Microsoft, Asus Update ROG Xbox Ally with Game Profiles

Microsoft and Asus have introduced a significant software update for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming devices, featuring Default Game Profiles designed to simplify performance optimization for players. The update, now available in preview, supports around 40 titles and automatically adjusts frame rates and power consumption to balance gameplay smoothness with battery efficiency, particularly when running on battery power.

The core of the update is Default Game Profiles, which apply handcrafted settings per game without requiring users to manually tweak graphics or thermal design power (TDP) limits. When a supported title launches, the system sets a target frame rate and power limit. If performance falls short, it boosts power to reach the goal, trading some battery life for better frame rates. Conversely, if the game exceeds the target, it caps the frame rate to conserve energy. For example, in Hollow Knight: Silksong, the profile maintains around 120 frames per second while adding nearly an hour of battery life compared to standard performance modes.

Supported games include first-party releases from Xbox Game Studios such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Forza...