The crux of the Default Game Profiles feature is that it provides “hand-crafted per-game” settings that can be applied directly to the game and the overall system through the Command Center. It is also only available when using the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X on battery, and can’t be enabled if you try playing the system while plugged in.

When the feature is enabled, there are two possible outcomes. If a game falls short of the target frame rate, the game profile works to boost the handheld systems’ power to reach the desired target. Through this, some battery life is traded for improved performance. On the other hand, if a game is running at over the target framerate, the game profile instead trades some power to maintain the target FPS while also saving some battery life.

Default Game Profiles is currently supported across 40 games, and while a full list isn’t available, some of the titles that will use the feature include Gears of War: Reloaded, Fortnite, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Check out a list of 16 games that Xbox has confirmed to be making use of the feature below. It is worth noting that the feature extends to first and third-party releases, but the confirmed list so far is largely made up of titles published by Xbox Game Studios.

Along with this, the update also brings in some smaller improvements to the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. These include improved gamepad response after logging in, quicker library loading, improved Cloud Gaming page performance, a new Game Gallery filter that can filter titles depending on their performance, and a host of bug fixes and stability improvements.

Xbox has also confirmed that it is investigating player feedback as it works on future updates for the devices. Some of the enhancements that the company is working on include reliability of sleep and wake and more options for formatting microSD cards. Next year will also see an update for the ROG Xbox Ally X that brings with it AI-based features, including Automatic Super Resolution and highlight reels.

For more details about the ROG Xbox Ally X, check out our review of the handheld gaming PC.

Confirmed games with support for Default Game Profiles:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• DOOM Eternal
• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Forza Horizon 5
• Gears 5
• Gears of War: Reloaded
• Gears Tactics
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Minecraft
• Sea of Thieves
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Fortnite

While discussing the launch of the ROG Ally series a few years ago, Wu acknowledged that the market has grown quite a bit since then, and even Microsoft has been taking the handheld segment more seriously with its more recent updates to Windows.

“As many of you know, we introduced the first-generation ROG Ally 2-3 years ago as a market pioneer,” said Wu during the investor call. “Over the past couple of years, this new category, especially within the Windows ecosystem and creating this particular new category, has proven itself to be highly successful. We believe that we have achieved our original goals in terms of premium positioning and creating a new growth driver in the gaming segment.”

As for its more recent launch of the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, Wu spoke about the collaboration with Xbox, and how the market has responded generally positively to it. Wu noted that the market seems ripe for more premium, high-end devices. He also acknowledged snags in the supply chains, and said that Asus was working with its component suppliers to ensure that the demand is adequately met.

“That is why we launched the 3rd-generation ROG Ally last month,” said Wu. “It featured deeper collaboration with Xbox. Since its launch, we see that the market response for it has been extremely positive. Particularly, there has been an appetite for the premium higher-end models exceeding our expectations.”

“In fact, these high-end variants are currently in short supply. We are working closely with key component suppliers to ramp up production and fill the demand gap that currently exists. Our goal for the ROG Ally is to remain a core pillar within the Asus gaming portfolio, while also driving tangible revenue and profit growth for the company.”

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X were launched worldwide just last month. The Xbox Ally is priced at $599.99, while the more powerful Xbox Ally X has a higher price tag of $999.99. In an interview from shortly after launch, Xbox president Sarah Bond spoke about the pricing of the two devices, and how Xbox worked with Asus to reach these price points.

“We looked at, how do we create multiple options for people? And it really was Asus, because this is their hardware,” Bond explained. “That is all of their insight into the market, into the feature set, into what people want, to determine the ultimate prices of the devices.”

For more details about the handhelds, here is everything you need to know. In the meantime, also check out our review of the more powerful Xbox Ally X.

To enable it on supported Claw units, Insiders can head to Settings, then Gaming and Full Screen Experience, set Xbox as the Home app, and choose to enter it at startup. Microsoft reiterates that the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X have it already, and that additional OEMs will receive support “in the coming months.” This MSI rollout is a part of this staged preview, following its debut on Asus hardware.

Bottom line: If Microsoft keeps tightening boot flow and input handling, the Xbox Full Screen Experience could turn Windows handhelds like the Claw into “pick-up-and-play” machines. They would feel less like desktops and more like consoles with better mainstream appeal.

According to sources speaking to Jez Corden of Windows Central, the console will run “full-bore Windows, with a TV-optimized, console-style experience layered on top.” The Xbox Full Screen Experience will be the default, allowing players to exit to Windows to access other platforms, including Steam, Battle.net, and even applications like Microsoft Office.

