Tag: MAC

We tinker with Microsoft’s newest ‘game mode’ added to Windows 10, can it help make your gaming rig the best it can be?

I’ll admit it, my system is currently still running Windows 7. Over the years since 8 was released, and now 10, I haven’t really found the need or desire to swap systems. Windows 7 has always offered everything I wanted for my gaming rig, in addition to having control over things and a lack of “apps” on a PC. That being said, Windows 10’s new ‘game mode’ has me questioning whether or not it might be time to take that leap into Microsoft’s double digits and see what the newest software can really do. Hang out a little longer to find out why.

Windows has been a long-standing staple of computer-based gaming. While some titles wander over to MacOS or Linux machines, Windows carries lion’s share of the marketplace. And while it existed before Windows 95, the interface and Windows that we have come to know and love really only started since Windows 95. If you managed to last through all the clips contained in the above-linked YouTube video (my favorite is the last one), you can see what a turning point they thought Windows 95 was to it’s more Mac-looking predecessors. A new era of gaming and Windows was born.

So with just over 20 solid gamer-representin’ years under their belt, Microsoft has decided to address their lions and launch their ‘game mode’ for Windows 10. The operating system, which went live in July of 2015, has received a mixed array of comments over the months since it’s initial release, including criticism of its stealth OS upgrades which happened to a large portion of unwitting users. While a lot of that mess is behind them, Microsoft is trying to hold onto its image and keep its market favour, likely in hopes that developers don’t decide to suddenly make the gaming market a bit more even. Enter, game mode.

Back in January of this year, Microsoft announced on its developer blog that it was going to be improving the gaming and streaming tools available to its consumers, boasting increased performance, fan-requested features, and beam streaming to roll out over 2017.

“Whether you play on Xbox One, a Windows 10 PC, your mobile phone, or anywhere you sign-in with Xbox Live, we’re going to make your gaming experiences easier, more social, and better with innovative hardware and software features throughout the year.”

With all the goodies Microsoft purported to be planning for this gaming improvement, many people appeared to be rather excited. However, back in January, very little was actually said by Microsoft about what they had in store, other than “increased performance” for gaming. As users started to gain access to the fledgling mode since late January, opinions have been mixed about whether or not the mode actually helps to optimize your system for increased gaming performance. Basically, the mode is designed to turn your computer more into a console-type hardware experience, in that, it will prioritize your CPU and video card usage to focus on the game you’re playing, rather than those pesky background tasks. We all leave things like Chrome, Discord, or iTunes open while playing games (if your PC can handle it of course), and game mode purport to help make sure those programs are only taking as much juice as they absolutely need to function. Their goal at launch was to target your frame rates and provide a smoother gameplay experience, no matter what the title.

After turning on game mode, you’ll be able to pull up a very Xbox-looking interface over your currently active game UI, in order to enable or disable the improvements. As the video above describes, Microsoft was also toying with the idea of letting games turn on this mode automatically, ensuring an even more seamless user-experience. While it may not provide that much of a boost now, its current installment may help bridge the gap between playable and non-playable games, for less robust PC setups, as RandomGamingHD states in their YouTube video “Does the New Window 10 ‘Game Mode’ Improve Gaming Performance.” Microsoft themselves have said that it is exactly these lower-end systems that they want game mode to help the most.

RandomGamingHD’s conclusions, like many others we’ve reviewed, came to the optimistic conclusion that while game mode might not quite be where it needs to be yet, it genuinely offers an integrated potential for improving gaming, especially when you need to squeeze the last drop of power you can from an aging rig. After following Microsoft’s progression through the years, I’m excited to see what they’ve learned from console production, and operating system development, to see how they will continue to meld them together over the calendar year.

While Windows 10 gaming mode may only offer small tweaks and improvements at this time, it has Windows 10 skeptics like me intrigued about the possibility of a PC running optimally for gaming, rather than it being an afterthought. If the mode is perfected and improved upon over the coming months, you may see myself and others like me, switching to reap the benefits.

There are always countless ways to tweak your Windows performance manually, but game mode might not quite offer you the bang you’re looking for, yet. I intend to keep an eye on what Microsoft has in store for gaming and Windows, and I suggest you do too. After all, even 5 more frames, can make all the difference.

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Have you used Windows 10’s game mode? Will you ever? Are you a min/max gamer or do you just pray to the technology gods that your computer will turn on, let alone allow you to play anything? Join in the conversation below on Discord, on our Facebook page, or Twitter!