Microsoft announced Wednesday during Gamescom 2025 that not only will its Xbox Ally handhelds be released on October 16, but the company is spinning up a new initiative to support optimized gaming on these devices called the Handheld Compatibility Program.

We finally know when we'll be getting our hands on the exciting new Xbox gaming handheld PC, and we only need to wait until October.

Don't miss the Game Access and Compatibility Overview Trailer for ROG Xbox Ally, the upcoming Xbox-centric handheld developed by ASUS and Microsoft. Players can take the Xbox experience on the go with the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X,

Asus and Xbox have introduced a ROG Ally Certified program that will help players discern what will work on the upcoming handheld, and what won't.

According to the VP, Microsoft envisions players having options like the Xbox ROG Ally for when they're on the move, and dedicated hardware when they come home that'll allow them to pick up from right where they left off.