
This move follows a broader trend among video game companies raising prices on everything from consoles to accessories and games—with U.S. consumers particularly affected by ongoing tariff fluctuation and uncertainty. Last month, Sony implemented a price increase in the U.S. on its hardware, and after launching the Nintendo Switch 2 at $450, Nintendo raised the price on its original Switch 1 and various accessories as well. Video games and subscriptions are also being impacted: Xbox raised its prices for Game Pass earlier this year, Mario Kart Tour launched at an unheard-of $80, and Xbox announced it would introduce $80 games this holiday, though it backtracked on that decision shortly after.
We’ve previously spoken to expert analysts about the rising prices of all gaming items, and they explained these increases are likely driven by a mix of higher manufacturing costs, intensified competition, and U.S. tariffs—with the latter playing a particularly significant role where price hikes are isolated to the U.S. market.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has issued statements on the impact of tariffs in the U.S. ESA spokesperson Aubrey Quinn told IGN in April: “There’s going to be a real impact regardless of company. This is company-agnostic, this is an entire industry. There’s going to be an impact on the entire industry.”
ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally prices globally:
ROG Xbox Ally X: $999.99 / £799 / €899 (ERP)ROG Xbox Ally: $599.99 / £499 / €599 (ERP)
Alongside its pricing announcement, Microsoft has opened pre-orders for both the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally through the Microsoft Store, ASUS eshop, and select global retailers in 38 countries.
Here’s the official blurb on the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally from Microsoft:
One of our core goals with the Xbox Ally was to deliver a distinctly Xbox experience in the palm of your hands. With the Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally, you can look forward to an approachable gaming experience that travels with you wherever you go, featuring several new and first-of-its-kind features on both devices.
Here’s what you can look forward to on your Xbox Ally handheld:
Launch directly into the Xbox full screen experience, a dedicated experience purpose-built for gaming, powered by Windows 11, and inspired by the console user experience. With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay. A dedicated Xbox button opens an enhanced Game Bar overlay for Windows 11, making it easy to return home, browse your library, launch or quit games, chat with friends, access ROG’s innovative Armoury Crate SE, and more. An aggregated gaming library gives you quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass (where available), and installed games from Battle.net and other leading PC stores. Xbox controller-inspired grips, with ergonomics that allow you to play comfortably for longer gaming sessions.
Whether you love playing on PC, console, or streaming your games on the go, the Xbox Ally opens up new ways to access your Xbox library, through:
Native play, which allows you to play PC games from any store that are installed and run directly on the device. And with Xbox Play Anywhere, you can play more than 1,000 supported titles from Xbox across console, PC, and handhelds with a single purchase. Today, Xbox Play Anywhere titles are where the majority of console players spend their time on Xbox, and you can now experience those same games on the go with the Xbox Ally handhelds. Remote play, which allows you to stream your full console library from your Xbox console anywhere in your home – all via a smooth and intuitive user experience built for handheld. Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), which takes portability even further by allowing you to stream your Xbox library of console games to your handheld on the go. Whether you’re traveling, commuting, or just stepping out, you can pick up where you left off (where available). Our Handheld Compatibility Program, a new Xbox initiative that indicates which games play great on handheld. At launch, thousands of titles will be Handheld Optimized or Mostly Compatible, making it easier to find games that are ready to play on your Xbox Ally.
