Windows 11 out in the wild and many of its advanced features designed to optimise gaming, specific features relating to Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) are coming to the operating system. HDR in particular looks to be given some special attention, which it most definitely needs on PC, with Microsoft also bringing a dedicated HDR calibration app to allow for that proper, for reals HDR action.

Also coming is a Game Pass Widget to allow quick access to browser games, discover all the new additions, and jump back into recently played titles. This is joined by a new Controller bar that will extend to shortcuts to popular game launchers (which we assume means Steam) alongside the full Xbox app.

As for Microsoft Edge, which is Microsoft’s web browser it’s getting new gaming features with integrated Xbox Cloud Gaming. Here’s the plans there:

A new personalised gaming home page featuring news, game guides, live streams, game highlights, tournaments, upcoming and newly released games, and the Xbox Cloud Gaming library, including easy access to recently played games and related content.

Built-in Clarity Boost makes gameplay from the cloud look sharper and clearer when playing in the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows.

The new Games menu in Microsoft Edge offers easy access to free, popular games like Microsoft Solitaire, Atari Asteroids, Microsoft Jewel, and Microsoft Edge’s exclusive Surf game, plus helps players discover new ones.

Efficiency mode helps improve gaming performance on Windows10 and 11 to keep them running fast and smooth by automatically reducing browser resource usage when a PC game is launched.

All good stuff, and it’s great to see Xbox continue to improve on PC.

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All The Xbox Pre-Showcase News

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Xbox App is Coming to Samsung’s 2022 Smart TVs
Xbox is Getting New Features Designed for Windows 11 and Microsoft Edge
Xbox Game Pass is Getting Demos and the Ability to Cloud Stream Games Outside of its Library
Xbox Design Lab is Coming to Australia… And in New and Improved Form
Phil Spencer Sees Starfield as the Hallmark Release to Come Out of the Bethesda Acquisition