Microsoft just dropped one of the most meaningful updates for the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X. The latter is also getting Auto SR, Xbox’s AI-powered upscaling technology, as a preview for Xbox Insiders, starting today.
For those catching up, Auto SR, short for Automatic Super Resolution, operates at the Windows OS level rather than requiring developers to add it to individual games. This means that any DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 title can potentially benefit from the technology, without an additional patch.
What is Auto SR, and why does it matter?
When docked, Auto SR uses the Ally X’s dedicated NPU, found only in its Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chip, not the base Ally, to upscale games to 1440p-like detail while running at a lower native resolution.
Per the early GDC 2026 demos, the technology could bring up to a 30% drame rate improvement on supported titles. Some latency is introduced, though Microsoft considers it worthwhile. Support for portable mode is also being explored.
As part of the new update, docking gets significantly smarter for both models, as they auto-disable the handheld display when connected to a TV. Compatible smart TVs will also activate low-latency gaming modes automatically.
What other updates are rolling out to the handheld consoles?
While the ROG 100 Charger Dock gets HDR10, the ROG Bulwark Dock gets both HDR10 and VRR (which synchronizes the TV’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate in real-time). Bluetooth LE Audio also makes its debut, bringing lower-latency wireless audio and high-fidelity voice chat to both modes.
The update also refines haptic feedback across the board. Rounding things out is a Collective Library update that brings games installed from any PC store, including Steam, Epic, and others, directly to the Xbox library via a ‘+’ button. This means that users can launch everything from one unified interface without bouncing between apps.
