ROG Ally X: Leaked Dates, Lofty Prices, and the Silksong Saga That Just Won't Quit
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Leaked details suggest the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds are launching October 16th with pre-orders August 20th, while the ever-elusive Hollow Knight: Silksong is slated for 'before Christmas,' with developers clarifying it's not tied to the Ally's release, despite earlier Xbox statements.
Right, so I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, and suddenly you’re knee-deep in something you didn’t quite expect? That’s pretty much the vibe around the ROG Xbox Ally right now.
Apparently, some intrepid digital wizard over at Dealabs, specifically the ever-reliable billbil-kun (who I'm half convinced has a crystal ball hooked up to retail databases), has yanked a release date for the ROG Xbox Ally – and its beefier sibling, the Ally X – out of the ether. October 16th, mate. That’s the magic number. If that holds true, we're talking a mere two months until you can get your hands on what's essentially the first proper third-party portable Xbox. The idea of tucking your entire Xbox game library into your backpack and taking it to the local pub is, I admit, pretty compelling. Pre-orders are apparently set to kick off on August 20th. So, if you’ve been eyeing up a Steam Deck rival that leans heavily into the green side of gaming, mark your calendars.
Now, about the price. Because, let's be fair, even the most enchanted hardware needs to make financial sense. The standard ROG Xbox Ally is reportedly setting folks back €599, with the premium Ally X soaring to €899. US prices are still doing a bit of a dance in the digital shadows, but expect them to align fairly closely. Dealabs, bless their cautious hearts, did chuck in a disclaimer that these dates are verified for the European launch. So, a smidge of wiggle room for other markets, but probably nothing that’ll make you drop your tea. IGN, after having a proper go with the Ally X, made a fair point about the cost, reckoning that while it boasts 'powerful hardware, a streamlined operating system, and the ideal ergonomics for a gaming handheld,' it 'shouldn’t come at a cost that boxes out a large swath of interested folks.' It’s the age-old dilemma, isn’t it? Cutting-edge tech versus the average gamer’s wallet. Always a tricky spell to balance.
But here's where the narrative truly gets spicy, like accidentally adding too much dragon's breath chilli to your stew: Hollow Knight: Silksong. Ah, Silksong. The game that’s become less of a game and more of an existential waiting room for an entire community. You know, like that mate who always says they’re ‘five minutes away’ but you know full well they’re still in their pyjamas. The anticipation is so thick you could probably forge a new weapon from it.
During June’s Xbox Games Showcase 2025 – yes, 2025, because time is a flat circle when it comes to these things – Xbox president Sarah Bond dropped a seemingly casual bombshell. She stated Silksong would be 'available at launch and in Game Pass when Ally releases later this year.' Now, if you’re a Silksong fan, that’s like a blinding flash of light from a newly discovered ancient ruin. Naturally, the collective internet mind immediately concluded: 'Silksong is an Ally launch title! Finally! The prophecy!'
But Team Cherry, bless their cotton socks, are apparently not ones for tying their highly anticipated, ethereal masterpiece to a piece of shiny new hardware. Matthew ‘Leth’ Griffin, the marketing manager, hopped onto the game’s official Discord to gently, but firmly, correct the record. He clarified that the game is *not* 'sat waiting for the ROG Ally X to launch.' Instead, fans should simply expect it ‘BEFORE Holiday.’ And just in case anyone was still holding out hope for some obscure, uncelebrated holiday, Leth confirmed it was Christmas. So, there you have it: Silksong is coming before Christmas. Probably. Maybe. We hope. He even added, emphatically, 'we are not tied to a console release.'
Honestly, you’ve got to admire Team Cherry’s dedication to keeping their own counsel. It’s a bit like a mischievous imp who keeps moving the finish line just as you think you’re about to cross it. But hey, it means they’re cooking it just right, or at least that’s the optimistic spin I’m putting on it. The fact that Silksong will be playable at Gamescom – on both the Xbox and Nintendo booths, no less – does give us a glimmer of hope. Surely, if it’s demo-ready for the public, it can’t be *that* much longer, can it? My internal magic eight-ball just says 'Ask again later,' which isn't exactly comforting, but also not a 'no.'
So, what does this all mean for us mere mortals, the curious gamers who just want to play some cracking games on some cool new tech? Well, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are clearly aiming to carve out a serious slice of the handheld market, offering Xbox loyalists (and even PC gamers) a genuinely portable way to carry their massive digital libraries. And as for Silksong? It remains the ultimate ‘when it’s done’ game, a true enigma wrapped in a mystery, served with a side of unrelenting community hype. But if this latest leak and the Gamescom demos are anything to go by, perhaps, just perhaps, both these digital delights are closer than we think. Just don't hold your breath for any joint launch parties. Some spells just aren't meant to be cast together.
Original Source: IGN South Africa
Tags: Gaming Handhelds, Xbox, Hollow Knight Silksong, ROG Ally, Gaming Leaks
Original article: IGN South Africa