Windows 11 Brings Xbox Series X|S Gaming Tech To PC

By M. Kang

Posted on June 27, 2021

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Windows 11 was just announced and with it comes a slew of updates to the operating system specifically focused on gaming. Most surprisingly, the new features build off Xbox Series X|S technology.

For starters, Windows 11 will now enable Auto HDR. This feature will “automatically [add] High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhancements to games built on DirectX 11 or higher that previously only leveraged Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).” HDR provides more contrast and brightness to colors, making games appear more rich and life-like compared to SDR.

Windows 11 will also now use DirectStorage technology. DirectStorage “loads assets to the graphics card without bogging down the CPU,” meaning games can be beautifully rendered quickly and efficiently.

Xbox Game Pass integration is central to this gaming focus as it provides the content able to take advantage of these graphical and load time updates. Not only that, the Xbox app will be preloaded into Windows 11.

Finally, Windows 11 will be compatible with a plethora of hardware specifically tailored for gaming. This includes the Xbox Wireless Controllers, mechanical keyboards, gaming mice, and more.

Perhaps this update is not out of the blue given Microsoft’s dedication to gaming. More cross-platform integration is definitely welcome as it makes things better for Xbox and Windows PC gamers.