We Tested the Xbox Full Screen on the Original Ally X
▼ Summary
– The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X will feature a new “Full Screen Experience” for the Xbox app, which is a trimmed-down version of Windows optimized for handheld gaming PCs.
– This feature can be accessed early via the Windows Insider program and the Windows 11 25H2 update, but enabling it may require advanced tools and carries risks like system instability.
– The Full Screen Experience improves gaming performance by freeing up system resources, with benchmark tests showing significant boosts in some cases, such as a 16-20% increase in 3DMark scores.
– Real-world game performance varies, with some titles like Cyberpunk 2077 seeing an 11% fps boost, while others like Monster Hunter Wilds show minimal or no improvement and potential issues.
– Microsoft plans to roll out this feature to other Windows devices in early 2026, making it widely available, though early adoption on current devices is possible but not recommended for most users due to potential problems.
The prospect of a streamlined Windows interface optimized for handheld gaming devices has long captured the imagination of PC enthusiasts, and Microsoft’s upcoming Full Screen Experience for the Xbox app promises to deliver exactly that. While the feature is officially slated for a broader release in early 2026, adventurous users can already access an early version through the Windows Insider program, though not without significant risks and technical hurdles.
Gaining early access requires enrolling in the Windows Insider Dev channel and installing the Windows 11 25H2 update. From there, users may find the full screen option under Gaming settings, though availability appears inconsistent. When the setting doesn’t appear naturally, some have turned to third-party tools like ViVeTool and manual registry edits, a process that carries a real chance of destabilizing or even bricking a Windows installation. Even when successfully enabled, the experience remains experimental; during testing, controller functionality occasionally broke, and system stability proved unpredictable.
Where the Full Screen Experience truly shines is in its potential performance gains. By bypassing the conventional Windows desktop and reducing background processes, the interface allocates more system resources directly to games. Benchmarking revealed notable improvements: Time Spy scores jumped from 3346 to 3540, Fire Strike saw a 16% increase, and Night Raid performance improved by an impressive 20%. Real-world gaming tests showed more modest but still meaningful gains, Cyberpunk 2077 saw an 11% frame rate boost at 1080p High settings. That said, performance varied by title, with some games like Monster Hunter Wilds and Total War: Warhammer 3 showing negligible change or even slight dips, alongside occasional stuttering.
It’s clear that this early build is still rough around the edges, and widespread adoption isn’t advisable for most users. Still, the performance uplifts suggest that devices like the upcoming ROG Ally X could benefit significantly from this optimized interface once it’s officially polished and deployed. For those willing to accept the risks, early access offers a compelling, if imperfect, glimpse into the future of Windows-based handheld gaming. Everyone else may prefer to wait for the stable release, which can’t be too far off given its current preview status.
(Source: IGN)
