New Xbox Hardware Already Teasing Free Upgrades: "We’re Committed"

Xbox has entered the handheld market in a big way, with two new consoles that come packed with impressive performance and some innovative steps forward for a type of gaming that's still relatively new.

The ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X released on 16 October, with the latter selling out pretty quickly in both the UK and USA. That handheld hardware is considerably more powerful than the base version, and it seems like the hefty price wasn't enough to put people off at this early stage.

GAMINGBible's own review of the ROG Xbox Ally X was also very positive, with particular praise for the overall performance and how comfortable it is to use for longer periods.

Now, it seems like the tech behemoth is doubling down on its commitment to the handheld market and those who take the plunge on buying one of the two new handhelds.

As first reported by PureXbox, the company is planning to roll out additional features and support, at no extra cost to the consumer, towards the end of the year and into 2026. The first will be "Default Game Profiles," which set power and performance levels to strike the ideal balance for players on individual games.

Xbox aren't stopping there though, sharing a longer statement detailing some additional leaps forward that should arrive in the first portion of next year, including Automatic Super Resolution and something known as "highlight reels" for the Ally X version of the console.

"In the coming weeks, Xbox Ally players can look forward to previewing Default Game Profiles, a new feature that balances frame rate and energy use for select titles to give players smooth, enjoyable gameplay while extending battery life. And that’s just the beginning. Early next year, we will also roll out enhancements to the docking experience for both Xbox Ally handhelds, introduce AI-powered features like Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) and highlight reels for the Xbox Ally X, and much more."

They have also previously referred to enhancements for those who want to remove the handheld element of the hardware and dock it for use on an external display, though what exactly that will look like remains unclear.

All of that amounts to a pretty interesting next 18 months for owners, and you'll likely find that the launch version of the handheld will be the worst version that you'll ever have to use, assuming Xbox is able to deliver on everything they are promising.