Xbox gamers horrified by price of new console

The price of the next big Xbox system just leaked online, and fans aren’t happy (although it may not quite be as bad as people are assuming).

Microsoft recently announced the Xbox Ally, a spin-off of the ASUS ROG handhelds that are, as the name may imply, capable of running Xbox games.

We’re getting two versions of these, touted to release at the end of 2025: the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X.

I think most of us assumed that these new handhelds would be priced a little cheaper than the standard ASUS ROG handhelds we already have, so that Microsoft could entice Xbox owners into purchasing one.

Well, unfortunately, it seems that’s not the case, as the prices for these just leaked online (via 3DJuegos) through the official ASUS website.

The Xbox Ally will set you back roughly 599 euros, while the Ally X will cost somewhere around 899 euros. This will undoubtedly fluctuate based on your region, but at least we know the rough price point.

Over on the r/gaming subreddit, fans aren’t too happy with the news that the two handhelds will cost “$700” and “$1050”.

“So it's the same price as the current ROG handhelds”, commented user bigeyez.

“Not unexpected but a bit disappointing. $499 or even $549 for the base model would have sold units but I guess Xbox or Microsoft aren't interested in selling hardware at a loss anymore to create an install base.”

“How can this even compete with the steam deck or the switch 2 for this price?” replied user Electrical_Crew7195.

“For this money you are almost charting into desktop and gaming laptops. Who is the demographic for this?”

However, I actually think that headline on the thread that everyone is responding to might be incorrect.

If you try to convert 599 euros into dollars, you will get roughly 700 dollars. That much is true.

Here’s the issue though: the leaked price included sales tax. America, for instance, doesn’t include sales tax in their prices… and its sales tax will probably end up being lower.

Plus, electronics just tend to be cheaper in certain regions, regardless of sales tax. If you take this into account, I actually think both the Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X will end up being way cheaper than $700 and $1050 in the USA.

We’ll have to wait for an official number on either Microsoft’s or ASUS’ side to confirm this, but I don’t think we should start the doomposting yet.