Microsoft and ASUS pushed out a sizeable update for the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, and it makes the handhelds feel more polished in everyday use. The changes focus on things players actually notice, like quicker game-library load times, better responsiveness after sign-in, smoother navigation on the cloud-gaming page and more consistent input on the controller. It feels less like a patch and more like the kind of update that tightens the experience across the board.

A big part of this release is the addition of default performance profiles for about 40 well-known games. These profiles automatically change settings depending on whether you are plugged in or running on battery. You do not have to experiment with sliders or wattage limits to get a comfortable balance. Games like Hollow Knight: Silksong, Forza Horizon 5 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection now run with smarter defaults that push frame rate when plugged in or extend battery life when you are away from a charger.

Owners of the Ally X get extra control. The update adds separate tuning for the device’s performance cores and efficiency cores. This helps you stretch battery life on the road or push the APU harder when you are docked or using an external GPU. It gives the handheld a level of customization that makes it feel closer to a portable PC rather than a fixed device.

Other refinements round things out. The impulse triggers respond with cleaner haptics, the interface feels more fluid and the device handles quick interactions better. These tweaks may sound small on paper, but together they make the Ally feel faster and easier to live with whether you are gaming at home or squeezing in a session on a flight.

This update signals that Microsoft and ASUS are treating the Ally as an evolving platform. Instead of relying on third-party fixes, players are seeing more official support that improves how the system behaves in real situations. If you already own an Ally or have been thinking about buying one, the improvements here make the device feel more capable for the long term.