- Windows 11’s Xbox mode uses less RAM than the default desktop, but doesn’t improve game performance
- That’s the conclusion based on a series of tests from a popular YouTube channel
- Gaming performance on Valve’s SteamOS continues to improve as Microsoft tries to catch up
Microsoft’s efforts to improve gaming on Windows 11 are still an ongoing process, particularly with its Xbox mode, which provides a console-like user interface – but doesn’t seem to do much to boost game performance.
As highlighted by Notebookcheck, Windows 11’s Xbox mode results in reduced RAM usage compared to the standard desktop, but crucially, it doesn’t improve actual gaming performance – or that’s the conclusion of recent tests by Linus Tech Tips (LTT).
When testing e.g Forza Horizon 5 at 1080p with maximum graphics settings and no upscaling across two PCs with the same specs, there was no difference in frame rates between standard desktop and Xbox mode. The same applied at 1440p resolution, and with other games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ageswhere LTT found either the same frame rates or a negligible difference.
It’s important to note that both PCs in LTT’s tests show lower levels of memory usage when using Xbox mode compared to the standard desktop, but this had no impact on performance.
I should point out that this is just a set of benchmarks and results will obviously vary depending on the exact tests and system configurations involved. But LTT’s testing here is a strong enough indication of disappointing overall performance for Windows 11’s Xbox mode as it stands.
Look at
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. While SteamOS has its own desktop mode, it’s a Linux distro built for gaming at heart.
Something is wrong with Xbox mode, it seems, and Microsoft is struggling with optimization here. On top of that, the Xbox mode rollout isn’t quite finished, acting as another pain point for Windows 11 users looking for an easy console-like gaming experience.
Frankly, the longer it takes for all users to access Xbox mode and to achieve performance improvements, 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 spell big trouble for Microsoft with more users likely to migrate to SteamOS.
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