▶Watch on YouTube
I'd been keeping an eye out for a GPU driver or BIOS update for the ROG Xbox Ally X, since it had been a couple of months, and ASUS posted a new graphics driver on July 2nd. It specifically calls out new optimizations for Forza Horizon 6. Here's how to install it, and how Forza ran side by side on the old driver and the new one at 25W and 17W.
- New AMD Graphics Driver V32.0.31019.2002, dated July 2, 2026 on the ROG support site. In AMD Adrenalin it shows as 26.6.1, released May 29, 2026.
- It replaces the April 9, 2026 driver (25.30.27.05), so it's almost two months newer.
- No new BIOS, chipset or other drivers came with it. It's all about the GPU driver.
- Install it through Armoury Crate SE's Update Center (or MyASUS, or the support site). Plug in to power first.
- Forza Horizon 6 benchmark (Medium, 1080p, FSR Performance): 53 → 54 FPS at 25W and 40 → 42 FPS at 17W. Not huge, but it's there.
What's in the update
On the ROG Xbox Ally X support site, scroll down to Graphics and you'll find the new AMD Graphics Driver, version V32.0.31019.2002 (724.87 MB), dated 2026/07/02. The description says it adds new optimizations for Forza Horizon 6. I didn't see a BIOS update, chipset drivers or anything else new to go with it.
ROG Xbox Ally X drivers & tools (ASUS)
rog.asus.com/us/gaming-handhelds/rog-ally/rog-xbox-ally-x-2025/helpdesk_download/
Before you start
- I prefer doing updates like this from desktop mode rather than the Xbox full screen experience.
- Open AMD Adrenalin to see what you're on. Mine showed the April 9, 2026 driver, 25.30.27.05.
- If you haven't updated through the Microsoft Store in a while, do that too. There's usually a lot there for the ROG Xbox Ally X, and it's where Adrenalin itself updates.
- Plug into power. The installer stops you if you're on battery.
How to install the driver
The driver shows up in Armoury Crate SE, in MyASUS and on the support site, so use whichever you prefer. I used Armoury Crate SE since it was right there.
- Open Armoury Crate SE and go to the Update Center. The new AMD graphics driver is listed there.
- Click Update and let it download.
- When the download finishes, the install starts automatically. If you're not plugged in, it stops you with a warning. Plug into power and click OK to continue.
- Click Install to finish the install in Armoury Crate SE.
- When it's done, it prompts you to restart. You can restart later, but I restarted right away.
Check that it installed
Before going back to the Xbox mode, I went into desktop mode one more time and opened AMD Adrenalin. It now shows 26.6.1, released May 29, 2026, which is almost two months newer than the driver I had. The Adrenalin app had also updated automatically through the Microsoft Store along with the Armoury Crate SE driver install. Nothing else was waiting in Armoury Crate, Windows Update, the Microsoft Store or MyASUS, so I rebooted back into the Xbox mode.
Forza Horizon 6: old driver vs new driver
Since the update specifically calls out Forza Horizon 6, I ran the built-in benchmark at 25W and 17W, plus a race, side by side on the old April driver and the new one. All runs are at Medium, 1080p, FSR Performance, with 8GB of VRAM. This isn't one of my favorite benchmarks. It doesn't always show what real gameplay will be like, but it works for comparisons like this.
| Forza Horizon 6 benchmark | TDP | Old driver 25.30.27.05 | New driver 26.6.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achieved FPS | 25W | 53 | 54 |
| GPU FPS / 1% low | 25W | 54.1 / 44.4 | 54.3 / 43.1 |
| Average latency | 25W | 54.3 | 54.0 |
| Achieved FPS | 17W | 40 | 42 |
| GPU FPS / 1% low | 17W | 40.4 / 28.8 | 42.0 / 29.3 |
| Average latency | 17W | 73.6 | 70.7 |
At 25W there isn't much of a difference. I got one or two FPS more on the newer driver, but it was very close. At 17W I noticed a little more of a difference: it was easier to see two or three FPS depending on where I was and what was going on, and average latency was better too. From what I could tell, 17W benefited a bit more than 25W, so maybe there are some tweaks at the lower end as well. This chip has been pretty good for efficiency.
It's a similar story in the races, with typically a couple of FPS more on the new driver. Overlay readings from the same race, side by side:
| Race (overlay readings) | TDP | Old driver | New driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same moments, side by side | 25W | 46–58 FPS | 48–61 FPS |
| Same moments, side by side | 17W | 38–46 FPS | 38–46 FPS |
I only tested Medium at 1080p with FSR, so higher settings might show more of a difference. Still, running both side by side, you can tell there are some optimization differences and improvements over what we had. It's not drastic or dramatic, but it's definitely there, and it's clearly something they've been working on.
Other games
I haven't tested other games side by side yet. I've been playing 007 First Light, and I can't say there's a big difference in FPS there, but it did seem like some of the stutters and issues I'd been having were a little better. I want to look at more games at 17W and 25W against the older driver before saying more.
FAQ
What version is the July 2026 ROG Xbox Ally X GPU driver?
On the ROG support site it's AMD Graphics Driver V32.0.31019.2002, dated July 2, 2026. AMD Adrenalin shows it as 26.6.1, released May 29, 2026.
Does the new driver improve Forza Horizon 6 on the Xbox Ally X?
A little. At Medium, 1080p and FSR Performance, the benchmark went from 53 to 54 FPS at 25W and from 40 to 42 FPS at 17W.
Do you need to be plugged in to install it?
Yes. If you're on battery, the installer stops and asks you to plug into power before you continue.
Want more handheld tests?
New Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go and Steam Machine performance videos every week.