Microsoft’s new person interface on the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds is strictly what Home windows has wanted to tackle the Steam Deck.
Ever for the reason that launch of the Steam Deck in February 2022, the hand held PC market has continued to develop with Home windows gadgets just like the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go S, however all of them undergo from one main downside: Home windows 11 on a handheld isn’t precisely simple to navigate with only a joystick.
On condition that you need to undergo the common Home windows desktop to entry apps like Steam, Epic Sport Retailer, and Xbox, it turns into fairly a chore to make use of any machine working the OS, however the brand new ROG Xbox Ally modifications that.
Xbox takes on SteamOS with new software program
With the ROG Xbox Ally, Microsoft and Asus have partnered collectively to create a brand new software program expertise that ought to have been carried out from the beginning.
As an alternative of booting into Home windows 11, the brand new handheld hundreds you immediately right into a full-screen model of the Xbox app. You understand, the identical approach SteamOS sends you immediately into Steam. In contrast to Valve’s working system, nonetheless, the brand new expertise will let you entry video games from different shops as nicely, combining your whole PC library into one seamless app for the primary time
Xbox
Microsoft advised The Verge that there’s a “complete bunch” of processes that don’t mechanically load once you boot up the Xbox Ally X as nicely, together with the wallpaper, taskbar, and extra “which might be actually designed round productiveness eventualities for Home windows.”
You’ll nonetheless have the ability to entry the common desktop if it’s good to, however these simply trying to rapidly play a sport ought to see an enormous enchancment in efficiency and total person expertise with the brand new full-screen Xbox setup.
The brand new Xbox-focused working system isn’t the one approach Microsoft is coming for Valve, both, as they’re additionally engaged on a program that helps gamers simply establish which video games have been optimized for handhelds. That is much like SteamOS’ Deck Verified system which lets Steam Deck homeowners know whether or not or not a sport will run nicely on their machine.
It is going to solely be accessible on the ROG Xbox Ally at launch, however there are plans to convey it to Asus’ non-Xbox Ally variants quickly after. Different Home windows-based gadgets will obtain the replace someday in 2026 or later, however we will solely hope it comes prior to that.
A brand new expertise with out as a lot of the bloat and a greater UI is strictly what handhelds have wanted for the reason that market started to skyrocket in progress, and we’re joyful to see that it’s lastly taking place.
The brand new person interface could not put Home windows and the ROG Xbox Ally forward of the Steam Deck in total reputation, however at the very least the brand new Xbox handhelds will lastly be as simple to make use of as Valve’s machine.
