The ROG Ally: A Next-Gen handheld gaming machine

The ROG Ally: A Next-Gen handheld gaming machine

Republic of Gamers (ROG) announces the launch of the ROG Ally, a new Windows 11 gaming handheld. The ROG Ally runs on an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and can breeze through AAA games and indie titles in 1080p with ease. It will be available for sale worldwide on June 13th, 2023 for $699.99, with pre-orders starting May 11th.

The next-gen handheld ROG Ally offers Full HD gaming on the go. It promises to run modern AAA titles faster and smoother than any other handheld on the market. Since it runs Windows 11, it can play any game from any platform and includes 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate right out of the box.

The Ally is powered by an all-new Ryzen Z1 Series processor from AMD. Built on the “Zen” 4 architecture combined with AMD RDNA 3 architecture-based graphics, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor rivals the prowess of game consoles with 8 cores, 16 threads, and up to 8.6 teraflops of graphics processing power.

Making this possible is ROG’s Zero Gravity thermal system, which uses a dual-fan system with ultra-thin heatsink fins and high-friction heat pipes to ensure the Ally stays cool in any orientation. The Ally also comes equipped with 16GB of high-speed LPDDR5 6400MHz memory, 512 GB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, and a UHS-II microSD card slot to further expand its storage capacity.

Flagship gaming performance demands a panel to match, and the Ally does not disappoint. Equipped with a 120Hz Full HD (1080p) panel with AMD FreeSync™ Premium technology, gamers will enjoy supreme motion clarity in fast-paced games, with no tearing or stuttering.

The ROG Ally takes handheld gaming to new heights. With a Full HD screen and hardware capable of 60 FPS in many of the latest titles, the ROG Ally provides an on-the-go experience that will satisfy gamers of all stripes. Compared to the 720p resolution of competing devices, the ROG Ally offers superior image and motion clarity thanks to its Full HD panel and AMD FreeSync™ Premium technology.

The Ryzen Z1 Extreme equipped model with 512GB of storage will be available for pre-order starting on May 11th and available for sale for $699.99 at Best Buy on June 13th. The ROG Ally model with the Ryzen Z1 chip will be available later this year.

ROG Ally windows 11 gaming handheld device connected to a monitor, dock and ame controller

ROG Ally specifications

Operating SystemWindows 11 Home
ProcessorAMDRyzen™ Z1 Extreme ProcessorCPU: Zen 4 architecture, 8-core /16-threads, 24MB total cache ,up
to 5.10Ghz boostGPU: 12 RDNA3CUs, up to 2.7GHz, 8.6TFlops, default 4GB RAM
capacityAPU Power: 9-30W
Display7-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9, IPS-level, glossy display, 500 nits peak brightness,sRGB:100%, Gorilla® Glass Victus™, Gorilla® Glass DXC, Touch Screen (10-point multi-touch), Refresh Rate:120Hz, Response Time:7ms, Support Dolby Vision HDR, AMD FreeSync™ Premium
Memory16GB LPDDR5 on board (6400MT/s dual channel)
Storage512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD (2230)
I/O Ports1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
1 x ROG XG Mobile Interface and USB Type-C combo port (with
USB 3.2 Gen2, supports DisplayPort™ 1.4)
1 x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC)
Control and InputGamepad controls:A B X Y buttonsD-padL & R Hall Effect analog triggersL & R bumpersView buttonMenu buttonCommand Center buttonArmoury Crate button2 x assignable grip buttonsThumbsticks: 2 x full-size analog sticks with capacitive touchHaptics: HD hapticsGyro: 6-Axis IMU
AudioAI noise-canceling technology
Dolby Atmos
Hi-Res certification
Built-in array microphone
2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
Network and CommunicationTriple band Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) 2 x 2Bluetooth 5.2
Battery40WHrs
Power Supply65W USB Type-C PD 3.0 power supplyAdapter: 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W, Input:
100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal
AURA SYNCYes
Weight~608g (1.34 lbs)
Dimensions (W x D x H)28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12 ~ 3.24 cm (11.02″ x 4.37″ x 0.83″ ~ 1.27″)
Xbox Game Pass3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included
SecurityBuilt-in Fingerprint SensorMicrosoft Pluton security processor

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A big decision: switching from Playstation to Xbox

A big decision: switching from Playstation to Xbox

Hey gamers, welcome back to my blog where I share my thoughts and opinions on everything related to gaming. Today I want to talk about a big decision I made recently: switching from Playstation to Xbox. Yes, you read that right. I know some of you might be shocked or even angry, but hear me out. I have some good reasons for making this change and I want to share them with you.

First of all, let me say that I have nothing against Playstation. I have been a loyal fan of Sony’s consoles since the PS1 era and I have enjoyed many great games and experiences on them. I still have my PS4 and PS5 and I will continue to play them from time to time. But lately, I have been feeling more drawn to Xbox and what it has to offer.

switching from Playstation to Xbox features include Game Pass, xCloud

One of the main reasons is Game Pass. This is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee. You can download and play any game you want from a huge library that includes new releases, classics, indie gems, and even some exclusive titles. You can also stream games to your PC or mobile device with xCloud. This is a game-changer for me because it saves me a lot of money and time. Instead of buying games at full price or waiting for sales, I can just play whatever I want whenever I want. And if I don’t like a game, I can just delete it and try something else. No regrets, no hassle.

Another reason is the backward compatibility. Xbox supports playing games from previous generations of consoles, including the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. This means you can enjoy your old favorites or discover new ones without having to switch consoles or buy remasters. You can also benefit from improved graphics, performance, and features on newer hardware. For example, some games support FPS Boost, which increases the frame rate up to 120 fps, or Auto HDR, which adds high dynamic range lighting to older games. This makes playing old games feel fresh and new.

