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Hey Gamers: Don't Get Lost in these Powerful Windows 11 Tools.

It's a better time for those who play on Apple macOS and even Linux but Windows remains the top PC operating system for gaming. Microsoft is aware of this and has included many gaming features in Windows over the years. Windows 11 adds even more gaming goodies. These are the Windows 11 features that will make you next frag session even more enjoyable.



Game Bar



Windows 11 Game Bar



Windows 11 ships with the Game Bar preloaded, giving you access to a variety of useful tools with a simple keystroke. You can access the Game Bar at any time (even even if you're not playing an online game) by pressing Win + G. If you have an Xbox controller that's paired with your PC, pressing the Xbox button will do the same.



The Game Bar overlay includes widgets that allow you to capture gameplay footage control audio output, and monitor your PC's performance. In the settings, you can even connect to your social media accounts to allow immediate sharing of your recorded footage and images.



DirectStorage



Microsoft has developed a method for your hardware to communicate better with each other, which will result in better performance in games. DirectStorage is an application that doesn't require you to do anything more than turning it on. However, you will have to meet certain requirements for your hardware that could require an upgrade.



DirectStorage for Windows 11



DirectStorage lets your computer directly connect to the GPU's storage. This eliminates the CPU decompression process that many systems require, which eliminates the major bottleneck in performance. DirectX 12 games can take advantage of DirectStorage, provided your PC has an NVMe SD and a compatible GPU. Any AMD RDNA2 card and Nvidia RTX 2000-series or later will work.



If you're not sure if your system can handle DirectStorage You can check it out using the previously mentioned Game Bar. Select the settings menu and then select Gaming Features. This will let you know whether your gaming software, GPU and SSD are compatible.



Auto HDR



Windows 11 Auto HDR.



Games that include HDR (high dynamic range) can create more vivid, realistic colors. Developers have been adding HDR support to their games over the recent years. Windows 11 has an Auto HDR feature that lets you boost the colors of games that don't support HDR.



The catch is that you'll need an LCD that can support HDR and HDR-capable monitors are typically more expensive than regular panels. If you have an HDR-capable monitor, Windows can algorithmically enhance non-HDR games on the fly. This happens at the OS level, which means that developers don't need to do anything. To enable Auto HDR Go to Settings > System > Display HDR. If your monitor is supported by Auto HDR, you can flip on Auto HDR. This will also include an HDR intensity slider to the Game Bar.



Game Mode



There is nothing worse than having your game suddenly drop frames because of a background process. The game could become unplayable when it's struggling to keep up with frame rates. Game Mode is a feature of Windows 11 that can stop this.



Windows 11 Game Mode.



You'll find this feature under Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. This toggle is only one that doesn't require any special hardware. It can be turned off and Windows will not attempt to download or install updates in the background. Applications that utilize the Windows notification system will not interfere with your game. Game Mode is activated automatically when Windows detects that you're playing a game.



Game widget store



Windows 11 Game widget store.



The Game Bar has plenty of capabilities when you first open it, but it's more flexible than you'd think. Hidden in the menus is a widget store, where you can buy more widgets to add to your overlay. It's in the widget list, which is located on the far left button in the main bar. In the very lower end, 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 which can connect to desktop applications purchased by users. The store has widgets that allow you to add floating YouTube videos, or add an ethically dubious crosshair onto your screen to prevent sniping, and more. There are also dedicated widgets for hardware such as EVGA video cards and Corsair coolers.



Xbox app



Windows 11 Xbox app.



Ryan Whitwam



Microsoft's Xbox app is bundled with Windows 11, and it's worth checking out even if you don't own an Xbox. It lets you buy PC games such as Cuphead, Destiny 2, and Minecraft but it's much more than just a Steam replacement with a poorer catalogue. It also functions as the center of Microsoft Game Pass on the PC.
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Game Pass is an online subscription service that offers an array of games available for download at no extra charge. 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 in order to provide plenty to play. Even if your GPU not the best it's possible that the Xbox application will allow you to play your most loved games. Game Pass Ultimate (the $15-per-month price point) includes Cloud Gaming, which renders Xbox games on a server, and then streams them 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. Windows 11 should offer something for everyone, no matter the method they choose to go about getting their gaming fix.


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