Life is better in 2022 for gamers on Apple macOS and even Linux, but Windows remains the best PC operating system for games. Microsoft is acutely aware of this advantage, and as a result, it has bundled plenty of gaming features into Windows over the years—on Windows 11, there are even more gaming goodies. Here are the Windows 11 features that will make your next frag session even better.
Game Bar
Windows 11 Game Bar.
Ryan Whitwam
Windows 11 ships with the Game Bar preloaded, giving you quick access to some useful tools with a simple keystroke. You can open the Game Bar at any time (even if you’re not playing a game) by pressing Win + G. If you have an Xbox controller paired with your PC, tapping the Xbox button will do the same.
The Game Bar is an overlay with widgets that help you capture gameplay footage, control audio output, monitor PC performance, and more. In the settings, you can even log in to your social media accounts for instant sharing of your captured images and clips.
DirectStorage
If you have a sufficiently powerful PC, Microsoft has devised a way your hardware can communicate more efficiently, which means better performance in games. It’s called DirectStorage, and you don’t have to do anything to turn it on. You do, however, need to hit certain hardware specs that might necessitate an upgrade.
Windows 11 DirectStorage.
Ryan Whitwam
DirectStorage allows your computer’s storage (where game data lives) to communicate directly with the GPU. This cuts out the CPU decompression step that most systems require, eliminating a major performance bottleneck. Games with DirectX 12 can take advantage of DirectStorage as long as your PC has an NVMe SSD and a compatible GPU. Any AMD RDNA2 cards or Nvidia RTX 2000-series or later should work.
If you aren’t sure whether your system can handle DirectStorage, you can find out in the previously mentioned Game Bar. Click the settings gear, and then select Gaming Features. This page will tell you if your software, GPU, and SSD are compatible.
Auto HDR
Windows 11 Auto HDR.
Ryan Whitwam
Games that support HDR (high dynamic range) can produce more vibrant, realistic colors. However, it has only been common for developers to include HDR support in the last few years. If you’re playing a game that doesn’t support HDR, Windows 11 can still pump up the colors with a feature called Auto HDR.
The catch here is that you’ll need a monitor capable of HDR, and those are usually more expensive than standard panels. If you have a compatible monitor, Windows can algorithmically enhance non-HDR games on the fly. This happens at the OS level, so developers don’t need to do anything. To enable Auto HDR, go to Settings > System > Display > HDR. If your monitor is supported, you’ll be able to flip on Auto HDR. This will also add 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 run a heavy operation in the background. If your PC is already struggling to maintain frame rates, this can make a …….
Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/833365/windows-11-tools-and-features-for-gaming.html