Microsoft is working on a new shader system for PC handhelds that might make games load faster and stutter less.

Microsoft is working on Advanced Shader Delivery, a way to reduce launch times in games when they are first opened.

The only real question remaining is pricing, which we should hear about soon, plus how that fits in with the internal hardware. The ROG Xbox Ally sports a Ryzen Z2 A processor, which isn't the most powerful chip on the market, but the ROG Xbox Ally X sports a Ryzen Z2 Extreme, which is more powerful than the Z1 Extreme in the ROG Ally and Ally X.

Microsoft announced Wednesday during Gamescom 2025 that not only will its Xbox Ally handhelds be released on October 16, but the company is spinning up a new initiative to support optimized gaming on these devices called the Handheld Compatibility Program.

Two years ago we learned, thanks to the FTC, that Microsoft was working on a separate “dedicated” version of Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart then hinted, a few months later, that there could be a free version Xbox Cloud Gaming in exchange for ads.

Sony is reportedly driving a hard bargain with Microsoft to bring Housemarque's cult classic Returnal to Xbox Series X|S.

The era of Xbox as we know it is finally coming to an end, but fans shouldn’t despair, as it is only going to be more interesting from here on out.

Microsoft is bringing another Xbox game to the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026 according to an insider, alongside the recently announced Indiana Jones And The Great Circle.