Microsoft just made one of its boldest hardware moves yet, officially revealing the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025. But what truly turned heads wasn’t just the hardware—it was the confirmation that this Windows-powered handheld can play some first-party PlayStation games like God of War and God of War: Ragnarok.
🎮 The Xbox Handheld That Can Play PlayStation Games
In partnership with Asus, Microsoft has launched its first-ever Xbox-branded handheld, and it’s not just a Game Pass machine. Thanks to its Windows 11 operating system and access to Steam, the ROG Xbox Ally supports a wide variety of storefronts. That means it can run Steam versions of Sony’s PC ports, including flagship titles that were once PlayStation exclusives.
God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarok are both now available on Steam, and by extension, fully playable on the Xbox Ally. While not technically running through native Xbox software, the functionality is real—and it’s officially backed by Microsoft.
🔧 How It Works
The ROG Xbox Ally operates more like a portable gaming PC than a traditional console. With pre-installed Xbox apps and full Windows compatibility, users can download:
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Steam for PlayStation-PC titles
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GOG, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect
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Xbox Game Pass and xCloud
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Remote Play for Xbox and potentially other platforms
This flexibility allows Xbox fans to expand beyond Microsoft’s ecosystem, creating a cross-platform handheld experience never seen before.
📱 More Than a Game Pass Machine
While Microsoft clearly intends for the ROG Ally to promote Xbox Game Pass, the device’s ability to install apps freely makes it a Steam Deck competitor and more. Unlike the Steam Deck, however, Microsoft is leaning into this open model, even cheekily celebrating the idea of PlayStation games running on an Xbox handheld.
🚀 A New Era of Gaming Flexibility
This move highlights a seismic shift in platform strategy, blurring the lines between console loyalty and ecosystem flexibility. Whether you want to play Halo Infinite via Game Pass or God of War via Steam, the ROG Xbox Ally delivers it all in one device.
The ROG Xbox Ally PlayStation game support feature isn’t just a quirky technical workaround—it’s a glimpse into the future of unified gaming. With handheld gaming heating up, Microsoft’s openness may prove to be its smartest play yet.