New GPU Driver 26.6.1 Arrives for ROG Xbox Ally X: What Changed?

ASUS has released a new GPU driver for the ROG Xbox Ally X, and the update focuses squarely on Forza Horizon 6 performance. Handheld gaming devices depend heavily on regular driver support to keep pace with new game releases, and this latest release marks the first major graphics update the device has received in a couple of months.

The new driver is dated July 2nd and has version 26.6.1 in the AMD Adrenalin app. It can be downloaded directly through the ASUS support website, where the listing calls out Forza Horizon 6 by name for added optimizations. No BIOS update, chipset driver, or other companion release accompanied this rollout. The GPU driver is the only piece being updated this cycle.

Installing The Driver

There are a few ways to install the update. Armory Crate SE shows the driver under its update center, MyASUS lists it as well, and the ASUS support site offers a direct download for anyone who prefers that route. Whichever method is used, the outcome is the same.

Before starting the install, updating through the Windows Store is worth doing first, since there tends to be additional software waiting there for the ROG Xbox Ally X. Once that is out of the way, the driver install itself is straightforward. Opening the Armory Crate SE, heading to the update center, and clicking install begins the download.

One thing to watch for during installation is the power connection requirement. If the device is not plugged into a power supply when the installation starts, it stops and waits until you plug it in before continuing. Once power is connected, clicking okay lets the install proceed, and clicking install again in Armory Crate SE finishes the process. A restart is required afterward to apply the changes.

Confirming The Update

After rebooting into desktop mode, check the Adrenalin app to confirm whether the update applied correctly. The version should now read 26.6.1, dated May 29, which represents close to 2 months of newer driver code than the previous version. Checking the Windows Store afterward should show no additional pending updates, since the Armory Crate SE install already pulled in the necessary changes.

At that point, with Armory Crate, Windows Update, the Microsoft Store, and MyASUS all clear, the device is fully updated and ready to boot back into Xbox mode. After installing the driver, running the Forza Horizon 6 benchmark with both the new and old drivers shows some changes, but nothing major.

At 25W, the difference isn't big; the newer driver usually makes 1-2FPS more than the old one. At 17W, the difference is clearer, with gains of 2-3 fps depending on the scene and lower average latency. It looks like the lower power level benefits a little more than the higher one, which is in line with how efficient this chip has been in general.

Running one of the in-game races shows a similar pattern, with a few extra fps on the newer May driver.

These results are from testing at medium settings, 1080p with FSR enabled, so higher settings were not included in this comparison. Even without testing every configuration, the side-by-side runs make clear that some optimization work has gone into this release, though the improvements remain modest rather than dramatic.

Beyond Forza Horizon 6, testing has been limited so far. Spending time with 007 First Light suggests stutters may be slightly reduced on the new driver, though FPS numbers have not shifted much. With more titles releasing soon, including Assassin's Creed Black Flag and Rainbow Six spinoffs like Precinct, additional driver updates are likely on the way, and further testing across more games will help clarify how much impact this update really has.