The debate surrounding the pricing of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X models has been clarified with a recent statement from Xbox President Sarah Bond. Many users were questioning the higher price tag of the device compared to the Xbox Series X despite carrying the Xbox brand. Bond clarified this in an interview with Variety.

ROG Xbox Ally Price Surprises

Xbox President Sarah Bond confirmed that the retail prices of both the ROG Xbox Ally and the newly released Ally X models are determined entirely by ASUS, not Microsoft.

This statement suggests that the $599.99 base Ally and $999.99 Ally X prices are driven by ASUS’s own business decisions, not Microsoft’s. Bond stated that Microsoft only plays a supporting role in the pricing process, and the final prices of the devices are determined by the manufacturer.

Addressing criticism of Microsoft’s pricing decisions, Bond stated that they trust ASUS’s expertise in Windows-based portable gaming devices. She also stated that pre-orders for the Ally X model were selling out quickly, but did not disclose sales figures or inventory levels.

In her interview, Sarah Bond also addressed rumors about next-generation Xbox hardware. “Next-generation hardware is in development,” Bond said. “Our partnership with AMD continues. We want to deliver innovation based on the expectations of gamers and creators.”

It was also confirmed that Microsoft is currently in the prototype phase and that the new hardware will be AMD-based. No official release date or technical details have yet been released regarding the next-generation Xbox.

However, Microsoft’s strategic partnership with AMD suggests that the console will be more PC-oriented and performance-focused. Bond also stated that the new Xbox will be more powerful than the PlayStation 6. However, this information is currently limited.