Lightweight and versatile upgrades to many of Microsoft’s apps, Windows 10 The best OS upgrade we’ve seen in years from Microsoft. The Start Menu is back and the Store apps are finally getting more mouse and keyboard friendly. With so much going on on the productivity side of things, it’s easy to forget that Microsoft hopes Windows 10 is the ultimate upgrade for gamers as well.
Windows 10 includes DirectX 12, a major upgrade for the gaming subsystem within Windows that many developers base their experience on. Microsoft says players upgrading should see big improvements. While this update alone is crucial, the core of Microsoft’s gaming argument comes down to the new Xbox app for Windows 10. On Windows 10, Xbox allows users to send messages, record video clips, and take screenshots. Xbox Live functionality is built into the experience. Soon, game developers will release new PC games built with Xbox Live multiplayer.
Here’s how to use Xbox on Windows 10 to elevate your PC gaming experience.
The newly upgraded Windows 10 store allows users to download all kinds of mobile games complete with Xbox Live achievements, but in the future, the company hopes that more developers will put their big names in the Windows Store for users to purchase their serious games as planned. to do. Currently, only self-published titles have been approved. Gears of War Ultimate Edition, Fable Legends and colossal they all come from Microsoft.
Microsoft has done a lot of work in the PC gaming space for users to take the company seriously with a dedicated games store. A mistake Microsoft has made in the past was locking users into its store. This time around, the company is acting smarter. PC games you buy from GameStop, Origin, and Steam all work with most Xbox features on Windows 10. You can leave links to the app or launch it separately for easy access.
Windows 10 can detect when you open games and open the Gamesbar, a small interface for doing things within the game. It’s unclear whether games currently sold outside of the Windows Store will receive Xbox Live multiplayer integration.
It’s pretty easy to take a screenshot of your game in Windows 10 to share with a friend. In fact, it will look very familiar to anyone who frequently takes screenshots of their apps.
One way to take a screenshot of your games in Windows 10 is to press the key and the button at the same time.
You can press the key and the letter at the same time to open the game bar. When the game bar opens, click or tap on it.
The screenshots you capture will appear immediately in the Xbox app on your Windows 10 PC in the region. From there you can rename and open them.
You can also save pictures taken by your Xbox One, if available. You can take pictures in any video game you own, but the game must be downloaded from the Windows Store to install this content. This is how Microsoft protects Xbox Live from offensive or inappropriate content.
Recording videos using Xbox in Windows 10 is the same as for pictures, but there are more nuances in the feature itself.
Open your game and press the key and the key at the same time.
Now tap or click or tap the red button in the Game Bar. Xbox on Windows 10 will immediately start recording video from your game in real time.
The settings gear gives you a feature breakdown. There you can decide how long you want your game clips to be.
Any video you record has the same restrictions as images. If it’s a game from the Windows Store, this content can be uploaded to your Xbox Live profile and shared with your friends. Images from games purchased from Steam or elsewhere cannot be shared over Xbox Live. Be careful when recording video as it can take up a lot of space if you’re not careful.
Not all computers can use GameDVR. Microsoft says that the feature requires a fairly modern AMD or NVIDIA graphics card. Devices with integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics or later can also use this feature.
Last year, Microsoft made it possible for Windows PC users to connect their controllers and play their favorite games. At the time, it wasn’t considered a huge feature, as the Xbox 360 controller was already available in this way, provided users had everything they needed. Users required a wireless adapter to connect to existing Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers or USB Xbox 360 controllers. The Xbox One has a built-in microUSB port, making it the obvious choice for already casual PC gamers.
Windows 10 has Xbox One Wireless Controller support built in. Today, if you plug the game controller with a USB cable, you can use the most popular games without any problems. In the future, Microsoft planned a wireless adapter that would eliminate the need for a USB cable.
To use your Xbox One Wireless Controller, simply plug it in. Your computer already has everything you need to get started. Note that the games you download will also need controller support. Available on the Xbox Store, most people already do. Most PC game developers also include it in their games, but you may have to go into the game’s settings to activate it.
One of the great benefits of Xbox Live is being able to Party Chat with your friends. Party Chat places users in a virtual room for voice communication, no matter what game everyone is playing. Windows 10 also offers this feature and works with Xbox One.
To start a Party, open the Xbox app. Now on Windows 10 tap or click the button in the upper right corner of Xbox.
Once you start a Party, you will need to add people to it. You can do this by tapping or clicking the icon. Parties can have a mix of PC and console players.
Choose one of your friends from the list and wait for them to accept your Party Invitation.
You can lock the party to whoever you want or leave it open. You can also mute yourself if you don’t want to be heard.
Xbox on Windows 10 wants to be your one stop shop for gaming. To do this, it should connect you to titles you already have. Go to the space in Windows 10 and click the button to add titles you already have from elsewhere.
Xbox in Windows 10 app will automatically add games downloaded from Windows Store. It will also recognize many popular titles and add them on its own.
Message other Xbox Live uses by tapping or clicking the item in the menu. All your previous messages from Xbox Live users will also appear there.
For any user who already owns an Xbox One, Xbox on Windows 10 is the ultimate accessory. Let’s say you’re in your office and you don’t want to go into your life to play games. Xbox in Windows 10 app lets you stream a game to the living room console.
Before you try this, know that there are some features. First, what you see in the Xbox app on Windows 10 when you stream a game is a direct mirror of what’s happening on the console. Currently this means you can use the app to take control of your console. For example, it’s possible to watch television while streaming games, but it’s not great as neither user will take full control of the screen. Second, you must be on the same network as your console and have an Xbox One controller.
Open the Xbox app and plug in your controller.
Tap or click the menu item and open the console you want to stream to. Tap or click if you haven’t synced the two before. Now go to Home Page.
Tap or click the icon in the middle left column of the app.
From here you will be able to select your game and stream it directly to your Windows 10 PC. For best results, you really want your Xbox One to be connected via Ethernet to at least a good wireless router. A bad router or slow wireless connection can make Game Streaming very unpleasant.
Good luck with the Windows 10 and Xbox One app.
