Asus Rog Ally Review: A New Contender for the Steam Deck?

By this point, the significant delay in our analysis of the Asus Rog Ally may have raised some questions, but due to circumstances beyond Eurogamer Portugal’s control, the publication was postponed until now. The initial unit sent to us had issues such as random freezing and feedback-like noises, making it unbearable to use. Asus graciously provided a second unit, which addressed most of the previous issues, but a new problem emerged: the X button stopped working, hindering gameplay. These issues suggest that the product is still unfinished, with rough edges that need refinement for optimal performance.

## Multiple games and platforms in one place

The Asus Rog Ally is a portable gaming PC that enables playing AAA games anywhere, featuring an AMD Radeon Graphics GPU and an AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor. Performance is slightly superior to Valve’s Steam Deck, running on Windows 11 for easy installation of various gaming platforms. Notably, the device allows installation of Steam, the Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, and even offers 3 months of free Xbox Game Pass. The Rog Ally’s intuitive interface, including Armoury Crate SE software, consolidates all games in one location for convenient access.

During testing, a variety of games and demos were played to assess performance. Smaller games ran smoothly without issues, while heavier games exhibited varying results. Some games, like Lies of P, performed well, while others, such as the Resident Evil 4 Remake demo, had occasional feedback sounds. Assassin’s Creed Unity and Watch Dogs 2 experienced instability issues, with the X button malfunctioning during gameplay.

## Heavier games can push the console to its limits

Playing Watch Dogs 2 required multiple attempts due to the game window closing unexpectedly. Despite these challenges, the device showcased satisfactory performance with games like Death Stranding, albeit with limitations due to the malfunctioning button. It is essential to note that the Rog Ally may struggle with heavier games, requiring adjustments and consideration of game specifications.

## A comfortable and ergonomic device

While the Rog Ally offers an enjoyable experience for smaller games, it is essential to acknowledge potential drawbacks. The device tends to overheat significantly, especially in the screen area, impacting touch controls’ usability. Additionally, the battery life is notably low, with rapid depletion during gameplay. Users may also encounter issues with the on-screen keyboard not appearing when needed, adding to potential frustrations.

In Theory, the Asus Rog Ally Had Everything to Succeed.

Issues with Asus Rog Ally

All of these flaws deteriorate what, in theory, was an absolutely spectacular product: multiple games from different stores installed on the same platform that you can play portably. However, until Asus corrects all of these problems and maximizes the console’s performance, players are better off buying a controller and playing on their own PC.