This is how Xbox prepares its ecosystem for the arrival of the ROG Xbox Ally

A new hint of the future portable Xbox appears on the Xbox Store.

More stories in the category News

• The creator of Lords of the Fallen reacts to the statue mystery and acknowledges his admiration for FromSoftware
• Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag surpasses 34 million players 12 years after its release
• How were Xbox sales during Black Friday? An atypical period marked by the brand’s transition

Microsoft is finalizing preparations for the arrival of the ROG Xbox Ally X, and one of the most evident clues is on the Xbox Store itself. In recent hours, some users have detected a new empty space on the page of several games, right next to the usual labels such as “Optimized for Xbox Series” or “Smart Delivery”.

Everything suggests that this gap is reserved for a new category: “Optimized for handhelds”, which will serve to identify titles designed to offer the best possible performance on devices like the ROG Xbox Ally, which will be officially launched on October 16.

Xbox takes the next step towards handheld gaming

This future label will mark a new step in Microsoft’s strategy to fully integrate Xbox and PC games into the same ecosystem, now also adapted to the handheld format. With this category, players will be able to distinguish which titles take better advantage of the new ASUS console’s features, including its high-refresh-rate screen, integrated controls, and optimized energy management.

Although the label is not yet active, its space is already visible on the store’s interface, suggesting that the rollout will be imminent. The intention is for it to accompany the already-known performance categories, such as Smart Delivery, Quick Resume, and Xbox Play Anywhere, ensuring total compatibility and a seamless experience in handheld format.

With the launch of the ROG Xbox Ally, Xbox officially enters the territory of handheld consoles with native support and total integration with Game Pass. This new label will be the first visible step in that new era.