The ROG Xbox Ally may run Windows, but a new update from Microsoft is finally pushing it closer to feeling like an actual Xbox rather than a small gaming laptop.
A recent preview update introduces “Default Game Profiles”, a feature that automatically applies tuned settings for around 70 supported titles. Instead of tweaking resolution, power limits, or frame caps, players can jump straight in with smooth performance—and, importantly, better battery life—right out of the box.
When you think of an Xbox, you think of a system that “just works.” PC gaming usually demands a bit of fiddling to get the best results, but these new profiles strip away most of that. You can still fine-tune settings if you want, but you’re no longer required to. For many Ally users, that alone makes the device feel much more like a true Xbox experience.
Hand-built profiles for each game
These profiles aren’t generic presets—they’re individually tailored and only kick in when the device is running on battery. The Ally adjusts frame-rate targets, power limits, and overall performance on a per-game basis. If a game drops below its intended FPS, the system can temporarily draw more power to stabilise it, giving you a smoother experience while sacrificing a small amount of battery life.
Seventy games already support this feature, including several major first-party titles:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- DOOM Eternal
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Forza Horizon 5
- Gears 5
- Gears of War: Reloaded
- Gears Tactics
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Minecraft
- Sea of Thieves
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
More improvements on the way
Microsoft isn’t stopping here. Better sleep and wake behaviour, smoother MicroSD formatting, and other quality-of-life changes are already in development. On top of that, Automatic Super Resolution is expected to land in early 2026, further sharpening the Ally’s gaming experience.
All in all, the ROG Xbox Ally is inching closer to becoming the handheld Xbox many hoped it would be.
