I've tested out dbrand's new Killswitch for the ROG Xbox Ally X

Over the last few years, the Canadian case and skin makers have continued to release new and improved products for all of the latest devices.

This includes the Killswitch, a silicone-style case that slides over your favorite devices without the gross, stretchy feel of actual silicone. I'll be honest and admit that I don't know what it's made from, but dbrand's website says it's made out of "a blend of impact-resistant and structurally rigid thermoplastics."

It's available for a solid list of devices, too, including the Steam Deck, Switch 2, Legion Go S, and all four Asus ROG Ally handhelds, which include both the Xbox and regular versions.

dbrand Killswitch for the ROG Xbox Ally

The Xbox Ally version of the Killswitch is available for preorder on dbrands' website with a handful of different options to customize and protect your thousand-dollar device, including screen protectors, a travel cover, and a skin.

If you don't want to order directly from the Canadian robots, you can head over to Best Buy to preorder the travel kit. It comes with two screen protectors, in case you "fuck it up" the first time, according to the instructional video they uploaded to YouTube.

The case starts at $59.95 for the 'essential' kit on their website, and goes all the way up to $99.80 if you want everything they offer to protect your new Xbox handheld.

dbrand's website says it ships in mid-November, and Best Buy has November 19th listed on their page.

My thoughts

dbrand was actually kind enough to send me one of their early production samples of the Ally X Killswitch, and I've been using it for the last few days.

I gotta say, it's pretty nice. The plastic material they made it out of stretches just enough that it wasn't a super pain in the butt to get my Ally X inside. The hardest part to get the case around was the triggers, but dbrand was smart enough to include a couple of adhesive pull tabs to make that a little bit easier.

The Killswitch has made it feel a lot more secure in my hands during the two dozen or so hours I've used my Xbox Ally X over the last week, and it completely solves the issues I generally have with my hands sweating during long game sessions.

My thoughts about the case itself are nothing but positive, but I do have one issue with something they made for the case. That is, the travel cover.

Don't get me wrong, giving users a good way to cover the screen while traveling is great. It goes all the way over the triggers, covers the joysticks so they don't snap off in your bag, and then clicks into place on the bottom of the handheld.

But man, it's pretty awkward to put on and take off. I would personally love to see dbrand make a regular zippered carrying case that fits a device with the Killswitch installed.

As with everything, though, that's just my personal opinion. And, who knows? Maybe with more time using it, I'll come to love the cover.

Despite the awkwardness, I have no concern about whether it'll protect my handheld if I throw it in my bag; it definitely will. There is no flex to the plastic once installed, and it is just as solid, if not more so, than the zipper case holding my Steam Deck.