Xbox Ally X February 2026 Driver Update Improves 17W Gaming Performance
New GPU driver update improves efficiency slightly while maintaining stable performance across different power profiles in Cyberpunk testing
Hardware by Tanvir Kabbo on Mar 22, 2026
The ROG Xbox Ally X has gotten another round of updates, just after the most recent BIOS update. These updates include changes to the MCU firmware, Wi-Fi drivers, and a new GPU driver. '
These updates come just after the recent revisions to the BIOS version for both the Ally X and the standard white Xbox Ally device. They are part of a continual stream of improvements and tweaks.
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Recent BIOS Updates and System Changes
A BIOS update came out earlier, making the Ally X version 316. It made a few small modifications, but it wasn't a big change. The white Xbox Ally gadget also went from version 317 to 318, with the same slight changes.
Beyond these BIOS updates, no significant GPU driver updates were initially visible for the white model, though optional updates were found through Windows Update, including MCU firmware and Wi-Fi drivers.
Installing the New GPU Driver on Ally X
We checked for updates using Armoury Crate SE in desktop mode, where all newly released updates appeared in the update center. These included the MCU firmware update, the Radeon graphics driver update, and the Wi-Fi driver. Before starting, the device needed to be plugged in since firmware updates require consistent power.
The installation process was straightforward. After initiating the update, the system downloaded all components and installed them sequentially. It started with the MCU firmware, then the GPU driver, during which the screen turned on and off.
Finally, it finished installing the Wi-Fi driver, which temporarily shut off connectivity before turning it back on. After it was done, the system asked to be restarted.
We went to the Microsoft Store after restarting the computer to make sure the Radeon software was up to date, as it doesn't always do this on its own.
Updated Driver Version and Stability
The new version of the GPU driver that was installed was 25.30.27.04, which was released on February 25, 2026. This is a big change from the driver that was used since debut in October 2025.
So far, no issues or instability have been observed, which is a positive sign for early impressions.
Cyberpunk Performance Testing
To evaluate performance, we tested Cyberpunk using both the old and new drivers at different power levels. At 25W, performance remained nearly identical between the two versions. Frame rates stayed consistent, which is reassuring since there was no degradation.
However, we did notice that GPU clock speeds appeared slightly higher at times with the new driver, though this may vary depending on system behavior.
At 17W, there was a small but noticeable improvement. In several areas, performance increased by around 1fps to 2fps. At the end of repeated benchmark runs, results improved from 47fps to 48fps, suggesting slight gains in lower power scenarios. This isn't a huge jump, but it's an unusual improvement at this power level.
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Ongoing Updates and Future Features
The development teams have been sending out regular upgrades, including BIOS updates, GPU drivers, and firmware improvements. These updates come every month or even more often. Upcoming features, including AI upscaling expected in April, add further anticipation for continued enhancements.
We can appreciate the ongoing support and improvements being delivered. If you have tested other games and noticed performance changes, improvements, or issues, it is worth exploring further as more real-world results come in.
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