ASUS has today formally revealed all about their handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally and it's releasing in June with a pretty competitive price. It runs Windows 11, so for the GamingOnLinux followers, it may not exactly be what you're after. However, with handheld PC gaming rising, especially with the Linux powered Steam Deck, it's good to keep an eye on the competition right?
Today they revealed the pricing after many leaks:
- AMD Ryzen Z1 model: $599 - launching in Q3.
- AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme model: $699 - launching June 13th.
Picture source - ASUS YouTube
Goes without saying really but I will anyway: I will be sticking to the Steam Deck and desktop Linux. Just because something new comes along, doesn't mean I'm going to instantly jump towards it. Not everyone has money to burn every time something a bit more powerful comes along.
IGN already have a review of it up and it sounds overall like a good device, with battery life also not long when playing bigger games like the Steam Deck. They do make a point that the initial experience with Windows 11 and ASUS Armoury Crate being a nuisance.
It will definitely be interesting to watch how this will affect the Steam Deck though. Competition is absolutely good! It benefits everyone and it pushes all sides to do better. Plus, the more companies that show there's a demand for handheld gaming like this, the better the future will be for it, including a potential Steam Deck 2.
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Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: GroganIt's going to hurt the Steam Deck for sure. Moreover, I'd expect Steam Decks to start shipping with Windows configurations soon.
Also, it's no coincidence that Microsoft is buying up all the big game publishers. It also wouldn't surprise me if Asus was getting near free OS licensing from Microsoft as a carrot.
Quoting: GroganIt's going to hurt the Steam Deck for sure. Moreover, I'd expect Steam Decks to start shipping with Windows configurations soon.
Also, it's no coincidence that Microsoft is buying up all the big game publishers. It also wouldn't surprise me if Asus was getting near free OS licensing from Microsoft as a carrot.
negative licensing. (microsoft could be paying then)
anyway, i doubt valve will give windows options, dealing microsoft is like dealing with the devil, either you go full windows or they dont give you a far deal.
they usually charge for device sold not device with windows, meaning that linux machines would pay the windows licence too, and cost the same if not more.
valve will probably fight with prices.
they make money on each game sold and have almost 0 competition on steamOS, that alone is a big reason for then to charge less.
if other stores start supporting linux, they win again because they will reduce gaming dependence on windows.
and even if this device sell well, that might mean more people purchasing pc games in many stores but mostly steam.
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Quoting: GroganIt's going to hurt the Steam Deck for sure.Seems likely, yeah.
Quoting: GroganMoreover, I'd expect Steam Decks to start shipping with Windows configurations soon.Why? It seems to be sucking.
Quoting: GroganAlso, it's no coincidence that Microsoft is buying up all the big game publishers. It also wouldn't surprise me if Asus was getting near free OS licensing from Microsoft as a carrot.That also seems likely, yeah.
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Quoting: constDoes it even have gyro?It has a gyro, but the Asus software doesn't let you use it. To be fair, the same was true of the Steam Controller at launch.
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ObsidianBlk May 11, 2023
I feel the biggest risk to the Steam Deck is the ROG Ally actually being in a store. As far as I'm aware, Steam Deck is only available from Steam (at least in the US). That means most customers would either have to already be familiar with Steam or (to a much lesser extent) be willing to "risk" the Steam eco-system sight unseen. The Steam Deck had a *HUGE* amount of positivity after it's release (definitely a key benefit to not over-hyping your hardware before release), so Steam Deck saw converts who were not normal PC gamers.
But ROG Ally will be in a store. This means it will be *A LOT* easier for (grand)parents to buy the Ally for their gamer (grand)child's birthday or as a holiday gift. This is a huge deal! Even if the ROG Ally is only half as good as the Steam Deck (and more likely it'll be, all around, on par) that could lead to more ROG Ally units in gamers hands after a year than Steam Deck units.
I feel Valve *really* needs to find a way to get at least the base-line model Steam Deck on store shelves (including Amazon, Walmart, etc). Otherwise, I fear the Steam Deck (and more directly, Steam OS) will be drowned out by more easily purchasable devices.
