Digital Foundry Direct Weekly DF Direct Weekly #236: Xbox Ally X Review-In-Progress, Next-Gen Spec Leak Comparisons, New PS5 Pro!
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Oct 21, 2025 The hosts dive into their hands-on experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X, discussing its hardware feel and performance benchmarks in exciting games like Cyberpunk and Doom. They explore the implications of recent game updates, like how Black Myth: Wukong's new patch impacts PS5 performance. A lively debate ensues about whether older PC games stutter less than modern titles, linking it to design and streaming complexities. Rumors about next-gen consoles spark discussions on potential power gains and developer responses, alongside insights on upcoming AMD collaborations.
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First-Hand Ally X Impressions
- Rich Leadbetter spent his first days with the ROG Xbox Ally X and found it excellent as a PC handheld but rough as an Xbox-branded device.
- He encountered onboarding bugs, language issues, and Windows-like setup that made the experience feel unfinished.
PC Handheld, Not A True Xbox
- The Ally X is clearly a Windows PC handheld first and an Xbox experience second, causing a branding mismatch for console-first users.
- Microsoft must bridge PC complexity and console simplicity or risk confusing Xbox customers.
Ship Key Software With Hardware
- Developers and platform teams should ship complete, polished features like advanced shader delivery and profiles at product launch.
- Avoid releasing premium hardware without its promised software differentiators to prevent mixed reviews.