Microsoft Xbox shared a series of major updates regarding new games and hardware during the gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live and their dedicated Xbox live stream.

First, the company announced the release schedule for the handheld gaming devices, the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X. Both devices are set for a simultaneous launch on October 16 in key markets, including South Korea, with a staggered rollout for other regions. Pricing and pre-order details will be disclosed at a later date.

Additionally, Xbox announced the 'Handheld Compatibility Program' to support more games on handheld devices. Players can check for 'Handheld Optimized' or 'Mostly Compatible' badges in their game libraries to identify title compatibility at a glance. Furthermore, a 'Windows Performance Fit' metric will be provided, allowing users to check expected performance on each device in advance.

New features to enhance the handheld gaming experience were also announced. These include 'Advanced Shader Delivery,' which preloads shaders during game downloads to reduce initial load times by up to 10x; 'Automatic Super Resolution' (Auto SR), which uses NPU-based upscaling to achieve high-resolution graphics and smooth frame rates; and 'Highlight Reels,' which uses AI to automatically capture and create clips of impressive gameplay moments.

Alongside this, the 'ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless Controller,' produced by ASUS under the 'Designed for Xbox' program, was unveiled. The device offers a high-performance gaming experience with a 1000Hz polling rate in PC mode, anti-drift TMR joysticks, and dual-mode triggers.

The Opening Night Live event featured updates on titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2, and Ninja Gaiden 4. Additionally, new content was introduced, including the 'Order of the Giants' DLC for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the new title Keeper from Double Fine, Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition, the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion, and a teaser for Season 2 of the Fallout series.

All news revealed by Xbox during gamescom 2025 can be found on the Xbox official blog.