Hey, players: Don’t ignore these killer Windows 11 tools

Life is much better in 2022 for players on Apple macOS and even Linux, however Windows stays the very best PC os for video games. Microsoft is acutely knowledgeable about this benefit, and as an outcome, it has actually bundled a lot of video gaming functions into Windows throughout the years– on Windows 11, there are a lot more video gaming goodies. Here are the Windows 11 includes that will make your next frag session even much better.

Game Bar

Ryan Whitwam

Windows 11 ships with the Game Bar preloaded, offering you fast access to some beneficial tools with an easy keystroke. You can open the Game Bar at any time (even if you’re not playing a video game) by pushing Win + G. If you have an Xbox controller coupled with your PC, tapping the Xbox button will do the very same.

The Game Bar is an overlay with widgets that assist you catch gameplay video, control audio output, display PC efficiency, and more. In the settings, you can even visit to your social networks represent immediate sharing of your recorded images and clips.

DirectStorage

If you have an adequately effective PC, Microsoft has actually created a method your hardware can interact more effectively, which suggests much better efficiency in video games. It’s called DirectStorage, and you do not need to do anything to turn it on. You do, nevertheless, require to strike particular hardware specifications that may demand an upgrade.

Ryan Whitwam

DirectStorage enables your computer system’s storage (where video game information lives) to interact straight with the GPU. This eliminates the CPU decompression action that a lot of systems need, getting rid of a significant efficiency traffic jam. Games with DirectX 12 can benefit from DirectStorage as long as your PC has an NVMe SSD and a suitable GPU. Any AMD RDNA2 cards or Nvidia RTX 2000- series or later on needs to work.

If you aren’t sure whether your system can deal with DirectStorage, you can learn in the formerly pointed out Game Bar. Click the settings equipment, and after that choose Gaming Features. This page will inform you if your software application, GPU, and SSD work.

Auto HDR

Ryan Whitwam

Games that support HDR (high vibrant variety) can produce more lively, practical colors. It has actually just been typical for designers to consist of HDR assistance in the last couple of years. If you’re playing a video game that does not support HDR, Windows 11 can still pump up the colors with a function called Auto HDR

The catch here is that you’ll require a screen efficient in HDR, and those are generally more costly than basic panels. If you have a suitable display, Windows can algorithmically improve non-HDR video games on the fly. This occurs at the OS level, so designers do not require to do anything. To allow Auto HDR, go to Settings > > System > > Display > > HDR. If your screen is supported, you’ll have the ability to turn on Auto HDR. This will likewise include an HDR strength slider to the Game Bar.

Game Mode

There’s absolutely nothing even worse than seeing your silky smooth video game drop frames due to the fact that something on your PC chose it was time to run a heavy operation in the background. If your PC is currently having a hard time to preserve frame rates, this can make a video game unplayable. Windows 11 has a method to stop that, and it’s called Game Mode.

Ryan Whitwam

You’ll discover this function under Settings > > Gaming > > Game Mode. It’s a single toggle, and there are no particular hardware requirements. Turn it on, and Windows will not attempt to download or set up updates in the background, and apps that utilize the Windows alert system will not disrupt your video game. Video game Mode swings into action instantly when Windows spots you’re running a video game.

Ryan Whitwam

The Game Bar has lots of performance when you initially open it, however it’s more personalized than you believe. Stashed in the menus is a widget shop where you can get more products for your overlay. It’s in the widget list, which is the far-left button in the primary bar. At the extremely bottom, you’ll discover the widget shop.

Most of what you’ll discover in the shop is totally free, however there are a couple of paid widgets, in addition to overlays that link to paid desktop apps. The shop has widgets that can include drifting YouTube videos, place a fairly suspicious crosshair to your screen for no-scope sniping, and more. You’ll likewise discover devoted widgets for hardware like EVGA video cards and Corsair coolers.

Xbox app

Ryan Whitwam

Microsoft’s Xbox app is bundled with Windows 11, and it’s worth opening even if you do not have an Xbox. It enables you to acquire PC video games like Cuphead, Destiny 2, and Minecraft, however it’s more than a Steam replacement with a poorer brochure. It likewise functions as the center of Microsoft Game Pass on the PC.

Game Pass is a membership service that makes a broad choice of video games offered at no additional charge. You can set up and play them for as long as they’re on Game Pass, and Microsoft has actually bought publishers like Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard to guarantee there’s plenty to play. Even if you do not have an expensive GPU, the Xbox app can assist you get your video game on. Video Game Pass Ultimate (the $15- per-month tier) consists of Cloud Gaming, which renders Xbox video games on a server and streams them to your computer system. The choice here isn’t particularly broad, however you’ve got Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Doom Eternal, and more console hits. No matter how you get your video gaming repair, Windows 11 needs to have something to assist make the experience much better.