Microsoft is finally shooting its shot for handheld gaming. During Summer Game Fest on June 8, the company debuted the console with a flashy trailer: a floating block of ice forming into the handheld before the Xbox logo cracks through and the system comes to life. Not just one, but two—the ROG Xbox Ally and its more powerful variation, the ROG Xbox Ally X—essentially a set of halved controllers comically strapped to a wide screen. Both are expected to arrive this holiday season, though details like pricing, accessories, and pre-orders still haven’t been announced.

It’s been a long wait for a true Xbox handheld. While competitors like Nintendo, Sony, and Valve have already established handheld or hybrid consoles in some form, Microsoft has been slower to commit to gaming on the go—a move that has cost it a competitive edge against the Switch or Steam Deck. For a company that’s put heavy emphasis on “Xbox anywhere,” its lack of a console you could actually play anywhere has been a major oversight.

The Ally consoles, which are being made with electronic manufacturer ASUS, will finally let people play games through remote play, cloud gaming, or the handheld itself. Both will run Windows 11, where your mileage may vary depending on your feelings about the divisive OS, which critics have described as “