This past weekend, Xbox didn’t just give us a glimpse into the future of gaming; it threw the doors wide open. The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 was a whirlwind of exhilarating announcements, from blockbuster world premieres to long-awaited updates on fan-favorite titles. But amidst the stunning trailers and gameplay reveals, one announcement, in particular, has set the gaming world abuzz and hints at a monumental shift in how we experience Xbox: the official reveal of Xbox-branded handhelds from PC partners.
For years, whispers and rumors of a portable Xbox have circulated, a tantalizing prospect for gamers on the go. This weekend, those whispers became a reality with the unveiling of the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, developed in partnership with ASUS. This isn’t just about shrinking down the Xbox experience; it’s about expanding it in ways we’ve only dreamed of.
The announcement of the ASUS ROG Ally X signals a direct response to the growing preference for SteamOS over Windows-powered handhelds. With Valve’s Steam Deck dominating the handheld gaming space, many reviewers have favored SteamOS for its optimized gaming experience, streamlined interface, and better battery efficiency compared to Windows. ASUS, in partnership with Xbox, has introduced the ROG Ally X, aiming to counter this trend by enhancing Windows-based handheld gaming.
The ROG Ally X boasts a Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor and 24GB of high-speed RAM, significantly improving performance over its predecessor. Additionally, ASUS and Xbox have developed a new Xbox UI interface, making navigation more intuitive and addressing complaints about Windows’ lack of handheld optimization. The device also supports Xbox Game Pass, Battle.net, and other PC storefronts, ensuring a broader game library compared to Steam Deck’s Linux-based ecosystem.
To further compete with SteamOS, ASUS has integrated Armory Crate, allowing users to tweak settings like refresh rate and TDP—features that Steam Deck users have praised. Moreover, Xbox is launching a game optimization program, similar to Valve’s Steam Deck Verified, to help users identify titles that run best on the Ally X.
Despite these improvements, SteamOS remains a viable alternative, with users now able to install it on the ROG Ally X for a more console-like experience. However, ASUS and Xbox’s collaboration suggests a strong push to keep Windows relevant in the handheld gaming space, ensuring that users don’t feel compelled to switch to SteamOS for a better experience. The battle between Windows handhelds and SteamOS is heating up, and the ROG Ally X is ASUS’ latest attempt to reclaim ground.
Let’s dive into the incredible games coming our way!
Welcome Back to the Black Ops Future in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Get ready for a mind-bending trip to 2035! For the first time in Call of Duty history, developers Treyarch and Raven Software are delivering back-to-back Black Ops titles. Picking up after the narrative events of Black Ops 2 and 6, the world is teetering on the edge of chaos, ravaged by psychological warfare. As David Mason, you’ll lead a team against a manipulative enemy that weaponizes fear itself. Squad up in an innovative co-op campaign, master near-future weaponry in signature multiplayer, and descend into the next twisted chapter of Round-Based Zombies. This was just a tease—don’t miss the full reveal this summer!
Clockwork Revolution: Bend Time, Shape the Future
The time-bending RPG from inXile Entertainment is back with a new trailer, revealing the grittier side of the steampunk city of Avalon. Here, the downtrodden steal to survive while the city’s ruler, Lady Ironwood, carefully manipulates history. Using a wondrous time-travel device, you’ll go into the past to set things straight—and your choices will have cascading consequences. Want to know what makes this ambitious RPG tick? Check out our exclusive interview with the team at inXile!
Gears of War: Reloaded is Coming for Everyone
The Coalition is bringing the iconic gameplay and cinematics that changed gaming forever to more players than ever. Gears of War: Reloaded is a loving remaster of the original classic, optimized for every platform with 4K textures, 60 FPS Campaign, 120 FPS Multiplayer, and full cross-play and cross-progression. Get ready for the two-weekend Multiplayer Beta starting June 13! Find out how to join the fight in our full Xbox Wire feature.
Grounded 2 Gets Bigger, Bolder, and Buggier
It’s time to step out of the backyard and into the suburban wilderness! Grounded 2 is everything fans have been asking for, delivering new bugs, new biomes, and one of the community’s most-requested features: rideable Buggies! Launching into Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 29, this sequel is packed with sharper tools and weirder threats. Wishlist it today and help us shape this world!
