Microsoft and ASUS have rolled out a notable software preview for the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X handhelds, and I think it feels like a meaningful step toward making these compact gaming devices a bit easier to live with day to day. The headline addition is a feature called Default Game Profiles. It is designed to automate performance behavior so players do not need to tweak settings every time they launch something new, which, if you have used handheld PCs before, can sometimes feel like an ongoing chore. This update was announced through Xbox Wire on November 25, 2025, and it leans toward finding that middle ground between smooth gameplay and longer battery life.
Key Takeaways
- Automatic Tuning: The new Default Game Profiles automatically adjust Thermal Design Power (TDP) and Frame Per Second (FPS) limits based on the specific game running.
- Battery Focus: These profiles only activate when the device runs on battery power, prioritizing runtime without degrading the experience.
- Supported Titles: The feature currently supports 40 games, including Hollow Knight: Silksong, Gears of War: Reloaded, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
- Additional Fixes: The update improves gamepad response times and speeds up library loading for large game collections.
The main idea behind Default Game Profiles is fairly straightforward. These automatic presets adjust Thermal Design Power, or TDP, along with frame rate limits based on the individual game that is running. Perhaps the thoughtful part here is that these profiles only activate while the device is on battery power, which suggests the focus is clearly on extending runtime without forcing players to compromise too much on the overall experience.
Right now, the feature supports 40 games, including Hollow Knight: Silksong, Gears of War: Reloaded, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It is a mix that stretches across big-budget action titles and smaller indie releases, which I suppose helps show how broad the tuning is meant to be. Alongside that, the update brings improvements to gamepad responsiveness and noticeably faster loading for those with particularly large game libraries.
How Default Game Profiles Work
Before this preview update, players often had to manually adjust the TDP through the Command Center to find a comfortable balance between performance and battery drain. That approach worked, but it could feel a bit repetitive, especially if you moved between demanding and lightweight games throughout the day.
Now the system simply detects when a supported title launches and then applies a prebuilt profile. If a game begins struggling to maintain its intended frame rate, the system reacts by increasing power to the processor. If the game has headroom and easily surpasses the target frame rate, the system instead limits performance to conserve energy. In one example, testing showed that Hollow Knight: Silksong gained nearly an extra hour of battery life compared to the usual Performance mode, which is a surprisingly large improvement for something that requires no manual input.
Users can turn the feature on or off through the Armoury Crate Command Center widget, which keeps things flexible for anyone who prefers more hands-on control.
Supported Games and Compatibility
The preview begins with 40 supported games, chosen to represent a wide range of genres and hardware demands. This helps both power-hungry blockbusters and lighter indie games benefit from the automatic tuning. Some of the initial titles include Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Forza Horizon 5, Gears 5, Gears of War: Reloaded, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Minecraft, and Sea of Thieves.
Another small but helpful touch is the new Performance Fit indicator that appears in the Game Gallery. Games that pair well with the handheld hardware will display this tag, which gives players a quick way to know which titles are most optimized for the device. It is a little thing, but sometimes these little things genuinely help when scrolling through a large library.
Additional System Improvements
Beyond the performance profiles, the update includes a few meaningful usability fixes. A Game Save Sync Indicator is set to roll out next week, giving players a visual confirmation when their progress has been successfully uploaded to the cloud. It is the kind of feature you might not think about until you have lost a save somewhere between your handheld and PC, so having that reassurance seems genuinely helpful.
There are also improvements to how quickly the built-in controller responds immediately after login, along with faster loading for the Xbox Cloud Gaming page. These refinements might feel subtle, yet they add up, especially for people who use the Ally as a primary gaming device.
Looking ahead, updates planned for early 2026 for the ROG Ally X model will introduce more advanced features, including Automatic Super Resolution, or Auto SR, powered by onboard AI. It is hard to know exactly how transformative those upgrades will be, but it does hint at a broader push to make handheld PC gaming both smarter and more accessible over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I get the Default Game Profiles update?
A. You must install the latest updates for Armoury Crate SE, the Xbox PC app, and Windows 11. The feature is currently in preview, so you may need to join the Windows Insider Program or check for specific updates within the ASUS software suite.
Q. Does this feature work while the device is plugged in?
A. No. The Default Game Profiles are specifically designed for battery usage. When you plug the device into a power source, the system reverts to your standard plugged-in performance settings (usually Turbo mode).
Q. Can I still change settings manually?
A. Yes. You retain full control. You can toggle the Default Game Profile off in the Command Center if you prefer to set your own TDP and FPS limits.
Q. Will more games get profiles later?
A. Yes. The feature launches with 40 titles, but Microsoft and ASUS plan to expand the list of supported games in future updates.
Q. Is this update available for the original ROG Ally or just the Ally X?
A. The update applies to both the original ROG Ally and the newer ROG Ally X models.