But ROG Ally will be in a store. This means it will be *A LOT* easier for (grand)parents to buy the Ally for their gamer (grand)child's birthday or as a holiday gift. This is a huge deal! Even if the ROG Ally is only half as good as the Steam Deck (and more likely it'll be, all around, on par) that could lead to more ROG Ally units in gamers hands after a year than Steam Deck units.
I feel Valve *really* needs to find a way to get at least the base-line model Steam Deck on store shelves (including Amazon, Walmart, etc). Otherwise, I fear the Steam Deck (and more directly, Steam OS) will be drowned out by more easily purchasable devices.
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Quoting: EikeIs this sort of a counterstrike(*) by Microsoft as well? ASUS cannot hand out game passes without an agreement with Microsoft, and MS could be interested in fighting that the PC handheld market is Linux dominated at the moment...Microsoft are a strategic partner for this device - lots of cross-promotion and likely Microsoft paid them to have Windows on it rather than the other way round. So much so that Asus aren't sure they're contractually allowed to support the hardware after a user has installed Linux on it. Both parties appear to have assumed that everyone will simply fawn over Windows and ignore the reality of what it's like to use in comparison to Linux.
(*) Is it a global offensive already? :-D
Edit: sauce
QuoteSpeaking of rivalries, Microsoft may have also precluded the ROG Ally’s SteamOS possibilities: “our partner for this device is Microsoft, it’s primarily made as a Windows device, and it’s made only as a Windows device,” says Krohn. But he’s not sure if the deal precludes Asus from supporting SteamOS if users install it themselves.
Last edited by CatKiller on 11 May 2023 at 5:14 pm UTC
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Quoting: ObsidianBlkI feel the biggest risk to the Steam Deck is the ROG Ally actually being in a store.
Yeah, this is a huge deal, esp at an average Joe retailer, probably moreso than the appeal of a more powerful device. I hope Valve are deeply invested enough to keep up Deck hardware and not have it become a Steam Machine 2. I doubt they would go as far as to also sell them B&M but it would be nice at least for exposure.
(I also hope it has them eyeing an upgraded Deck in the decently near future)
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I just want to see developers support more games on Linux and the Steam Deck has made such a huge impact. As long as the ROG Ally doesn't hurt all the good work that has been put in.. It's cool. It might even make Valve drop the already low prices. What the ROG Ally has going for it though is it will be sold in stores.. Valve are only just doing that in Asia but really should be doing it worldwide.
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slaapliedje May 11, 2023
Wonder how many people go into retail stores these days. I'm a terrible example, I don't go into retail stores very often anymore! Last time I did was for a Yoga laptop, and the dude at the shop was annoying me (it was Best Buy). Would you like Anti-virus? No, would you like Office? No. Would you like... piss off. :P
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Quoting: Guest8.6 tflops is crazy number for a handheld device, it is twice bigger than ps4pro, on par with rtx2070 tier GPU, and just a bit behind current gen consoles. you literally can replace a decent gaming pc with it
Do you really think this is going to be as fast as an RTX2070 ? Im might be wrong, but im sensing something off with spending $100 more and getting Three Times the performance
Normally spending $100 more gets you a bigger SSD and a matte finish on a display.
Also the screen on this is 16:9 so it's an inferior aspect ratio.
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Quoting: Guest8.6 tflops is crazy number for a handheld device, it is twice bigger than ps4pro, on par with rtx2070 tier GPU, and just a bit behind current gen consoles. you literally can replace a decent gaming pc with it
And that's probably all it's good for, to be honest. To get that kind of speed, you have to run it at full power and barely get an hour of battery life. Coupled with the clunky Windows UI and half-baked Asus software, it would be better to use it plugged into a monitor on a desk than as a handheld. It makes sense if you want it instead of a gaming laptop. For a desktop, you can still build a cheaper machine. In fact, I just built one for my living room, and it runs SteamOS.
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