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Operational Windows 10 Game Mode available to insiders shortly

by Mark Tyson on 16 January 2017, 10:01

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows 10

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Just ahead of the weekend Mike Ybarra, Head of Platform Engineering for Xbox, published a blog post - the first to officially mention Windows 10 Game Mode. We first heard about Windows 10 Game Mode via inquisitive hackers sifting through Windows 10 insider update DLL files, just ahead of New Year.

Ybarra's post mentions several new features coming to Xbox One users and Windows 10 with the Creators Update. The engineering head says gaming updates in Microsoft's platforms will revolve around four key themes "Streaming, Performance, People, and Competition".

'Beam' is the streaming utility which will be built into Windows 10 and Xbox One. "Beam will connect to your Xbox Live account, making it easy to stream your favourite games to Beam and your Xbox Live community. No extra software is needed and viewers anywhere will be able to watch your streams and interact with your broadcast," explained Ybarra. To turn on this feature in Windows 10 you simply press Windows + G to activate the Game Bar, and click the broadcast button to start streaming.

Performance in games is said to be enhanced, specifically in Windows 10, via 'Game Mode'. Ybarra says that Windows Insiders will start to see the UI elements of Game Mode 'this week' with the featuring becoming fully operational 'shortly'. Unfortunately we are left with a teaser "This is a big update for Windows; we’re looking forward to Insiders getting their hands on this new feature for further testing, and we’ll have much more to share on what it is and how it works soon, so stayed tuned."

On the Xbox platform an increase in performance is to be delivered via better multitasking and a streamlined UI to help you get things done quicker.

Following on the four key themes mentioned above, Microsoft is adding improved connections between Xbox Live and other social networks, plus updates to the activity feed. For competitions - new tournaments are coming to Arena on Xbox Live and you will be able to create your own competitions in subsequent updates.



HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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Hey, if it stops Windows from checking for updates, tabbing me out of what I'm doing and forcefully getting me to open (&close) a different window entirely? I'd say this is useful.

Sigh.
But could you use Game mode all the time or it will start automatically with the game (that supports it)?
Rumors point to it being for UWP (Windows Store) games only, that they mention Beam seems to reinforce that rumor or is Windows + G activating the Game Bar available to all games in Windows 10?
Corky34
Rumors point to it being for UWP (Windows Store) games only, that they mention Beam seems to reinforce that rumor or is Windows + G activating the Game Bar available to all games in Windows 10?
It's certainly available for non-UWP games currently (I have none).
I stand corrected, thanks, :) Having done some more research it seems Larry Hryb (aka:Major Nelson), the director of programming for Xbox Live, has said on Twitter the following…
Excited to share that the new Windows 10 Game Mode will include /both/ Win32 and UWP game (now w/ link)