p>While gamers will have an improved experience in 2022 due to Apple macOS and Linux, Windows is still the most ideal operating system for gaming. Microsoft is acutely aware of this and, as a result, it has bundled plenty of gaming features into Windows over the years-on Windows 11, there are even more gaming features. These are the Windows 11 features that will make your next gaming session even more enjoyable.
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p>Game Bar
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p>Windows 11 Game Bar.
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p>Windows 11 comes preloaded with the Game Bar. This allows users to access useful tools by pressing one keystroke. The Game Bar can be opened anytime even when you're not playing an online game. You can do this by pressing Win + G. If your Xbox controller is connected to your computer, press the Xbox button.
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p>The Game Bar is an overlay with widgets that allow you to capture gameplay footage, control audio output and monitor PC performance and more. In the settings, you can connect to your social media accounts to allow immediate sharing of your recorded footage and images.
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p>DirectStorage?
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p>If you have a powerful computer, Microsoft has devised a way your hardware can communicate more efficiently, which means improved performance in games. DirectStorage? is an application that doesn't require you to do anything more than turning it on. However, you'll have to meet certain hardware requirements that might require an upgrade.
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p>Windows 11 DirectStorage?.
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p>DirectStorage? lets your computer communicate directly with the storage of your GPU. This eliminates the need for CPU decompression, which is a major performance bottleneck. Games that use DirectX 12 can take advantage of DirectStorage? provided that your PC has an NVMe SSD and an appropriate GPU. Any AMD RDNA2 card or Nvidia RTX2000-series or older should work.
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p>DirectStorage? is handled by your system if aren't sure. Click on the settings menu and then select Gaming Features. This page will tell you whether your gaming software or GPU and SSD are compatible.
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p>Auto HDR
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p>Windows 11 Auto HDR.
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p>Games that have HDR (high-dynamic range) can create vivid real-looking colors. Developers have added HDR support to their games for the recent years. If you're playing a video game that doesn't support HDR, Windows 11 can still boost the color with a feature called Auto HDR.
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p>The problem is that you'll require an LCD that can support HDR, and those tend to be more expensive than regular panels. If you own an HDR-compatible monitor, Windows can automatically enhance non-HDR games in real-time. This happens at the OS level so developers don∏t need to do anything. To enable Auto HDR, go to Settings > System > Display > HDR. Auto HDR will be enabled when your monitor supports it. This will also add an HDR intensity slider to the Game Bar.
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p>Game Mode
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p>There's nothing worse than watching your game suddenly drop frames due to a background operation. If your PC is struggling to keep up with frame rates, this can render a game inaccessible. Game Mode is a feature of Windows 11 that can stop this.
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p>Windows 11 Game Mode
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p>You'll find this feature under Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. It's just a single toggle and there aren't any specific hardware requirements. Turn it on, and Windows will not try to download or install updates in the background, and games that utilize the Windows notification system won't interfere with your game. When Windows detects that you're playing an online game Game Mode will kick in automatically.
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p>Game widget store
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p>Windows 11 Game widget store.
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p>While the Game Bar is very functional when it first launches but it's far more customizable than you think. There's a widget store in the menus. This lets you purchase additional overlay items. It's in the widget list, which is located on the far-left button in the main bar. Near the bottom, you'll see the widget store.
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p>The majority of the content in the store is free, however there are some paid widgets, as well as overlays that work with paid desktop apps. https://serverstat.net/minecraft-servers/ The store's widgets can be used to add floating YouTube videos, add an ethically dubious crosshair to your screen for 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.
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p>Xbox app
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p>Windows 11 Xbox app.
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p>Ryan Whitwam
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p>Microsoft's Xbox application comes with Windows 11. It's worth opening even though you don't have an Xbox. It allows you to purchase PC games such as Cuphead, Destiny 2, and Minecraft, but it's more than an Steam replacement that has a lower catalog. It also serves as the central point of Microsoft Game Pass on the PC.
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p>Game Pass is a subscription service that provides an array of games accessible at no extra charge. You can download and play these as long as they are on Game Pass. Microsoft has also bought publishers such as Activision-Blizzard and Bethesda to ensure that there are plenty of games to select from. Even if your GPU is not the most powerful it's possible that the Xbox app will allow you to play your favorite games. Game Pass Ultimate, a $15 per-month tier, includes Cloud Gaming. This renders Xbox games on a remote server and streams them to your PC. Although the games available aren't a lot, you can find Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 on this level. Windows 11 should offer something for everyone, regardless of how they get their gaming fix.
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