kaspersenglover672247

p>While gamers will enjoy a better life in 2022 thanks to Apple macOS and Linux, Windows is still the best operating system for gaming. Microsoft is well aware of this, and as a result it has integrated a lot of gaming features into Windows over the years. With Windows 11, there are even more gaming-related features. Here are the Windows 11 features that will make your next frag session even more enjoyable.

/p>

p>Game Bar

/p>

p>Windows 11 Game Bar.

/p>

p>Windows 11 ships with the Game Bar preloaded, giving you quick access to some useful tools with just a keystroke. You can open the Game Bar at any time (even if you're not playing any game) by pressing Win + G. If you own an Xbox controller that's paired with your PC, tapping the Xbox button will do the same.

/p>

p>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 log in to your social media accounts to allow instant sharing of your captured videos and images.

/p>

p>DirectStorage?

/p>

p>If you have a sufficiently powerful PC, Microsoft has devised a method to make your hardware communicate more efficiently, leading to improved performance in games. It's known as DirectStorage? and you don't have to do anything to turn it on. However, you will have to meet certain hardware requirements that might require an upgrade.

/p>

p>Windows 11 DirectStorage?.

/p>

p>DirectStorage? lets your computer communicate directly with the storage of your GPU. This eliminates the need for CPU decompression, which is a major bottleneck in performance. Games running DirectX 12 can take advantage of DirectStorage? provided that your PC is equipped with an NVMe SSD and an appropriate GPU. Any AMD RDNA2 card or Nvidia RTX 2000-series or later should work.

/p>

p>If you're unsure if your system can handle DirectStorage?, you can check it out using the previously mentioned Game Bar. Select the settings gear and then select Gaming Features. This page will tell you if your software or GPU and SSD are compatible.

/p>

p>Auto HDR

/p>

p>Windows 11 Auto HDR.

/p>

p>Games that have HDR (high-dynamic range) can produce vivid and more realistic colors. It's only been common for developers to incorporate HDR support in the past few years. Windows 11 has an Auto HDR feature that lets you boost the colors of games that don't support HDR.

/p>

p>The catch here is that you'll require an LCD that can support HDR and HDR-capable monitors tend to be more expensive than standard panels. Windows can enhance algorithmically non HDR games when you have a compatible monitor. This happens at the OS level, so developers don't need to do anything. Go to Settings > System > HDR. Auto HDR will be enabled when your monitor supports it. This will also add an HDR intensity slider to the Game Bar.

/p>

p>Game Mode

/p>

p>There's nothing worse than seeing your game suddenly drop frames due to a background task. If your PC is already struggling to keep frame rates, it could make a game unplayable. Game Mode is a feature of Windows 11 that can stop this.

/p>

p>Windows 11 Game Mode

/p>

p>You'll find this feature under Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. This toggle is only one and doesn't require any additional hardware. Turn it on, and Windows will not try to install or download updates in the background, and games that use the Windows notification system won't interfere with your game. When Windows detects that you are playing a game, Game Mode kicks in automatically.

/p>

p>Game widget store

/p>

p>Windows 11 Game widget store.

/p>

p>The Game Bar has plenty of features when you first start it, but it's also more customizable than you think. There's widget stores in the menus. This lets you buy more overlay items. It is located in the widget list (the far-left button on the main bar). https://uchatoo.com/post/62830_https-thinkofdeath-co-uk-mojang-039-s-best-known-for-the-indie-blockbuster-minec.html The widget store is at the bottom.

/p>

p>The majority of what you'll find in the store is free, but there are a few paid widgets, as well as overlays that can be connected to paid desktop apps. The store has widgets that can be used to add floating YouTube? videos, or add an ethically questionable crosshair on your screen to allow no-scope sniping, and much more. There are also dedicated widgets for specific hardware, such as EVGA video cards and Corsair coolers.

/p>

p>Xbox app

/p>

p>Windows 11 Xbox app.

/p>

p>Ryan Whitwam

/p>

p>Microsoft's Xbox application is compatible with Windows 11. It's worth opening even though you don't have an Xbox. It allows you to buy PC games like Cuphead, Destiny 2, and Minecraft, but it's more than an Steam replacement that has a lower catalog. It also functions as the hub for Microsoft Game Pass on the PC.

/p>

p>Game Pass is a subscription service that gives you access to many games for free. You can download and play them for as long as they're available on Game Pass. Microsoft has also purchased publishers such as Activision-Blizzard and Bethesda to ensure that there are plenty of games to pick from. Even if you don't have an expensive GPU, the Xbox app can help you get your game on. Game Pass Ultimate (the $15-per-month price point) includes Cloud Gaming, which renders Xbox games on a server, and then streams games to your PC. The games available here aren't particularly wide, but there's Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Doom Eternal, and more console-based games. So, regardless of how you get your gaming fix, Windows 11 should have something to make the experience better.

/p>