Microsoft has today unveiled the latest iteration of Windows, entitled 'Windows 11', which the Xbox team says will be the "best Windows ever for gaming" thanks to a few key features such as Auto HDR and DirectStorage.
Windows 11 will come with Auto HDR by default, which automatically adds High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhancements to games built on DirectX 11 or higher that previously only leveraged Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). This is the same technology currently being used on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles.
Also debuting on Series X and S, DirectStorage will be exclusive to Windows 11 on PC, allowing high performance NVMe SSDs to load games faster, ensuring you can" experience incredibly detailed game worlds rendered at lightning speeds, without long load times."
And of course, Xbox Game Pass will continue to be a major part of Xbox's focus, with the Xbox app now built into Windows 11 from day one, and Xbox Cloud Gaming set to be directly added to the app as well.
All the other stuff you'd expect, like compatibility with the new Xbox Wireless Controllers will be in place, and the best part is that Windows 11 will be a totally free upgrade for Windows 10 users when it arrives ("coming soon").
"We’re thrilled to bring you the best Windows ever for gaming.
Welcome to Windows 11!"
Will you be upgrading to Windows 11? Happy with these gaming features? Let us know down below.
Comments 22
Windows 10 has been a great OS, I've enjoyed using it over the time it has been available.
I will be taking the upgrade, no issues there.
I'm just wondering if we will see an Xbox dashboard update following this, there is sure to be some new design language and they like Xbox and PC share much of it.
Looks great, I'd love to update. Unfortunately, my computer is first and foremost a video editing machine, and until I'm certain there are no compatibility issues I won't be going anywhere near it
@The_New_Butler yep. My livelihood relies on my software running as it should, so gaming takes a back seat! Luckily, that's what I have a Series X and PS5 for!
Didn't Microsoft say that Windows' final name will be Windows 10?
@BlueOcean Yeah, but that was a stupid thing to say. Tech changes too much and everything ages out eventually. At least the upgrade path is free.
@Thaliard There was also a time where Windows 8 was supposed to be one OS to cover PC, Tablet and Phones and well here we are.
Just like how Apple made massive fun of Microsoft Surface at first but then took every step to make iPad Pro a comparable product as market changed.
Just having HDR working properly with Windows will be a start, I'm glad to see that my NVME will be put to good use for gaming though, now if only I could get a graphics card
@Royalblues @Thaliard Yeah I'm all in for the updates (looks simple and great) but I liked the Windows 10 name or just "Windows".
@BlueOcean yes that was their excuse for skipping the number 9 haha
@Cakefish Yes I remember that as well haha.
Android integration is probably the biggest thing here tbh
@BlueOcean I agree, but unfortunately you're going to run into compatibility issues when you're making big overhauls to an OS, creating a need to differentiate versions. I enjoy the simplicity and evenness of "Windows 10", but honestly, making numbered iterations from here on out is still pretty clean.
The only thing that makes the Windows 11 name stupid is the lack of a Windows 9. Wouldn't this technically be Windows 10?
@Thaliard "Wouldn't this technically be Windows 10?"
Windows 10 or Windows 9? 😂
Yikes, getting some Windows Vista/8 vibes off this already. Hopefully it isn't yet another follow-up disaster for Microsoft.
@BlueOcean think they thought it worked for Apple l, so they could do it too, but Apple makes a big deal of their yearly code name releases. No one looks at Mac OS 10.7284739, they see Mac OS Santa Monica or whatever they call it.
MS kept pushing their 4 digit updates and no one cared about those numbers, going back to big number iteration simply helps with their marketing pushes. Plus, users are way more likely to accept big UI changes on a large numeric release.
@Royalblues yea that's what I thought too!
‘Ever’ implies they will never be a better version going forwards. It should be ‘Best Windows YET for gaming’
@Royalblues @The_New_Butler Have they updated the video? Or am I blind? I don't see a Switch or DualSense... not that it matters, just amused and a little amazed considering how hyper-sanitised and over considered these videos usually are
@BlueOcean "Didn't Microsoft say that Windows' final name will be Windows 10?" I think they said it would just be (pause for dramatic effect) "Windows" but they also said it was just "Xbox" and we know how that has turned out with their weird, illogical console naming conventions.
It's a nice dream but how do you tell people it's something new to get excited about without changing the name. And what about compatibility? Incrementing by one number while dull is often the easiest way to get that message across.
@The_New_Butler EAGLE EYED!!!
...or I should have gone to Specsavers
What a weird easter egg!
By the way...
The link below is about easter eggs in video games.
https://www.ranker.com/list/easter-eggs-in-video-games/bobby-anhalt#:~:text=%20The%20Greatest%20Video%20Game%20Easter%20Eggs%20of,there%20is%20a%20sealed%20door%20that...%20More%20
I would switch, but my PC has no TPM =(
It doesn't look like many PCs will get the upgrade. Only the new stuff on sale, really. Even my 2 year old Surface, I ran the app and it says it doesn't meed the minimum for the upgrade. If you didn't buy your PC this year, odds are you're not getting 11 on it.
But they said they're supporting 10 until Oct 2025 at earliest, so most of us will just keep using Win10 for years.
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