Asus ROG Ally receives timely GPU driver update despite rumors of AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme deprecation — new release follows recent speculation that driver support for some Windows 11 handhelds had ended
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Image credit: Tom’s Hardware
Update Details
A timely GPU driver update for the Asus ROG Ally equipped with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU has been released. The update, highlighted by Videocardz, brings the GPU driver to version 32.0.22029.13001 and is available for download from the Asus website.
Background
Recent reporting suggested that AMD might be deprecating the Z1 Extreme chip, potentially leaving handhelds like the ROG Ally without further GPU updates. The speculation arose from articles warning that driver support for certain Windows 11 handhelds could end, threatening the longevity of devices such as the Legion Go, Go S, and ROG Ally X.
Driver Information
No release notes accompanied the new driver, making it difficult to pinpoint exact changes. However, the driver branch number 22029 matches the previous minor release (32.0.22029.1019), which added support for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 back in November 2025. The last major driver listed on the Asus site before that was 32.0.21013.11001 (August 2025).
The identical batch number suggests the update may not introduce major changes, especially since the main Radeon GPU driver branch has progressed to the 23xxx series—though neither Asus nor AMD have confirmed this.
Community Reaction
A discussion on Reddit (link) shows relief among ROG Ally owners about the new driver. AMD has not commented on its plans for the Z1 Extreme, and Asus has remained silent regarding the long‑term support for the ROG Ally or the ROG Ally X.
Alternatives
Even without ongoing driver updates, these handheld PCs will continue to function, albeit without optimizations for newer games. A viable alternative is switching to a Linux‑based OS such as Valve’s SteamOS or Bazzite, which rely on open‑source drivers and can extend the usable life of older handhelds—provided users are comfortable moving away from Windows and accept potential performance variations.