While gamers will enjoy an improved experience in 2022 thanks to Apple macOS and Linux, Windows is still the most suitable operating system for gaming. Microsoft is well aware of this advantage and has included a number of gaming features into Windows over the years. Windows 11 adds even more gaming features. These are the Windows 11 features that will make your next gaming session even more enjoyable.
Game Bar
Windows 11 Game Bar
Windows 11 comes preloaded with the Game Bar. This allows users to quickly access useful tools with one keystroke. The Game Bar can be opened anytime even when you're not playing a game. It can be opened by pressing Win +G. If your Xbox controller is paired with your computer, tap the Xbox button.
The Game Bar is an overlay with widgets that allow you to capture gameplay footage, manage audio output and monitor PC performance and more. In the settings, you can even log in to your social media accounts for immediate sharing of your recorded images and clips.
DirectStorage
If you own a powerful PC, Microsoft has devised a way your hardware can communicate more efficiently, which means more performance in games. It's called DirectStorage and you don't need to perform anything to enable it. However, you do have to meet certain specifications for your hardware that may necessitate an upgrade.
DirectStorage for Windows 11
DirectStorage lets your computer communicate directly with the storage of your GPU. This cuts out the decompression step CPUs most systems require, eliminating the major bottleneck in performance. DirectX 12 games can take advantage DirectStorage, provided your PC is equipped with an NVMe SD card and a compatible GPU. Any AMD RDNA2 card or Nvidia RTX2000-series or older will work.
DirectStorage can be managed by your system if aren’t sure. Select the settings menu and then select Gaming Features. This page will inform you if your software GPU, software, and SSD are compatible.
Auto HDR
Windows 11 Auto HDR.
Games that support HDR (high-dynamic range) can create vivid, more realistic colors. However, it's been relatively rare for developers to incorporate HDR support in the last few years. If you're playing a game which does not support HDR, Windows 11 can still boost the color with a feature known as Auto HDR.
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This is due to the fact that HDR monitors are more expensive than standard panels. If you have an HDR-compatible monitor, Windows can algorithmically enhance non-HDR games on the fly. This happens at the OS level so developers don’t have to do anything. To enable Auto HDR Go to Settings > System > Display > HDR. If your monitor is compatible by HDR, you'll be able switch on Auto HDR. This will also include an HDR intensity slider to the Game Bar.
Game Mode
There's nothing worse than watching your silky smooth game drop frames because something on your PC decided it was time to start a massive operation in the background. If your PC is already struggling to maintain frame rates, it could make a game unplayable. Windows 11 has a way to fix this and is called Game Mode.
Windows 11 Game Mode
This feature is available under Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. This toggle is a single one and doesn't require any additional hardware. Turn it on, and Windows will not attempt to download or install updates in the background, and apps that use the Windows notification system won't disrupt your game. Game Mode kicks in automatically when Windows detects you're running a game.
Game widget store
Windows 11 Game Widget Store
The Game Bar has plenty of features when you first start it, but it's more customizable than you imagine. You will find widget stores in the menus. This lets you purchase additional overlay items. It's located in the widget list, which is the leftmost button on the main bar. In the very bottom, you'll find the widget store.
The majority of the widgets you'll find in the store are free. However there are some paid overlays and widgets that can connect to desktop applications that are paid. The store's widgets can add floating YouTube videos, add an ethically questionable crosshair onto your screen to allow no-scope cutting, and many more. There are also widgets that can be used to control hardware, such as Corsair coolers and EVGA video cards.
Xbox app
Windows 11 Xbox app.
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Microsoft's Xbox app comes with Windows 11. It's worth exploring even if you don't own an Xbox. It allows you to buy PC games such as Cuphead, Destiny 2, and Minecraft but it's much more than a Steam replacement that has a less than stellar catalogue. It also functions as the center of Microsoft Game Pass on the PC.
Game Pass is an online subscription service that offers an array of games available at no cost. You can install and play these games for as long as they're on Game Pass, and Microsoft has purchased publishers like Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard to ensure that there's plenty of games to play. Even even if you don't own a fancy GPU or a gaming console, the Xbox app can help to get your game going. Game Pass Ultimate (the $15-per-month tier) includes Cloud Gaming, which renders Xbox games on a server and streams games to your PC. The choices here aren't very wide, but there's Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Doom Eternal, and more console-based games. So, no matter the method you choose to go about getting your gaming fix, Windows 11 should have something that will make your experience more enjoyable.