Why Windows 12 needs to go all in on Xbox Game Bar to stay ahead of macOS
Two platforms should become one in Windows 12
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It’s barely been two years sinceWindows 11was released, but with rumors of its next major upgrade starting to gain momentum, it may be time forMicrosoftto go all-in on gaming this time.
For those not aware,Windows 11has seen a bunch of updates since its debut - with improvements to key features such as the Taskbar, Windows Explorer, and plenty more.
However,Applerecently announcedmacOS SonomaatWWDC 2023, with a new ‘Game Mode’ that allows anM-series Macto allocate more resources to a game that’s currently running, hopefully improving the performance of the game. Apple also announced the Game Porting Kit, which will allow Windows-only games to be run on a Mac. So, the pressure is on for Microsoft to keep PC gamers on side.
This is why it’s high time forWindows 12to further integrate how the Xbox app, and the Game Bar, should work across all games on a PC - and not just ones bought via the Microsoft Store.
Staying Green
As it stands, you can open up theXbox app in Windows 11and, if you’ve previously bought a game that works on both Xbox and PC, or if you’re a GamePass subscriber, you can download these onto your PC, and make use of Achievements, Party mode, and everything else.
There’s alsoGame Bar, which, after pressingWin + G, shows an overlay that allows you to take screenshots, see which friends are online, and show you how your CPU, GPU, and RAM are doing while a game’s running.
You’ve been able to do this in bothWindows 10and 11, and while there’s been a few updates in the past year to both of these features, such asHDRmode for some games, and being able to controlGame Bar with your controller, Windows 12 needs to go further.
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Beating Apple at its own game
Microsoft has said for years now that its services should be available on as many platforms as possible - its efforts to get itsacquisition of Activision Blizzardhas made it announce thatXbox Game Passwill be coming to other streaming platforms, such asGeForce NOW.
But forWindows 12, let’s see gaming go even further. An ‘Xbox Achievements Platform’ would be a start, where other gaming vendors such asGOG,Steam, andEpic Gamescan allow Microsoft’s feature on all of the games it offers - even those that had been released way before the company even thought about Xbox back in 2000.
People love racking up that gamerscore to show off to their friends and family, so let’s see it in even more places with Windows 12.
With the Game Bar, let’s see streaming platforms be able to use it with other devices - so when you load up an Xbox game on GeForce NOW through yourLG C3 TV, a press of a button will let you load up an Xbox app.
Where’s our big screen mode?
Last but not least, there’s a good chance that you’ve come across a machine that, instead of booting into Windows or anotheroperating system, goes straight into an interface where you can select a bunch of games from a list using a game controller, much like you’d see on a games console.
So let’s see something similar for Windows 12 - instead ofpressing the Shift key to go into Safe Mode, how about pressingShift + Upto boot into a pseudo-Xbox mode on your PC? You can use your keyboard or a controller to browse through the Dashboard, and it groups all of your installed games into one place, ready to go.
Apple has itsVision Proheadset that it wants to sell in early 2024, and it made sure to show off how you could use it for gaming. But with macOS Sonoma’s new features with Game Mode and Porting Kit, this could finally be what tempts developers to move over to the Big Apple.
This is exactly whyWindows 12should hit the ground running with gaming - you can play your favorite games anywhere in this day and age, so let’s see a big level up when it comes to the next version of Windows to convince us to continue playing on Microsoft’s platform.
Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.
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