Microsoft and Asus have introduced a new Xbox-branded user interface designed for handheld gaming PCs, debuting with the ROG Xbox Ally. This full-screen UI overlays traditional Windows, offering a compatibility-focused, handheld-optimized experience similar to SteamOS but for Windows games.
Unlike Valve’s Steam Deck, which relies on Proton for compatibility and runs primarily Steam games, the ROG Xbox Ally aims to provide broader PC game support while preserving a console-like interface. Microsoft plans to extend this UI to other handheld devices beyond the ROG Xbox Ally starting next year, providing a more unified experience across Windows-based gaming handhelds.
Internal efforts at Microsoft to improve Windows on handheld devices date back to 2022. During an employee hackathon, a proposed “Windows Handheld Mode” concept was developed, featuring a tile-based, gamepad-friendly UI with enhanced touch support and improved controller integration—addressing common Windows shortcomings on portable systems.
On the ROG Xbox Ally, the Xbox UI fully replaces the standard Windows desktop and taskbar interface, reducing RAM usage by several gigabytes and lowering energy consumption and system resource demands. This contrasts with other handheld Windows devices, like the standard ROG Ally, which require additional software layers such as Asus’ Armoury Crate to make Windows more suitable for handheld gaming.