Holiday decorations are frequently locked in traditional patterns – snowmen, reindeer, and lines of dazzling lights that have illuminated living rooms for generations. But Hallmark’s latest Keepsake ornament mixes things up in a really exciting way. The ornament resembles an old Xbox 360 console – yep, the one from nearly two decades ago – and is 3.25 inches tall, perfectly capturing late-night gaming sessions and heroic fights against extraterrestrial opponents.
In a plain cardboard box delivered to a Parisian flat is the ROG Xbox Ally X, a shiny black slab of gaming goodness that ASUS and Microsoft have been teasing for months. The delivery label says September 30, 2025, 16 days before the real October 16 launch date. For one Redditor, this is an early Christmas present.
Photo credit: SpawnPoiint
Preorders for Microsoft’s new portable gaming push began today, along with the prices for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. Both will be available on October 16, but the pricing has already sparked some concerns. These handhelds, priced at $599 for the base model and $999 for the X, are more comparable to high-end laptops than the consoles that many gamers are accustomed to.
In a world of gaming gear where new designs follow every trend, Hyperkin’s DuchesS Wired Controller, priced at $34.24 (down from $49.99), is a throwback to what worked best from the start. This takes the classic shape of the first Xbox controller and adds just enough new to fit into the 2025 lineup.
Microsoft has raised the prices of its Xbox Series consoles again, and this time it’s U.S. gamers who will feel the pinch starting October 3. This isn’t the first price increase this year, but it’s a big one, with prices going up $20 to $70 across the board. Let’s break it down, model by model, and what it means for anyone looking to buy a new Xbox.
Handheld gaming PCs have always promised portability with power, but Microsoft’s new Xbox Mode for Windows 11 takes that to a whole new level. Discovered by Windows enthusiasts and leaked before its official release, this feature turns devices like the Asus ROG Ally and MSI Claw into something closer to a dedicated gaming console.
James Channel is known for bringing back retro tech and his latest project is a fever dream for gamers who miss the early 2000s. He’s built a portable Xbox, a handheld version of Microsoft’s massive first-gen console, using ingenuity, spare parts and a whole lot of hot glue.
Microsoft and LG Electronics are teaming up to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to select internet-connected vehicles, turning car infotainment systems into gaming stations. This partnership integrates the Xbox app into LG’s webOS Automotive Content Platform so passengers can stream hundreds of games from the back seat.
October 16, 2025 is the day the ROG Xbox Ally and its bigger brother, the ROG Xbox Ally X, arrive. These handhelds, born from the union of Microsoft and ASUS, will change the way we game on the go. Announced at Gamescom 2025, they’ll be available in over 30 countries including the US, UK, Japan, Australia with more to follow. Brazil and India will get the Ally X this fall, the base model will arrive in China this fall and the Ally X will get to China early next year.