A Beacon in the Dark: Double Fine’s Keeper Awakens This October
From the wonderfully weird minds at Double Fine Productions comes Keeper, a beautiful and mysterious third-person adventure arriving on October 17. The first trailer revealed a dormant lighthouse crumbling, only to reassemble itself on newly formed legs. That’s right—in Keeper, you play as a walking lighthouse, using your powerful beam to influence the world around you. We can’t wait for this one.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Emerges from the Shadows
The legendary ninja action franchise returns! In a stunning collaboration, Team Ninja’s signature combat meets PlatinumGames’ dynamic flair in Ninja Gaiden 4. As a young prodigy named Yakumo, you’ll battle through hordes of enemies in a near-future Tokyo. With seamless weapon switching, explosive Bloodbind Ninjutsu, and a mysterious connection to Ryu Hayabusa, this is a legacy reborn. Get ready for brutal, stylish action when it launches on October 21.
The Outer Worlds 2: It’s Not the Best Choice, It’s Your Choice
Prepare to be pulled into Arcadia, a colony on the brink of collapse. In this bigger, bolder sequel, you’ll find deeper RPG systems, sharper satire, and wildly reactive storytelling. With new companions, enhanced combat, and full character customization, The Outer Worlds 2 hands you the keys to a chaotic system and asks: What are you going to do with it? The world needs a hero. You’ll have to do. The chaos begins on October 29, 2025.
Shred Again in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Demo Out Now!
The Birdman is back! The legendary remake of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 drops on July 11, bringing a host of iconic and new parks, skaters, and tricks. Even better? You can play the Foundry Demo right now with a pre-order or a Game Pass Ultimate membership!
World Premieres and New Games from other partners
Xbox first-party studios weren’t the only ones bringing the heat. A a massive slate of games from their talented partners around the globe, include:
- Aniimo: A beautiful open-world, creature-collecting ARPG where you can battle with or become the magical creatures you capture. (2026)
- Aphelion: A tense, cinematic sci-fi adventure from the creators of Life is Strange, made in partnership with the European Space Agency. (2026)
- At Fate’s End: From the award-winning team behind Spiritfarer, this action-adventure has you fighting the ones you love to decide your family’s fate.
- Beast of Reincarnation: A new action-RPG from the revered developer Game Freak, set in a post-apocalyptic Japan consumed by formidable beasts.
- The Blood of Dawnwalker: A dark fantasy RPG where you play as a half-vampire, treading the line between humanity and cursed power. (2026)
- Cronos: The New Dawn: A haunting third-person survival horror from Bloober Team where you must salvage what remains of humanity. (Fall 2025)
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: The beloved, genre-defining remake is officially coming to Xbox this Winter!
- Final Fantasy XVI: Surprise! The epic action-RPG is available on Xbox platforms starting today. Now every mainline single-player Final Fantasy is playable on Xbox!
- High On Life 2: Your favorite talking guns are back! Get ready to take down an evil pharmaceutical conglomerate this Winter, day one with Game Pass.
- Invincible VS: A brutal, 3v3 tag-team superhero fighting game set in the bloody Invincible universe. (2026)
- Mudang: Two Hearts: A cinematic tactical action-adventure set on the reunified Korean Peninsula, told from two distinct perspectives. (2026)
- Persona 4 Revival: The modern classic JRPG returns with gorgeous updated visuals. Uncover the truth behind a string of bizarre murders when you play it day one with Game Pass.
- Planet of Lana II: This highly anticipated sequel doubles the size of the original, as Lana and Mui confront the planet’s darkest secrets. (2026, day one with Game Pass)
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy: A new action-adventure set 15 years before the events of Requiem, delving into Sophia’s past. (2026, day one with Game Pass)
- Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE: The global webtoon phenomenon becomes an action-RPG, arriving on Xbox PC in Fall 2025.
- Super Meat Boy 3D: Gaming’s most iconic chunk of meat is back, taking the series’ brutal platforming into a new dimension! (Early 2026, day one with Game Pass)
- There Are No Ghosts at The Grand: A cozy, spooky, musical mystery where you restore a hotel by day and hunt ghosts by night. (2026, day one with Game Pass)
Your Favorite Games Are Getting Bigger
The adventure doesn’t stop. The Xbox team also announced a ton of new content and updates for some of its biggest ongoing titles:
- Age of Mythology: Retold: The “Heavenly Spear” expansion introduces the Japanese pantheon this Fall.
- The Elder Scrolls Online: The “Seasons of the Worm Cult” storyline continues a tale from over 10 years ago, arriving for consoles on June 18.
- Fallout 76: The “Gone Fission” update is available now, bringing a fin-tastic fishing system to the Wasteland for free!
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A new DLC chapter, “The Order of the Giants,” takes Indy beneath the streets of Rome on September 4, 2025.
- Sea of Thieves: Season 17, “Smugglers’ Tide,” introduces a new gang and explosive new voyages this August.
What are you most excited to play? Let us know!
