It's a topic that's been talked about a lot since the launch of the Steam Deck about 4 years ago: handheld or console computers. It's an interesting type of device that allows you to play almost recent titles anywhere, and also connect it to a large screen, use desktop mode... The Steam Deck is the reference for having paved the way, and also for the performance it offers at the lowest price. Today we bring you some news that tells us about the performance of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, but with Linux.
If it weren't for the price and the fact that I already own a Steam Deck, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is a device that catches my attention. Microsoft has launched a handheld with good hardware, and is also trying to adapt the operating system so that the games perform as well as possible. Proof of this is its full screen mode, currently in testing. Still, Performance is up to 32% better when using Linux.
Bazzite on the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally: Performance improved by up to 32%
Cyber ​​Domaine is a YouTube channel that primarily focuses on handheld computers. The tests were made in Bazzite, an operating system that aims to bring the SteamOS experience to any compatible device. Games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Hogwarts Legacy, the benchmarks, showed notable differences. In the former, Bazzite achieved around 62fps, while Windows "only" 47fps. In the latter, performance increased by 24%, but consumed less battery.
It's important to note that the differences become more noticeable the more you push it. Using lower settings will result in less improvement.
Another area where Bazzite beats Windows is system performance. In addition to feeling smoother, it boots faster and wakes up from sleep sooner. I don't think this will be of much interest to gamers, but it's another detail to keep in mind.
Would I recommend this change?
In the more than a year I've been using the Steam Deck, I've enjoyed it, but I've also encountered some compatibility issues. It's true that some have solutions, but finding them requires some research and a bit of time. So my answer to whether I would recommend switching or not is "no," unless you do exactly what you see in the video: install it alongside Windows.
In my case, I have the Steam Deck running SteamOS, but I have an external SSD on which I've played titles that have given me issues on Valve's system. Based on my testing, which hasn't been extensive, almost everything works on SteamOS + Proton, so I'd leave more space for Linux. But the fact is, it's not worth sacrificing full compatibility to improve performance in some games.
What does the future hold?
I see a future where Microsoft will put even more effort into it. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally's full-screen mode is a first step, but they should go further. In that future, a Windows with better performance than the current one would be unrivaled... if it weren't for the price.
Valve is going to continue the path it began in 2021, and is expected to release a revision of the Steam Machine in the medium term: a gaming "tower" at cost price. But it doesn't seem likely that Valve will be able to compete in games with anti-cheat features, as well as in slightly older titles that aren't ready to run on Linux. Yes, it's possible, but, as I said, something not being plug'n'play makes it less attractive to the average user.
For now, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally looks pretty good. And to make it even better, Linux can help, to no one's surprise.