Windows 11 increasingly open to the world of gaming
Windows 11 has been available for a few months now, and PC users have begun to get carried away almost from its first moments in life. As we all know, the new Microsoft operating system is opening up more and more to the gaming world, with a whole series of news and updates that have pleased all those who love to hang out in virtual universes.Redmon's partner recently let us know that a whole host of new updates are coming to Windows 11 to deliver an even better gaming experience. For example, Microsoft plans to work on optimization for in-window games, with the company absolutely wanting to significantly improve latency and unlock other exciting game features, including Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). | ); }
In conclusion, something was also mentioned on the bar which can be activated directly by pressing a button on the controller. This bar will contain a list of recently launched games and links to popular launchers, including the Xbox app. These new features are currently being tested within the Windows Insider program, but will soon be released publicly for all Windows 11 users.
Gaming in Windows 11 and Edge Browser to Get a Boost
In February, Microsoft began testing some updates to Windows 11 that improve performance when running DX11 or earlier games in a window (as opposed to full screen), notably to bring Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate to older games. And in May, the company sent its new Xbox Controller Bar for Windows into beta: It lets you navigate some Xbox-related apps with your controller. Now, in its pre-Summer Game Fest announcements, the company is finally ready to add its HDR calibration app, which it first discussed in February, to preview.
The app sounds somewhat limited, letting you visually set shadow, midtone and highlight values for your monitor. But that's typically the option you get in a game, and given there's nothing useful in the operating system right now it'll be really welcome. Microsoft didn't say whether it would be ready for the 2H22 update, though.
In addition, Microsoft is updating its Edge browser to give it a little more gaming style and oomph. One new feature is Clarity Boost, which sharpens content in cloud-streamed games to compensate for the inevitable softness you experience in the compressed streams. Based on the screenshot Microsoft supplied, I think it looks not good, but I suspect Microsoft shouldn't have provided one: Those algorithms are intended to make scenes look better in motion, not on a static screen.
There's also a new Efficiency Mode for Windows 10 and 11, which decreases browser resource pigginess when you launch a game.
Gaming-centric browser home pages features news, game announcements, streams and more aren't new. But because Xbox, this implementation has a lot more integration with Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Edge has a new menu pointing you to free browser-based games.