The market for PC gaming on the go continues growing as theAsus ROG Allylooks to be a solid competitor for Valve’s Steam Deck. With more gamers embracing the accessibility that Steam Deck provides, it was inevitable that other systems would pop up as direct competitors. While it may be tough forAsusto break into a market currently dominated by Valve, the ROG Ally has one launch feature that could give it the edge for players looking to dip their toes into the world of PC gaming handhelds.
Along with a greater screen resolution, refresh rate, and more powerful GPU, the ROG Ally will also run Windows 11, making it compatible with more titles than the Steam Deck’s Linux-based OS. The recentprice leak for the ROG Allysuggests it could cost a bit more than Valve’s machine, but compatibility with Game Pass Ultimate and the inclusion of a three-month subscription to the service makes it an enticing offer at launch.
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ROG Ally’s Game Pass Ultimate Offer Could Make it the Preferred Option for PC Gamers
One of the biggest reasons to choose theSteam Deck over the ROG Allyis the functionality that Valve’s handheld has with Steam. Given Steam is one of the most popular storefronts for PC gaming, many players already have the majority of their library contained within the launcher. This makes picking up a Steam Deck a no-brainer, since they can already access their entire library of games out of the box by syncing the system with a Steam account.
Conversely, the Steam Deck is more limited in its ability to run games from other venues like theEpic Games Store, and it requires a bit of additional setup to get them to run properly while lacking support for Game Pass altogether. With the ROG Ally’s ability to run games from multiple platforms including Game Pass, it makes a compelling alternative for players with their libraries split across several launchers. It’s an even better deal for players new to PC gaming who may not already have their library of games tied to Steam.
The inclusion of a three-month subscription toGame Pass Ultimatefor any who purchase the ROG Ally means that newcomers will have access to a massive selection of games at no additional cost. With the Steam Deck, new players might have to drop even more cash on some titles to play with their new system, but the ROG Ally’s Game Pass Ultimate deal has them covered. Not only is this a great deal for day one of owning the ROG Ally, but can also be a great way for players to try out Game Pass and its cycling list of day-one releases risk-free.
This Game Pass Ultimate offer may not make the whole difference for someone considering these two consoles, but when combined with the ROG Ally’s more impressive hardware and potentially competitive price point, it could end up being what seals the deal. TheSteam Deck’s lack of Game Passcompatibility is what really holds it back when compared to the ROG Ally, and this offer only highlights that difference further. It could be what catches the interest of those looking to try PC gaming on the go for themselves, netting theROG Allya sale over the Steam Deck for the holiday season or beyond.
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