Microsoft has confirmed release date and availability details for the ROG Xbox Ally X, its upcoming gaming handheld made by Asus, but notably held off on confirming how much the device will cost.
Well I hope Microsoft has next to no input on it then
Microsoft develops Windows game mode, so the user-facing bit of the system and of course such a major sponsor surely has general “don’t do anything that hurts our brand” clauses in the contract with Asus but other than that there has been not a single piece of evidence that the handheld will be anything but a more high-profile version of https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-3-mode-controller-xbox/ which is also just branded 3rd party hardware. IMO there is a decent chance the identical hardware will also launch as a SteamOS version with the buttons then carrying Steam branding.
Microsoft develops Windows game mode, so the user-facing bit of the system and of course such a major sponsor surely has general “don’t do anything that hurts our brand” clauses in the contract with Asus but other than that there has been not a single piece of evidence that the handheld will be anything but a more high-profile version of https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-3-mode-controller-xbox/ which is also just branded 3rd party hardware. IMO there is a decent chance the identical hardware will also launch as a SteamOS version with the buttons then carrying Steam branding.