Microsoft details lightweight Windows 11 on Xbox Ally handhelds

Microsoft has officially revealed its new line of ROG Xbox Ally gaming handhelds. Both ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are powered by AMD Ryzen chips and a customized version of Windows 11.

Built for gaming and designed from the ground up, the new Xbox Ally devices run a streamlined version of Windows 11 Home that sheds all the usual desktop weight. The Verge reports that Microsoft tapped longtime Xbox OS engineers to cut the clutter and tailor the system for handheld performance.

“We were able to take people who have been working on the Xbox OS for 20 years or more and have them work directly on the Windows codebase and start reimagining what that operating system looks like for this form factor,” said Jason Beaumont, VP of experiences at Xbox.

“When the player boots into the full-screen experience, there is a whole bunch of Windows stuff that doesn’t get loaded.”

That includes skipping the desktop, taskbar, and background processes you don’t need mid-game. The result? Faster startup, better focus, and more resources for your games.

According to Xbox’s Brianna Potvin, players can gain back “about 2GB of memory” just by skipping unnecessary Windows components. She also noted the device pulls “one-third of the idle power” compared to launching into full desktop mode.

Roanne Sones, CVP of gaming devices and ecosystem, added that Microsoft is also trimming down pop-ups and system noise to “continue to listen to feedback from players to make continued improvements.”

All that said, it’s Windows 11 reworked with gamers in mind—and these new Xbox Ally handhelds might just prove that less really is more.