ASUS has leveraged the immense popularity of Grand Theft Auto V, one of the most celebrated video games of all time, to promote pre-orders for its new portable gaming devices: the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. Actors Ned Luke, who portrays Michael De Santa, and Shawn Fonteno, known for his role as Franklin Clinton, are featured in a recent social media advertisement endorsing the upcoming handheld PCs.
In the promotional clip, Fonteno declares, “It`s handheld freedom for everybody,” while Luke adds, “You know you gotta have an Ally, and Xbox picked the right Ally.” ASUS and Microsoft recently unveiled the official pricing for these two PC portable devices. The ROG Xbox Ally will be available for $600 in the US, and its premium counterpart, the Xbox Ally X, will retail for $1,000. Both handhelds are scheduled for release on October 16.
From a technical standpoint, the base model ROG Xbox Ally features an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor (Zen 4 architecture), complemented by 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD. These specifications position it as a direct competitor to devices like the Steam Deck OLED. The more powerful Xbox Ally X steps up with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor (Zen 5 architecture), 24GB of DDR5 RAM, and a spacious 1TB SSD. Industry reviewers, including GameSpot, had the opportunity to experience the Xbox Ally X firsthand in June.
ASUS had previously announced its collaboration with the GTA V stars last month, stating their intention to “help get folks aboard the ROG Xbox Ally hype train.” This isn`t the first time the company has partnered with talent from the popular game, having also worked with Steven Ogg, the actor behind Trevor Philips, in the past.
In related news, Microsoft confirmed earlier this month that it would be implementing another price increase for its Xbox consoles in the US. Effective October 3, the Xbox Series S will see its price rise to $400 (previously $380), and the Xbox Series X 1TB will be priced at $650 (up from $600).