- Windows 11 Xbox Mode uses less RAM than standard desktop, but doesn’t improve gaming performance
- That’s the conclusion based on a battery of tests conducted by a popular YouTube channel.
- Gaming performance on Valve’s SteamOS still better as Microsoft tries to catch up
Microsoft’s efforts to improve gaming on Windows 11 are still an ongoing process, especially with its Xbox Mode which provides a console-style user interface but apparently does little to improve game performance.
As Notebookcheck points out, Windows 11’s Xbox Mode results in lower RAM usage compared to standard desktop, but more importantly, it doesn’t improve actual game performance – or that’s the conclusion of recent testing by Linus Tech Tips (LTT).
When testing products like Forza Horizon 5 At 1080p with maximum graphics settings and no scaling on two PCs with the same specs, there was no difference in frame rate between standard desktop mode and Xbox mode. The same was true at 1440p resolution and with other games such as Cyberpunk 2077 And Doom: Dark Ageswhere LTT found either the same frame rates or a negligible difference.
It’s important to note that both PCs tested by LTT showed lower memory usage when using Xbox Mode compared to standard desktop, but this had no impact on performance.
I should emphasize that this is just a set of tests and results will of course vary depending on the exact tests and system configurations involved. However, LTT’s testing here is a pretty strong indication of disappointing overall performance for Windows 11’s Xbox Mode as it stands.
Look on it
It’s no secret that Valve’s SteamOS offers better gaming performance than Windows 11, with more optimal RAM usage, and it doesn’t contain any of the unwanted bloatware that Windows 11 is loaded with. Although SteamOS has its own desktop mode, it is a Linux distribution designed for gaming.
It seems like something is wrong with Xbox Mode, and Microsoft is having trouble optimizing it here. On top of that, the Xbox Mode rollout isn’t completely complete, which is another issue for Windows 11 users looking for a simple, console-like gaming experience.
Frankly, the longer it takes for all users to access Xbox Mode and for performance improvements to be realized, the harder it will be for Microsoft to catch up with Valve.
Although Windows remains by far the dominant operating system for PC gamers, if anti-cheat support on Linux improves, it will pose big problems for Microsoft, as more users will likely migrate to SteamOS.
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