Key Takeaways
1. Price Increases: The price of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X has surged from 139,800 yen ($911) to 169,800 yen ($1107) due to rising SSD and memory costs.
2. Supply Chain Strain: Asus Taiwan’s internal memo revealed that supply chain issues for DRAM and NAND flash are leading to price hikes in gaming inventory.
3. Competitor Price Hikes: Other gaming devices, like the Lenovo Legion Go 2, are also experiencing significant price increases, indicating a broader trend in the market.
4. Limited Device Availability: The Valve Steam Deck OLED is becoming harder to find in many regions, alongside delays for new gaming devices like the compact Linux-based Steam Machine.
5. Urgency for Gamers: Mobile gamers are feeling pressured to make purchasing decisions quickly as prices rise and availability decreases.
A shortage in storage and memory caused by the high demand from AI data centers is affecting gamers around the globe. Buyers might be noticing the initial signs of a broader increase in the price of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X. In Japan, the initial MSRP for the device was set at 139,800 yen (around $911), but now various stores are offering it at 169,800 yen ($1107).
Price Surge Noticed
Automaton has noted the over 20% price hike, which has not yet been reflected in the ROG Xbox Ally within the region. The non-Microsoft-affiliated ROG Ally X and ROG Ally also remain unaffected for the time being. Still, fans are quickly guessing that the rise in SSD and memory prices is to blame.
Supply Chain Issues
In January, an internal memo from Asus Taiwan was leaked, suggesting that their gaming inventory would soon become pricier. The memo indicated that the strain on the supply chain for DRAM and NAND flash was affecting component prices. It mentioned plans for “strategic price adjustments for certain product combinations,” but did not specify anything about gaming handhelds.
The specs of the ROG Xbox Ally X feature 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM along with a 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD. If the manufacturer is running low on these components, it could clarify the recent price changes in Japan.
Competition Pricing Changes
Competitors powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, such as the Legion Go 2, are also seeing price increases in several areas. PC Guide has recently pointed out that Lenovo’s official UK store has significantly raised prices on multiple models without providing any reasoning for the changes. At the same time, the system remains unavailable in other locations around the globe.
Windows gaming handhelds are not the only devices that have become pricier or harder to find. Valve’s Steam Deck OLED is no longer available in numerous countries, including the U.S. This comes after the cheaper LCD version was discontinued in late 2025.
Limited Availability
Valve has not attributed the limited availability to the storage or memory shortages. Nonetheless, the company has postponed its upcoming compact Linux-based Steam Machine due to challenges in supply.
As of now, the pre-tax price for the ROG Xbox Ally X still stands at $999.99 at Best Buy, its sole U.S. retailer. However, mobile gamers wanting to upgrade are feeling the urgency to make a decision quickly.
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