Halo: Campaign Evolved Performance on ROG Ally X Analyzed

What You’re Getting

The early access release focuses on a remade version of the original Halo campaign with several bonus missions mixed in. This early access period focuses solely on the campaign, offering both familiar and refreshed content for returning players and newcomers. Co-op play is a significant highlight, letting you tackle the story alongside friends.

The game is available now on the Xbox PC app for $69.99 and will eventually reach Game Pass. For a deeper dive into campaign content, you can check our full review.

ROG Ally X Struggles Right Out of the Box

Initial testing on the ROG Ally X reveals unexpected performance struggles. Despite the handheld’s power, the game defaulted to a “Very Low” preset with 100% render scale, battery drain hovering around 27-28W, and framerate locked to 30 FPS.

Even with these compromises, the game sometimes dropped below 30 FPS during certain missions. This persisted even after lowering the resolution scale to TSR at 80%. The device was fully updated and running in Xbox mode, so this isn’t a configuration issue.

The Upscaling Dilemma

Achieving higher framerates on the ROG Ally X requires turning to upscaling solutions. Here’s the tradeoff you face:

• FSR on High: Boosts framerates into the 50s from baseline 38 FPS, but introduces noticeable shimmering and pixelation artifacts
• TSR upscaling: Delivers superior visual quality but performs poorly, making framerates unstable
• 30 FPS locked with TSR: Maintains a stable and visually acceptable experience with occasional dips to 28 FPS

Players face a genuine compromise between performance and visual fidelity on this handheld. There’s no clean win here.

Playable, But Requires Acceptance

Despite the necessary compromises, Halo: Campaign Evolved remains a playable experience on the ROG Ally X. Locking the game to 30 FPS with TSR upscaling keeps it stable and visually decent. Occasional drops to 28 FPS happen, but the game largely stays in a playable state.

The real question is whether you’re willing to accept a “Very Low” preset and 30 FPS cap for a campaign you could play at full quality on a desktop or console. For handheld gaming on the go, it works. For the $69.99 asking price, expectations might be higher.

Bottom Line

Halo: Campaign Evolved is playable on the ROG Ally X, but you’ll spend more time managing settings than enjoying the campaign. The handheld delivers the experience, just not the one you might expect from a device marketed as a serious gaming portable. For fans committed to playing this in bed or on a commute, it’s possible. For everyone else, a console or PC remains the better choice.