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windows on arm is now ready for Qualcomm has made significant strides in enhancing the gaming experience on Windows on Arm devices, addressing previous shortcomings and introducing new features that promise to improve performance and compatibility.

windows on arm is now ready for

Background on Windows on Arm Gaming

When Qualcomm first introduced its Snapdragon X Elite laptops, the company made bold claims that games would “just work” seamlessly on the platform. However, early adopters quickly discovered that the reality was far from those expectations. Many games struggled to run smoothly, and compatibility issues were rampant. This prompted a wave of skepticism regarding the viability of Windows on Arm as a gaming platform.

Over the past year, Qualcomm has been actively working to rectify these issues. The company has focused on enhancing emulator capabilities, updating drivers, and collaborating with developers to ensure that popular games can run effectively on its hardware. The culmination of these efforts is the recent release of the Snapdragon Control Panel, which aims to streamline the gaming experience for users.

Introducing the Snapdragon Control Panel

This week, Qualcomm launched its Snapdragon Control Panel, a tool designed to automatically detect installed games on Snapdragon X Elite laptops and optimize their settings for improved performance. This panel is comparable to similar applications offered by AMD and Nvidia for their graphics processing units (GPUs).

Features of the Snapdragon Control Panel

The Snapdragon Control Panel includes a variety of features that allow users to customize their gaming experience:

Frame Rate Caps: Users can set limits on frame rates to achieve smoother gameplay or conserve battery life.
Anti-Aliasing: This feature helps reduce visual artifacts, making games look more polished.
Texture Filtering: Enhances the quality of textures in games, improving overall visual fidelity.
Driver Updates: The panel facilitates the installation of the latest Adreno GPU drivers, ensuring compatibility with the newest games.

Qualcomm claims that it has made fixes and improvements for over 100 games since the launch of the Snapdragon X Elite, focusing on stability and performance enhancements. This proactive approach aims to build confidence among gamers who may have been hesitant to adopt Windows on Arm due to past performance issues.

Emulator Improvements and Compatibility

In addition to the Snapdragon Control Panel, Microsoft and Qualcomm have made significant updates to the underlying technology that supports gaming on Windows on Arm. One of the most notable changes is the enhancement of Microsoft’s Prism emulator, which now supports x86 Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX). AVX is a set of instructions used by many modern games and creative applications, and its support is crucial for ensuring that these programs can run effectively on Arm architecture.

AVX and AVX2 Support

Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X2 Elite chips also support AVX2 emulation, which further expands the range of applications that can run on Windows on Arm devices. Existing Snapdragon X series devices will receive this update in the coming weeks, allowing a broader audience to benefit from these improvements.

These advancements in emulator technology are essential for bridging the gap between traditional x86 applications and the Arm architecture. By enabling support for AVX and AVX2, Qualcomm and Microsoft are making it easier for developers to optimize their games for Windows on Arm, ultimately leading to a more robust gaming ecosystem.

Updates to the Xbox App

Another critical development is the recent update to Microsoft’s Xbox app on Windows on Arm. Initially, when Copilot Plus PCs launched last year, the Xbox app served primarily as a portal to Xbox Cloud Gaming, lacking the functionality to download or install games directly from the PC Game Pass library.

New Features in the Xbox App

With the latest update, users can now download ARM64 compatible games directly through the Xbox app. This change marks a significant shift in how gamers can access their favorite titles on Windows on Arm devices. The new features include:

Game Library Access: Users can browse and install games from the PC Game Pass library directly, expanding their gaming options.
Store Integration: The app now includes store options, making it easier to purchase and manage games.

This update not only enhances the functionality of the Xbox app but also aligns with Qualcomm’s efforts to create a more comprehensive gaming experience on Windows on Arm devices. By integrating these features, Microsoft is positioning the Xbox app as a central hub for gaming on Arm-based laptops.

Collaboration with Epic Games

Qualcomm has also been actively collaborating with game developers to ensure that popular titles are available on Windows on Arm. A notable example is the partnership with Epic Games to bring Fortnite to the platform. This collaboration includes full kernel-level anti-cheat support, which is essential for maintaining a fair gaming environment.

Fortnite and Anti-Cheat Compatibility

To run Fortnite on Windows on Arm, users will need the latest Adreno GPU driver. This requirement underscores Qualcomm’s commitment to ensuring that games not only run but also perform optimally on its hardware. Additionally, Qualcomm is working with various anti-cheat providers, including:

Tencent’s Anti-Cheat Expert
Roblox’s Hyperion
Denuvo
InProtect GameGuard
Uncheater
BattleEye

By collaborating with these providers, Qualcomm aims to enable more multiplayer games on Windows on Arm, further expanding the gaming library available to users.

Implications for Gamers and Developers

The improvements made by Qualcomm and Microsoft signal a positive shift for gaming on Windows on Arm devices. However, while these advancements are promising, it is important to note that performance and compatibility are still not perfect. Gamers may still encounter issues with certain titles, and the experience may vary depending on specific hardware configurations.

For developers, the enhanced support for AVX and AVX2, along with the availability of the Snapdragon Control Panel, presents new opportunities to optimize games for Windows on Arm. As more developers embrace this platform, the overall quality and variety of games available will likely improve.

Looking Ahead

As Qualcomm continues to refine its technology and collaborate with developers, the future of gaming on Windows on Arm appears to be brightening. The recent updates and improvements lay a strong foundation for a more robust gaming ecosystem, but ongoing efforts will be necessary to address remaining challenges.

Gamers interested in exploring the capabilities of Windows on Arm can check compatibility for their favorite titles, whether they run natively, via emulation, or not at all. This transparency is crucial for building trust and encouraging adoption among users who may have been hesitant to invest in Arm-based gaming laptops.

In conclusion, while there is still work to be done, the progress made by Qualcomm and Microsoft in enhancing the gaming experience on Windows on Arm is commendable. With the introduction of the Snapdragon Control Panel, improvements in emulator technology, and collaborations with major game developers, the platform is becoming increasingly viable for gamers seeking a new experience.

Source: Original report