Back in June, the rumors of an Xbox handheld in the works were finally made official, with Microsoft revealing a partnership with ROG to create the Xbox Ally. The company introduced both the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, claiming the handhelds would work with PC game stores like Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, and GOG, but no expected launch date or concrete details were announced at the time.

Today, ASUS and Xbox have finally confirmed the release date, giving fans their first clear look at when these handhelds will arrive. Ironically, they still missed sharing the one detail everyone’s really waiting for.

Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will launch on October 16

Today, Microsoft and ASUS announced that both their new Xbox Ally handhelds, the Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X, will launch on October 16. The handhelds will be available in a variety of markets, including the United States, on the same day.

However, Microsoft and ASUS aren’t opening preorders just yet, and interestingly, they left out the one piece of information every fan is eager to know: the price. Though leaks have been swirling around, suggesting that the standard ROG Xbox Ally will retail for $549.99, while the higher-end ROG Xbox Ally X will be priced at $899.99.

The ROG Xbox Ally will be powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 and will have 16GB of RAM, 512GB of internal storage, and a 60Wh battery. The higher-end ROG Xbox Ally X will be powered by a “top-of-stack” AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, with 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and an 80Wh battery. Microsoft also introduced its Handheld Compatibility Program today, a new initiative designed to expand the number of games that run smoothly on these handhelds by testing, optimizing, and verifying titles for handheld play.

Users will be able to see handheld compatibility directly in the device’s game library, with badges indicating whether a game is Handheld Optimized or Mostly Compatible, making it easier to find games ready to play right out of the box.

Games will also be marked with a Windows Performance Fit indicator, to help users gauge if a game is compatible with the handheld and how well it will play. Microsoft also revealed plans to use the Xbox Ally X's powerful neural processing unit (NPU) to unlock AI-powered features, including a Highlight reels feature that can automatically capture your standout gameplay moments and generate short replay clips you can share.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will be sharing more details about pricing and pre-orders in the coming weeks.