However, as Corden notes, “The onboarding experience will be similar to what you get today on console, and if you choose, you can remain fully inside the Xbox ecosystem, never touching Windows itself. Exiting out to Windows will be for those who want to access games traditionally not available on Xbox, including PlayStation games on Steam, mouse and keyboard-first games like League of Legends, or even classic games from GOG and the like.”

This allegedly goes even further with the next-gen Xbox capable of accessing “decades upon decades of content all on a single device.” It will even support Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles through backwards compatibility. You can also expect Auto Super Resolution and Frame Gen to improve existing Series X/S titles (though native versions for the next Xbox are also planned).

The idea is compelling enough, streamlining PC gaming and eliminating issues like shader compilation. The question now is whether the price is appealing to an audience that wants the freedom of accessing their entire PC and Xbox library in a living room set-up.

While most of the conversation in the interview revolves around the ROG Xbox Ally, Bond was also asked what the future of Xbox entails for Microsoft. Answering a question about whether the rumours are true that the next-gen Xbox will also allow for some degree of PC gaming while also offering a console-styled experience, Bond said, “The next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end curated experience.”

“You’re starting to see some of the thinking that we have in this handheld, but I don’t want to give it all away,” she said, referring to the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X.

Bond also noted that Microsoft isn’t slowing down on the software side of things. When asked whether Xbox devices will get any more exclusives in the future, Bond noted that “we’re really seeing people evolve way past that.”

“The biggest games in the world are available everywhere,” she continued. “You look at Call of Duty, you look at Minecraft, you look at Fortnite, you look at Roblox. That’s actually what’s really driving community in gaming. That’s where people gather. The idea of locking it to one store or one device is antiquated for most people. You want to be able to play with your friends anywhere, regardless of what they’re on. And we’re really leaning into that with [the ROG Xbox Ally] because it just opens up another way for you to play. As does cloud, as does PC, as do the consoles that we all own and have in our living rooms.”

Bond had previously spoken about how Microsoft wants to continue making things under the Xbox brand in the future. In an interview from earlier this week, she spoke about how the company is partnering up with AMD for the chips that will power the next generation of Xbox devices.

“We are 100% looking at making things in the future,” said Bond. “We have our next-gen hardware in development. We’ve been looking at prototyping, designing. We have a partnership we’ve announced with AMD around it, so that is coming. What we saw here was an opportunity to innovate in a new way and to bring gamers another choice, in addition to our next-gen hardware. We are always listening to what players and creators want. When there is demand for innovation, we’re going to build it.”

She had also hinted at the part of Microsoft Building 87 last week where the company was working on developing and prototyping its next-gen consoles. “This is where the team is actually designing, prototyping and testing for the next generation of Xbox,” she said about that part of the building. “It is top secret. So we very, very rarely take people in here.”

In an interview with Variety, Bond revealed that quite a few things were taken into consideration when deciding on the prices, including input from manufacturing partner Asus.

“We looked at, how do we create multiple options for people? And it really was Asus, because this is their hardware,” Bond explained. “That is all of their insight into the market, into the feature set, into what people want, to determine the ultimate prices of the devices.”

Bond also went on to note that the high prices of both of the devices, especially when compared to competing devices like the Steam Deck, didn’t really affect early sales of the handhelds in an adverse way. Speaking about opening up pre-orders last month, Bond said that “the reaction was overwhelming demand for the [ROG Xbox Ally X].”

“We sold out on the Xbox Store. We sold really quickly at a number of other places around the world,” she said. “I feel really good about the value that we’re giving gamers for the price, based off the reception to the hardware.”

She has referred to this positive early response to the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X as “a real confirmation of something that we know and have been working towards for a really long time, which is gaming should act like all entertainment: it should be something you can have with you anywhere. You should be able to play any game you want with anyone you want on any device.”

In the same interview, Bond also spoke about the future of Xbox at Microsoft, and how the company still wants to continue making things, including next-gen gaming hardware. She said that Microsoft is in the process of designing and prototyping its next hardware outing, which will feature an AMD-developed chip powering it under the hood.

“We are 100% looking at making things in the future,” said Bond. “We have our next-gen hardware in development. We’ve been looking at prototyping, designing. We have a partnership we’ve announced with AMD around it, so that is coming. What we saw here was an opportunity to innovate in a new way and to bring gamers another choice, in addition to our next-gen hardware. We are always listening to what players and creators want. When there is demand for innovation, we’re going to build it.”

