The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X portable gaming consoles will run Windows 11 with several key optimizations. As anticipated, these devices will feature a full-screen Xbox app interface similar to Steam's Big Picture mode, providing a tailored experience for handheld gaming.

The optimizations go beyond just interface changes. This special mode reduces Windows 11's power consumption by two-thirds during standby, significantly improving battery life. The system will automatically terminate non-essential processes including desktop services, search indexing, Office background tasks, and Copilot - freeing up to 2GB of RAM for gaming performance.

A new app switcher interface (reminiscent of Android/iOS multitasking) has been designed specifically for controller navigation, allowing seamless switching between games, Discord, YouTube, Telegram and other apps without returning to desktop.

Microsoft notes these are early implementations, with further performance improvements planned in coming months. Initially exclusive to ROG Xbox Ally devices launching late 2025, these features will expand to existing handhelds like Lenovo Legion Go in early 2026.

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