For anyone, creating an ideal setup involves several elements including researching the best options, but for gamers, the operating system plays an even more crucial role. Among the various options available, Windows has remained a top choice for many due to its extensive compatibility and widespread usage by graphics card makers and game developers.
2021 Claims
Since its release in 2021, the newest version of Windows has had enough time to prove its worth. Now, we can confidently assess whether Windows 11 measures up to its predecessor.
In June 2021, Sarah Bond stated that Windows 11 comes with “exceptional graphics, remarkable speed, and an impressive selection of games.”
However, this statement comes with a few caveats. Firstly, these games are only available through a paid Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate membership, which is an excellent proposition for Xbox and PC gamers worldwide.
Graphics
Secondly, the statement about superior graphics is accurate when considering the benefits of Direct X 12. However, this ultimately depends on the type of graphics card used in conjunction with RAM and CPU. A bottlenecked system can only do so much with lower-spec components, even though Game Pass offers a cloud gaming option. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, this option runs best on other hardware and Xbox One/Series S systems.
Speed
Speed is a different story altogether. DirectStorage, a feature also found in the Velocity architecture of Xbox Series X and S hardware, leverages SSD storage and loads assets straight to graphics cards. This is an excellent feature that reduces the workload on CPUs and transfers information from an SSD to a graphics card for faster all-around performance.
Visuals
Regarding visuals, auto HDR supports any game built with Direct X 11 or above in mind, whether or not the game natively supports HDR. Of course, this feature requires a monitor and graphics card with HDR compatibility.
Should you upgrade to Windows 11 for gaming?
The general consensus is that Windows 11’s performance matches and, in some cases, outperforms Windows 10 thanks to DirectStorage and Auto HDR. While Windows 11 may not provide the same significant performance boost as its predecessor did a few years back, it’s not a ding on Microsoft’s record.
Keep in mind that as long as your PC meets the minimum or recommended specifications for gaming, Windows 11 is an exceptional choice of operating system to indulge in your gaming needs.
Our Experience
From our own experience, we can confirm that Halo Infinite runs at around 60 FPS on medium settings with an RTX 3060 laptop, regardless of whether it’s running Windows 10 or Windows 11. At the same time, we didn’t notice any significant boosts in performance after installing Windows 11.
However, we can now confidently say that there will be benefits for Windows 11 gamers down the line. DirectStorage, Auto HDR, and Game Pass offer a compelling package for gamers, although there are some caveats to consider.
Who knows what new and exciting features Microsoft will release in the future? For more useful guides on Windows 11, be sure to visit and bookmark our Windows 11 hub.
