The latest ROG Xbox Ally updates provide a more seamless docking experience for living room play

Since the launch of the original ROG Ally, we’ve worked tirelessly to provide the best handheld gaming experience around — not just through excellent hardware, but by keeping it updated with the latest and greatest software from ROG and Xbox. We’ve incorporated years of your feedback into Armoury Crate, integrated the latest frame generation tech from AMD, and made your games more seamless with Advanced Shader Delivery and Default Game Profiles. Our continued, dedicated support — all based on feedback from you, our amazing community — is what makes the ROG Ally the ultimate gaming device. Today, we’re happy to announce a new batch of improvements to the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, which make it easier than ever to dock your handheld to your TV, and much more.

We’ll detail many of the newest features below, but if you’d like to test them out for yourself, please make sure you’ve updated to the latest BIOS and firmware through Armoury Crate’s Update Center, and that you’re running the latest version of Armoury Crate and the Xbox app.

Docking to a TV or monitor gets more seamless

We’ve improved the overall experience of connecting your ROG Xbox Ally or ROG Xbox Ally X to an external display. As soon as you connect to a monitor or TV, the handheld’s built-in display will automatically turn off, moving your content to the bigger screen — no need to make any tweaks. And, if you’re using our own ROG Bulwark Dock or ROG 100W Gaming Charger Dock, supported Smart TVs will deliver automatic gaming enhancements such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for the best possible gaming experience. The ROG Bulwark Dock also enables Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) for smoother, more responsive gameplay.

If you do need to adjust display settings, you can now do so directly from Game Bar. Just look for the new Display Widget, which allows you to change resolution, refresh rate, and projection mode all from one spot.

In addition, when you dock your Ally, the first external controller you pair to the device will become Player 1, automatically disabling the Ally’s embedded controller, enabling a more seamless transition and unlocking even more games for docked play (For best results, we recommend pairing your controller before docking to your external display.) The new Gamepad Cursor mode lets you more easily navigate experiences that aren’t optimized for controller input, such as music streaming services and other PC gaming storefronts, with your external controller.

Auto Super Resolution (Auto SR) enters Xbox Insider Preview

Many ROG Xbox Ally X players love docking to a TV for couch sessions. On a bigger screen, lack of detail stands out more than during portable play, but players often face a tradeoff: richer visual detail or smoother framerates.

That’s where Auto SR comes in. Today, Auto SR is available in Preview to Xbox Insiders on the ROG Xbox Ally X, giving them the chance to help us test and refine the Auto SR experience. Built into Windows and powered by the ROG Xbox Ally X’s NPU, Auto SR upscales existing DirectX 11 and 12 games while docked, delivering 1440p-like visuals at smooth framerates.

Once you are an Insider, plug in, enable Auto SR in Game Bar, and enjoy sharper visuals on the big screen. For a deeper technical look into Auto SR and instructions on how to get started, read the Auto SR DirectX blog.

Enhanced Vibration provides more immersive haptic feedback

The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X have also received a firmware update that allows for richer, smoother haptic feedback, similar to what you might be used to on an Xbox controller. But we’re giving you the choice: to enable the feature, open Armoury Crate, head to Settings > Control Mode > Configure, select the Vibration tab, and enable Enhanced Vibration to try it out. If you like it, you can leave it enabled globally or enable it on a per-game basis in your Game Profiles.

Super Wideband Stereo Voice improves in-game comms on Bluetooth LE headsets

If you have a headset that supports Bluetooth LE Audio, your comms just got a whole lot clearer. While some Bluetooth headsets would previously experience degraded audio quality when using the microphone for in-game chat, the latest drivers for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X will provide higher fidelity stereo audio even as you command your squad on the battlefield.

Customize your Library by adding games and apps

The Xbox app will automatically pull in your installed games from several leading PC storefronts, allowing you to launch your games from one central location. But if you have a standalone game or other app you want quick access to in your library, you now have the power to add it. Just head to the Library tab of the Xbox app and click the + button to add custom items alongside your other games and apps. You can even edit the name, image, launch target, and command-line options for your added items, giving you even more control over your library.

The ROG Xbox Ally keeps improving — and we’re far from finished

Veteran users of the ROG Ally know that we’re serious about listening to your feedback and releasing regular updates to improve the device. We’re excited about all of the features now available in the Xbox app and Armoury Crate, but stay tuned, because there’s even more ahead. In the meantime, keep the feedback coming and the discussion active over on the ROG Discord.