In the meantime, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X were launched worldwide just last week. The Xbox Ally runs on an AMD Ryzen Z2A CPU, has 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB storage, while the Xbox Ally X has an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme CPU, 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. For more details, here is everything you need to know about the two handhelds.

Microsoft’s decision to shelve its own internal handheld system came about due to the company wanting to avoid taking the risk of such a high minimum order. As for AMD, the chip maker wanted such a high order to justify its own research and development investments in a dedicated system-on-a-chip (SoC) for Microsoft. According to KeplerL2, Microsoft, looking at industry-wide handheld sales figures – with the Steam Deck having sold around 5 million units and other companies like Asus and Lenovo having only sold around 1 to 2 million units of their devices – made Microsoft want to avoid the risk.

According to further posts by KeplerL2, the handheld device made by Microsoft on its own would have been a full-fledged portable gaming console rather than just being a handheld PC like the Steam Deck. For context, reports have indicated that Sony is looking at putting out its own handheld console in line for launch with the next generation of its PlayStation consoles.

Reports that Microsoft had cancelled its handheld Xbox came up shortly before the company unveiled the ROG Xbox Ally line-up alongside Asus. First indications of this arose in May, when the company was believed to have halted the development of its handheld in favour of focusing on the handheld experience of Windows 11 instead. These improvements will eventually be seen when the ROG Xbox Ally systems finally hit store shelves later this month.

A later report, courtesy of The Verge’s Tom Warren, indicated that plans to make the handheld were ultimately cancelled, with Microsoft instead opting to partner up with hardware companies that might already be working on their own handheld gaming PCs.

“I still think we’ll see next-gen Xbox hardware from Microsoft, but I also strongly believe we’ll see multiple devices from PC makers like Asus that will also be considered next-gen Xbox consoles,” wrote Warren.

He also noted that Microsoft might be internally working on emulation to eventually allow Xbox games to run on Windows systems. To do this, an internal team is said to have been formed focused on game preservation, with efforts to get Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games running on modern PC hardware.

In the meantime, check out details about the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, which are priced at $599.99 and $999.99 respectively. Rumours have indicated that the companies also tried to lower the pricing for both systems.

“We know players around the world delight in Japan-inspired content and games developed in Asia, and we can’t wait to connect with players across the globe to show off the incredible talent and creativity behind upcoming games coming to Xbox,” said Microsoft in a new Xbox Wire post.

However, the biggest announcement could come from Playground Games with Forza Horizon 6 allegedly set to be revealed. It’s reportedly set in Japan, a highly requested setting for fans. Officially, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said that the next Forza would launch in 2026.

Of course, attendees have plenty to look forward to, including a playable demo for Ninja Gaiden 4 from PlatinumGames and Team Ninja ahead of its launch on October 21st. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, which will be released worldwide on October 16th, are also available at the Republic of Gamers booth.

Tokyo Game Show runs from September 25th to 28th and features publishers such as Sega, Capcom, Square Enix, and PlayStation.

Silent Hill f Trailer

We’ve seen and heard a lot about Silent Hill f, whether it’s the heavier focus on combat (and even stat upgrades) or the multiple endings. And yet, given the proclivities of writer Ryukishi07 and artist kera towards the unsettling, it feels like we’ve barely even scratched the surface. A new trailer debuts at Gamescom Opening Night Live, and it’s also scheduled for day 2 of Xbox’s broadcast. Maybe some of that insanity will break loose before it launches next month.

ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X Release Date and Prices

If the rumors are true, Microsoft will announce the release date for the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X on August 20th, with pre-orders opening on the same day. Both handheld PCs will reportedly launch on October 16th for €599 and €899, respectively. It’s plausible enough, and hopefully, it goes the extra mile on really selling us on their features.

Hollow Knight: Silksong (Anything)

Doubters in shambles, once again? Potentially, because Hollow Knight: Silksong might get a release date announcement, maybe even a new trailer. Not only is it playable at both the Xbox and Nintendo booths, but Team Cherry has explicitly stated that it will launch before the ROG Xbox Ally. Plans could always change, but for now, the stars may finally align on one of the most anticipated games of all time.

Resident Evil Requiem

An “exclusive” new look at the next big title in the celebrated horror series? Don’t mind if we do. Set for August 19th at Gamescom Opening Night Live, there’s no telling what secrets it could reveal. And while a playable demo will be available on the show floor for attendees, known leaker Aesthetic Gamer alleges new screenshots, gameplay, and preview impressions on August 20th. Suffice it to say that you should prepare for an influx of new information (and maybe a Leon reveal?) regardless.

