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.

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

ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will be out in time for games like The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Keeper

Microsoft says macro-economic factors are impacting the company's ability to reveal the prices for its upcoming handheld consoles.

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

Xbox's handhelds have a confirmed release date, and yes, it's the one that leaked. As for how much the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will cost you, Microsoft aren't sharing a price yet, because there are some macroeconomics to take into account, don't you know.

With all that said, "wrap up" is a pretty difficult phrase to define here. Microsoft has made an effort to make its software cross-generational since the Xbox One. Announced games will still be compatible with the Xbox Series consoles, and future, unannounced ones likely will, too.

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.