The price of the new ROG Ally X does not go unnoticed. Displayed at 999 dollarsthis PC and Xbox gaming-oriented portable console caused an uproar online. Yet, Microsoft claims not to be responsible for this high price : it is the manufacturer ASUS which sets the prices, according to the American company.
A clarification that raises a burning question: if the ROG Ally X uses an Xbox interface, connects to Xbox accounts, and is sold on the Xbox store, is it really a Microsoft product? The answer is no. And Microsoft wants to remind you of this.
An Xbox console… without being one
The confusion comes from the very appearance of the ROG Ally native Xbox interfaceallows access to the Game Passand is available on the official Microsoft store. However, on IGN’s Daily Fix, Microsoft insists: it’s not an Xboxbut an ASUS device under ROG license.
The price of $999clearly superior to market standards (and even to that of a high-end home console), quickly aroused criticism and mockery. For comparison, the first ROG Ally sold for $599. But according to Microsoft, the price is not theirs: it is ASUS which manages design, production and pricing of the Ally
Despite the outcry, the console is already out of stock
Ironically, the controversy doesn’t seem to hurt sales. Microsoft claims that stocks are already exhausted on his store as with other distributors. Initial feedback mentions a seamless experiencea quality screen and a successful Xbox integrationalthough autonomy is still subject to debate.
This hybrid positioning – between portable gaming PC, mobile Xbox console and technological showcase – leaves many players perplexed. The Ally X benefits from the Xbox name without being an official console, and is part of a vague but assumed strategy from Microsoft: multiply the access points to the Xbox ecosystem, without necessarily going through a traditional console.