Ninja Gaiden 4’s New Trailer

One of my most anticipated games of the year, Ninja Gaiden 4, has looked absolutely incredible in nearly every showing. Would a new trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live really offer more, especially after all the gameplay and previews? Probably not, but some more stylish, combat is a guarantee, and that’s all I can ask for.

Where Winds Meet

With its final beta wrapped, the odds of Everstone Studio’s massive open-world action RPG receiving a release date are greater than before. And what better place than Gamescom, where it was first announced about three years ago? All the pieces are in place, and based on everything we’ve seen thus far – the combat, the world size, the attention to detail – it could be another breakout hit for NetEase.

Honor of Kings: World Trailer

By comparison, Honor of Kings: World is in a somewhat weird spot. It saw some updates earlier this year from GDC, including solid-looking gameplay, but there’s been very little since. Regardless, with a new trailer at Opening Night Live and a playable demo on the show floor, maybe Tencent has a big announcement lined up, like a release window or even a beta.

The Division 2’s “Big Project” Announcement

As other live service titles falter or fall by the wayside, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is chugging along just fine. Massive has some pretty significant panels planned for Gamescom week, but we’re most interested in the “big project” announcement for the looter shooter. A big new expansion could be it, especially after the launch of Battle for Brooklyn. Here’s hoping it offers a brand-new region to explore and expands on the end-game further.

Crimson Desert Gameplay

Speaking of long-delayed, Crimson Desert was pushed from late 2025 to Q1 2026, but it’s still on track for a playable demo at Gamescom. New gameplay also wouldn’t be surprising, either at Opening Night Live or Future Games Show, but Pearl Abyss could release it online during the week to appease fans who can’t go hands-on. A release date reveal is unlikely, especially at this point, but at the very least, we’ll get to see how much further it’s progressed since the last gameplay showing.

Phantom Blade Zero’s New Trailer

Perhaps the most high-profile title at the Future Games Show on August 20th, Phantom Blade Zero is set to receive a new trailer. But it already received some extensive footage recently, so what gives? S-Game previously confirmed that attendees could play an hour-long demo on the show floor. Maybe this is an announcement for the long-sought public demo? It would certainly warrant a spot like this and, if nothing else, build on the hype even further.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond’s Release Date

Predicting Nintendo’s next move is always challenging, especially when it comes to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a project that’s been in the works since 2019. Nevertheless, it has reiterated a launch this year and with a playable demo for the title confirmed at Gamescom, a release date announcement seems all but a given. Whether it will happen at Opening Night Live is another question entirely.

Little Nightmares 3 Returns to the Carnevale

The other high-profile title appearing at the Future Games Show is Supermassive Games’ Little Nightmares 3. We already know the release date, and if anything, keeping much under wraps as possible would be fitting. That may explain why it’s venturing back to the Carnevale level from the Little Nightmares Showcase, offering up a familiar setting but with new thrills. Either way, we can’t wait to see what’s in store.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

Where in the world has Toxic Commando been since its announcement in 2023? Granted, Focus Entertainment said it would launch sometime this year, but there’s little else besides. That doesn’t mean closed playtests haven’t been underway, as evidenced by a leak last July. Saber Interactive has a lot on its plate lately, but if Toxic Commando does appear at, say, Opening Night Live, an open beta announcement is the very least it could offer.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland’s sequel isn’t just about freerunning and those nerve-shredding nights, it’s dialing up the splatter, too. The studio is touting far more realistic dismemberment and damage modeling, and a fresh gameplay slice is slated for the Xbox Gamescom showcase ahead of launch on September 19 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC, with PS4 and Xbox One versions following later this year.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Set to appear during the Xbox Showcase at Gamescom 2025, the next Onimusha is poised for a proper reveal with new details and footage. Expect a roughly 20-hour adventure that returns to classic, stage-by-stage progression and tells a standalone story, rather than an open-world follow-up to earlier entries.

Black Myth: Wukong — DLC Tease

As Black Myth: Wukong arrives on Xbox Series X|S on August 20, all eyes are on Opening Night Live for what looks like the game’s first DLC reveal. The timing suggests an add-on targeting a 2026 window, while the base game remains available on PS5 and PC.

Outside of being playable at the ACMI Museum in Australia this September, this will be the first time that attendees can go hands-on with the highly anticipated Metroidvania title. It’s playable on PC and the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X, which is also playable for the general public for the first time. Judging by recent rumors, the latter could receive a release date and price announcement.

After its reveal in February 2019 and multiple delays, Hollow Knight: Silksong is slated to launch later this year, with Team Cherry confirming its arrival before the Holiday season. It will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, the Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 alongside Game Pass.