If you wanted something like the Nintendo Switch but which ran the full version of Windows 11 and all the AAA-rated PC and Xbox gaming titles, along with Steam and so many more gaming stores, the ally yourself with the ROG Ally, will plays “ALLYourGames”, with the full Australian press launch event and more videos and info below!

Remember when the Steam Deck launched, and there were massive delays in getting one, and it didn’t play all of the games that mattered, but only some, and it ran on Linux, requiring you to manually install Windows 11 if you wanted that?

The new ASUS ROG Ally handheld gaming console removes all of those limitations, with plenty of stock coming to Australia and New Zealand, while being equipped with Windows 11, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD that is upgradable, and an impressively powered AMD Z1 Extreme processor – and more besides.

With a 7-inch Full HD 1080P touch screen capable of running AAA games, in a lightweight 608 grams, with fully customisable controls, and Windows gaming titles from Steam, Epic, Xbox Game Pass, and full compatibility with all your traditional Windows software, including Microsoft Office, this is in the running for the most awesome Windows PC ever created thus far, and the coolest looking by far.

Set to retail for ADUD $1299, and NZD $1499, the full details from the ASUS ROG Ally media release are below, with the full AUS ROG Ally website pages here, and the JB Hi-Fi pre-order page here, but before we go any further, below is the full Australian launch event, where we heat from ASUS Head of Consumer ANZ, Brad Howe, and then from Matt Carr, the AMD Head of Consumer APJ.

Further below, you’ll see separate video interviews with Brad and Matt, and you’ll find the global ASUS ROG Ally launch from last week at the end of this article, so… please watch and read on!

Ok, so let’s take a look at the media release from ASUS, in which I will embed the two other videos interviews!

ASUS describes the new ROG Ally, as an incredibly powerful new Windows 11 gaming handheld. Driven by the cutting-edge AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, allowing the Ally to breeze through AAA games and indie titles in 1080p with ease, whether gamers are playing alone or with friends.

ROG Ally will be available on-shelf with 512 GB of storage in Australia and New Zealand on June 13, 2023, for AUD$1,299/NZD$1,499, with pre-orders starting today, 17 May 2023.

With robust support and partnerships throughout the industry, the Ally is poised to be the ultimate handheld gaming machine.

“Before the ROG Ally, handhelds were limited, only offering certain games often at lower resolutions and framerates. We spent five years working to elevate that experience. The ROG Ally offers high performance in Full HD on a platform that can play all your games, anywhere you go,” said Shawn Yen, Vice General Manager of Gaming BU, ASUS.

Here’s my video interview with Brad Howe, Head of Consumer A/NZ from ASUS Australia:

Full HD AAA gaming in the palm of your hand

The ROG Ally is a truly next-gen handheld, offering Full HD (FHD) gaming on the go, and able to run even 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 three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate right out of the box. Gamers can play solo, connect to a TV to play with friends or kick into high gear with the ROG XG Mobile suite of external GPUs for a truly top-tier gaming experience.

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, featuring 8 cores, 16 threads, and up to 8.6 teraflops of graphics processing power.

An AMD Ryzen Z1 variant will be available later in 2023 with 6 cores and 12 processing threads, and both models support AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and AMD Radeon Super Resolution upscaling technologies for excellent performance and stunning visuals in demanding AAA and indie titles.

“Our team has spent over a decade developing the technologies necessary to enable the Ryzen Z1 Series of processors. Working with visionary partners like ROG, we’ve designed a platform that redefines mobile gaming,” said Renato Fragale, senior director of product management for the Consumer and Gaming Client Business at AMD.

“We’re excited for gamers to experience the first device powered by Ryzen Z1 Series processors with the launch of the ROG Ally.”

Making this possible is the ROG Zero Gravity thermal system, which uses a dual-fan system with ultrathin heatsink fins and high-friction heat pipes to ensure the Ally stays cool in any orientation. The Ally also comes equipped with 16 GB of high-speed LPDDR5 6400 MHz memory, 512 GB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, and a UHS-II microSD card slot to further expand its storage capacity. WiFi 6E support ensures that the Ally stays on a rock-solid connection, even in congested networks, whether gamers are natively playing a multiplayer match or streaming a game via Xbox Cloud Gaming or AMD Link.

Here’s my video interview with Matt Carr, AMD’s Head of Consumer APJ, talking about the new Z1 and Z1 Extreme-power ASUS ROG Ally:

Flagship gaming performance demands a display to match, and the Ally does not disappoint. Equipped with a 120 Hz FHD (1080p) touchscreen with AMD FreeSync Premium technology1gamers will enjoy supreme motion clarity in fast-paced games, with no tearing or stuttering.

The display also has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, enabling gamers to easily keep track of the action in more challenging environments, like outdoors. This touchscreen display also acts to seamlessly allow navigation of Windows 11 when gamers need to change settings or install their next game.

Versatile performance at the right price

ME Time: The ROG Ally takes handheld gaming to new heights. With a 1080p 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 Ally offers superior image and motion clarity thanks to its FHD touchscreen and AMD FreeSync Premium technology.

WE Time: With the optional ROG Gaming Charger Dock, gamers can connect the Ally to a TV and charge at the same time, allowing for couch co-op and competition with extra controllers. The Ally can handle multiplayer games like NBA 2K23, Moving Out, and Street Fighter V with ease for a party that never stops.

PRO Time: When paired with an XG Mobile external GPU sporting up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTXTM 4090 Laptop GPU, the Ally becomes a true gaming powerhouse for living room couch gaming or a high-end experience with mouse and keyboard. Gamers can play AAA games at 4K with ray tracing and DLSS 3, or take down the competition in high-frame rate esports titles.

All this versatility comes at an excellent price. The Ryzen Z1 Extreme-equipped model with 512 GB of storage will be available for pre-order starting today and available for AUD$1,299/NZD$1,499 on-shelf from June 13.

Gamers can also purchase ROG XG Mobile with an NVIDIA GeForce, or the XG Mobile with an AMD Radeon at JB Hi-Fi.

Play All Your Games

The ROG Ally was designed from the ground up with Windows at its heart, able to #playALLYourgames from any platform. ROG has collaborated with Microsoft, game publishers, and individual studios to ensure that gamers using the Ally have the best experience possible. Full support for Steam, the EA App, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, the Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy 2.0, Android apps, and other game platforms ensures that no matter where users download their games, the Ally has them covered.

The Ally even comes bundled with a free three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code, giving gamers instant access to Microsoft’s game library the moment they unbox the machine. “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members have access to hundreds of games, including hits like Minecraft Legends, Grounded, Age of Empire IV and many more,” said Roanne Sones, CVP, Head of Xbox Hardware. “With the ROG Ally and Game Pass Ultimate, we can’t wait for people to discover and play their next favourite game on the go, whether it’s playing native PC games with Windows or streaming console games with Xbox Cloud Gaming.”

ROG is also proud to work with Xbox Game Studios, Capcom, HoYoverse, Level Infinite, 505 Games, Team 17, Nacon, Techland, Squanch Games, and Fatshark to provide the best gaming experience on the Ally.

Here is the global launch event in full: