I’ve used the ROG Xbox Ally X for a week, and it’s easily one of the best handheld gaming consoles I’ve tested. Like we said in our Asus ROG Xbox Ally X review, this device features stellar ergonomics and a leaner version of Windows 11 that helps improve performance and battery life. While it’s not exactly an Xbox as Microsoft claims, it’s a brilliant handheld gaming PC.
A feature that some might not be aware of — and one I almost ignored — is Gaming Copilot. This AI companion exists to guide and give advice during gameplay. While you can converse via text, using voice commands delivers a smoother experience. Gaming Copilot is currently in beta for Xbox Insiders, but it should be coming to all Xbox users at some point.
Though AI is all the rage nowadays, I’m still not sold on the technology. This is especially true for using AI when playing video games. That said, I wanted to give Gaming Copilot an honest try to see if it lived up to the hype.
Does Xbox’s AI companion add or detract from the gaming experience? Read on to find out!
How Gaming Copilot works
Gaming Copilot is designed to be your “personalized gaming companion,” according to Xbox’s Jeff Rubenstein. The feature can offer advice to help you in whatever game you’re playing, whether it’s guiding you to your next destination or giving tips on how to take out in-game enemies. If you’re really struggling, Gaming Copilot could prove useful.
On the ROG Xbox Ally, the easiest way to bring up Gaming Copilot is by long-pressing the dedicated library button next to the right analog stick until a green voice recording icon appears in the center bottom of the screen. When you see the icon, you know the AI companion is listening for your voice. You can also text with Gaming Copilot via the Armoury Crate app, but using your voice keeps you in the game.
You can select from four voice types: energetic, wise, chill, and heroic. Wise and Chill are fine, but the former sounds too stereotypically British, while the latter sounds too nonchalant. Energetic and Heroic are my favorites since they sound peppy and inspirational, respectively. I hope the final version has more voice options and that we can select specific voice types for each.
As I said before, this feature is currently only available for Xbox Insider members. If you’re enrolled, you can try the Gaming Copilot on your Xbox, PC, and on the Xbox app on your smartphone.
My Gaming Copilot experience
To test Gaming Copilot, I fired up Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 from my Steam library. I wanted to start with something simple, so I asked Copilot what game I was playing. It correctly said I was playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 from Insomniac Games. I wasn’t expecting to get the developer’s name, so that’s a nice bonus from the AI.
As I made my way across the digital version of Manhattan, I asked the AI to identify which part of the city I was moving through. While it was correct in saying I was “swinging” through the streets, it incorrectly thought I was downtown when I was actually on the East Side near the UN building. However, when I went to Harlem, Copilot correctly identified the neighborhood thanks to its, and I quote, “iconic El train.”
For fun, I asked the AI who its favorite superhero was. Copilot said it “has a soft spot” for Spider-Man since he’s a down-to-earth hero. I wondered if it said Spider-Man because of the game I was playing, so I then asked who its second-favorite superhero was. Microsoft’s AI said it liked Black Panther because his all-black suit looks cool and because he’s so regal.
The previous exchange made me want to see if I could trip up the AI. I asked if it was excited for the upcoming Black Panther game, even though I knew it had been canceled. The AI said it was originally hyped, but disappointed that the game was canceled. Good job, AI!
I then asked if Black Panther would appear in another game, and Gaming Copilot correctly said Black Panther would be in the upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra title.
While Gaming Copilot was mostly correct with its answers, it wasn’t perfect. When I was perched on top of the Empire State Building, the AI correctly identified the Hudson River when I looked in that direction. However, when I swung the camera to the East River, Copilot still thought it was the Hudson. But to the AI’s credit, it was humble when I corrected it and apologized for its mistake.
After goofing around, I decided to use Gaming Copilot for its intended purpose. I asked it where I needed to go, and the AI told me to follow the marker on the map, which isn’t exactly useful information since I could already see that. However, when I engaged in a fight and I asked what to do, Copilot provided good advice by saying I should use spider-gadgets, respond to on-screen button prompts, and stay on the move.
Asking for gaming advice might not be useful for seasoned gamers, but for complete beginners, I can see how the AI companion could be beneficial. That said, I did like how it congratulated me when I won a battle and encouraged me to continue when I got knocked out.
Outlook
My initial experience with Gaming Copilot was mostly positive. While it’s not perfect, the feature is still in beta, so I’ll overlook any technical hiccups I encountered. When the final version is out, I’ll try Gaming Copilot again, specifically with a game I’ve never played, to see if it can truly help me if I get stuck.
Right now, I can’t say for certain if Gaming Copilot will be useful to hardcore gamers like myself. That said, I think the feature has potential, even if I don’t ultimately end up using it. I look forward to trying out the final version whenever that’s released!
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