Elden Ring performed exceptionally well on the Asus ROG Ally X, but with the launch of Nightreign, handheld PC gaming enthusiasts (myself included) are eager to see if this trend continues. After all, Shadow of the Erdtree was more demanding than the base game, and that was an integrated expansion. Given that Nightreign is a standalone release, it has the potential to push hardware even further. The good news is that it actually runs better than the original Elden Ring.
This might seem surprising, but it makes perfect sense: Elden Ring Nightreign is confined to a smaller map called Limveld, which means there's significantly less happening on screen at any given moment. It also helps that the environment is modeled after Limgrave rather than any areas from Shadow of the Erdtree, which released two years later and featured more complex visual effects that really challenged my Ally.
A Note on the Hardware
There are numerous handheld gaming PCs available today, but the Asus ROG Ally X stands out as the best overall. It uses an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor similar to rivals like the Lenovo Legion Go. However, its upgrade to 24GB of 7,500MHz RAM allows for 16GB to be allocated to the GPU, a significant improvement over the original Ally's 8GB. This makes the Asus ROG Ally X an ideal device for testing new releases like Elden Ring Nightreign, at least until we see the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme appear later this year in the heavily leaked Xbox-branded Ally.
While the ROG Ally X is more powerful on paper, the Steam Deck could still be a strong competitor, as Valve's game-specific optimizations can sometimes deliver superior performance. Valve famously optimized Elden Ring for the Steam Deck years ago, and we might see the same treatment for Nightreign.
Can the Asus ROG Ally X Handle Elden Ring Nightreign?
I conducted most of my testing in the castle at the heart of Limveld. This is the largest structure on the base map, where giants can hurl massive pots of magic at the player. This area consistently produces the lowest framerates, so I'm using it as a performance baseline. I also started a new game for each graphics preset change, as the game recommends.
I set my ROG Ally X to Turbo mode (30W) and kept it plugged in to ensure maximum power delivery for performance. I also allocated 16GB of RAM to the GPU to leverage its hardware fully—a unique advantage of the Ally X thanks to its 24GB of total RAM. Most other handheld gaming PCs come with 16GB of RAM and can only assign 8GB to the GPU. These configurations allow the Asus ROG Ally X to operate at its peak.
The game runs well on the handheld, but Elden Ring Nightreign can struggle when many enemies and intense visual effects appear simultaneously, particularly in open zones. If you're swarmed by multiple blood-infused enemies about to self-destruct on your location, all while surveying Limveld from high ruins, the frame rate will suffer significantly. However, performance is much better in confined spaces, such as thick forests, especially if you deliberately angle the camera toward the ground.
My ROG Ally X maintained an average of 30 fps at 1080p on the Maximum preset, with occasional dips to 27 fps (typically when bombarded by magical pots). The only other preset that fell below 30 fps was 1080p on High, averaging 35 fps but dropping to 28 fps during castle-top battles. All other graphics presets consistently stayed above 30 fps. 1080p at Medium settings averaged 39 fps, while Low averaged 43 fps with a minimum of 39 fps.
Performance improves markedly at 720p, sometimes even reaching 60 fps. At 720p on Maximum, the average was 41 fps with a 1% low of 38 fps. High settings at 720p delivered an average of 44 fps, with 40 fps at the lowest. Medium and Low settings appear less detailed but offer excellent performance.
Elden Ring Nightreign Is a Perfect Fit for the Asus ROG Ally X
Nightreign looks stunning at 1080p with Maximum settings and plays acceptably well. I completed entire gaming sessions on this preset, and while sporadic stutters were annoying, the experience was generally smooth, often staying above 30 fps. However, 30 fps isn't for everyone. Players willing to lower the resolution will likely find a better compromise by running the game at 720p with Maximum graphics, which averages around 41 fps, striking a nice balance between fluidity and visual quality.
Gamers determined to hit 60 fps on their Asus ROG Ally X will have the most success at 720p, but they'll need to dial the graphics down to Medium or Low. Even then, the device can't sustain a 60 fps average, only reaching that mark in less intensive situations, like inside buildings. The trade-off is significant, as Limveld looks rather flat on Low settings. The island loses its intricate shadows, and all structures appear low-poly.