Xbox One

The third reason is the controller. I know this might sound trivial, but the controller is very important for me as a gamer. It’s the main way I interact with the games and it affects my comfort and enjoyment. And I have to say that I prefer the Xbox controller over the Playstation one. It feels more ergonomic and natural in my hands, the triggers are more responsive and adaptive, the thumbsticks are more precise and durable, and the battery life is longer. Plus, I like the design and color options better.

These are just some of the reasons why I switched from Playstation to Xbox. Of course, there are other factors that might influence your choice, such as exclusive games, online services, community, etc. But for me personally, Xbox offers more value, variety, and quality than Playstation right now. And that’s why I made the switch.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with me? Have you ever switched consoles or are you loyal to one brand? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to like and subscribe for more gaming content. Thanks for reading and happy gaming!

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Microsoft is set to acquire Activision Blizzard at $68.7 billion and become the world’s third-largest gaming company

Microsoft is set to acquire Activision Blizzard at $68.7 billion and become the world’s third-largest gaming company

Microsoft is set to become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The company has agreed to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. in a transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Microsoft will launch Activision’s games into the Xbox Game Pass portfolio bringing users games such as Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Candy Crush. Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO believes this acquisition will provide a building block for the Microsoft metaverse.

Activision Blizzard Microsoft

This will become the biggest acquisition since Satya Nadella took over as the Microsoft CEO. Surpassing the $26 Billion Microsoft paid to acquire LinkedIn in 2016. Last year Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media (Bethesda Softworks) for $7.5 billion in a move to build an industry-leading first-party Xbox games studios. The new acquisition will increase Microsoft’s internal game development studios to thirty. It will also bring with it Activision’s global eSports activities through Major League Gaming.

Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms,” says Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all.”

Microsoft says Activision Blizzard will continue to operate independently until the deal closes in the fiscal year 2023. Then once the deal is complete Activision business will report to Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer. Phil notes “we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog“.

Together we will build a future where people can play the games they want, virtually anywhere they want.”

Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming

Microsoft is also announcing a new Xbox Game Pass milestone with over 25 million subscribers today. The company will be looking to increase this with the introduction of new and exclusive games and titles.

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Xbox Live for $50, Microsoft’s cloud gaming comes to new markets

Xbox Live for $50, Microsoft’s cloud gaming comes to new markets

Xbox Live Cloud Gaming Game Pass

Microsoft is introducing new Xbox gaming markets, get an Xbox Live Game Pass at a discounted price and more. The weekend is here and this is a round-up of stories making the news across the Microsoft ecosystem globally.

Xbox showcase, Tokyo Game Show 2021

First, we head off to Japan where the Japan Times reports that Microsoft is finally pulling its weight. That’s in terms of gaming and Xbox in Japan. It says Microsoft has lagged behind Sony and Nintendo over the years. At the side of the Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft revealed its renewed commitment to the region. By launching Xbox Cloud gaming service in Japan and localizing more than 100 gaming titles on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft is also working with over 200 independent Japanese developers in the ID@Xbox program. Click to get the full gist here and find a recap of the Microsoft Tokyo Game Show 2021 here.

Xbox Live discounted

PCWorld says Newegg is selling 12 months of Xbox Live Gold for $50, that’s $10 off the usual price. But unfortunately, the offer is for today only. So if this is something you have been looking out for no long talk. Just click and head out to PCWorld for details and grab this.

New Xbox Markets

Microsoft is taking steps to reach three billion game players around the world. The company is announcing the launch of the Xbox Cloud Gaming in Australia, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. This comes as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which allows players to play their games on their smartphones, PC and tablets. The addition of the new markets means Microsoft Xbox gaming is now officially in twenty-six countries across five continents. With South Africa being the only supported market in Africa. And Israel, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia being the other markets in the Middle East Africa region. Xbox All Access and Xbox Game Pass Cloud gaming are still not available to these supported markets.

Expected Xbox Live games

Microsoft says Sherlock Holmes Chapter One and Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version … is coming to Xbox Series X and S on November 16 and October 1 respectively. The company is also expected to release a new list of free games to the Xbox Live Gold family. Charles of istockanalyst has put together a list of Xbox games to look out for. This includes InnerSpace, Shovel Knight, Alan Wake and Metal Gear, Solid HD Edition. Check the full list and why you might like them here.

Have a lovely weekend and tell me what news excited you most from the Microsoft ecosystem this week. Share your thoughts in the comments.

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You can now play Microsoft Flight Simulator on an Xbox console

You can now play Microsoft Flight Simulator on an Xbox console

Microsoft Flight Simulator Xbox

Microsoft is announcing that the popular PC simulation game Flight Simulator is now available on the Xbox series X and S consoles. This is the first time in its about forty years that the flight simulation game is making its way to consoles.

Microsoft says it is trying to give aspiring pilots the chance to take flight(lessons) using a console. The game comes with the same level of depth as the PC version the company notes. The PC version is receiving a massive bump in performance improvements. It also comes with added features such as improved flight training, world exploration, flight assistance and more. And these are also going to be experienced on the console as well. The improved features give a pilot real-time and realist experiences through the power of satellite data from Bing Maps and cloud-based AI using Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft Flight Simulator lets you travel to over thirty-seven thousand airports and two million cities across the world. The enhanced improvements like point of interest labels let you explore and find landmarks easily. For new pilots, there are twenty-two fundamental training flights to teach you basic handling.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is available with Xbox Game Pass. So you can play it on a Windows 10 PC, Steam or your Xbox series X or S console. Microsoft says the game will get third party partners who will introduce peripherals to make the console experience immersive.

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