- Windows 11 to boost gaming experience with new features coming soon.
- These features include “Optimizations for windowed games.”
- And new “Windows HDR Calibration” app to improve color accuracy and consistency.
Microsoft is working to improve the gaming experience on Windows 11 even further. During the rollout of build 22557 for Windows 11, the company announced a slew of new experimental features and improvements, including specific gaming features, such as a new “Windows HDR Calibration” app and optimizations for windowed games.
The Windows HDR Calibration app is the same app available to calibrate the HDR capabilities of Xbox, and now, the same experience will come to Windows 11.
The app will eventually be available on the Microsoft Store for HDR-capable displays. The app will feature three test patterns recommended by the HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) for a better HDR gaming experience to improve color accuracy and consistency. These patterns include one to determine the darkest visible detail you can see, another to determine the brightest visual detail, and a third pattern to determine how bright your display can be.
Microsoft has already added an “HDR Display Calibration” option on Settings > System > HDR, but the setting is a link that takes you to a post explaining the feature.
Windows 11 will also be making optimization for windowed games to support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto HDR and improve latency.
Devices that support this feature will find the settings on System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings, and this will work for DirectX 11 and 10 games. DirectX 12 games already support these features.
Microsoft also warns that new gaming features may not work in every situation, and if this is the case, you will be able to exclude the games or apps to avoid a negative impact on the experience.
Although these are welcome improvements to boost the gaming experience, it’s unclear if these features will be part of the next feature update or they will arrive during a future cumulative update.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].