Months after Nintendo launched the Switch 2, the followup to its immensely popular handheld, Microsoft is launching two portables: the Xbox ROG Ally and the more powerful Xbox ROG Ally X.

Casual players should take note, however, that the Ally is a different beast from the Switch 2 .

A co-production between Microsoft and PC maker Asus, these machines have more in common with PC handhelds like the Steam Deck — which offer more games and more customizability than a traditional console, but also more complexity.

While packed with computing power, they also come at a strange time for Xbox adherents, who have seen subscription prices increase, and highly anticipated games cancelled amid company-wide layoffs at Microsoft .

Pricey, premium models

Microsoft sent the Xbox ROG Ally to CBC

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