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Microsoft's new Windows 10 Game Mode will maximize gaming performance

Microsoft's new Windows 10 Game Mode will maximize gaming performance

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Xbox app Windows 10

Microsoft has started officially testing a new Game Mode feature in Windows 10. Traces of the new option were found back in December, but the most recent test build of Windows 10 (15007) includes Game Mode in the Xbox app. MSPoweruser has supplied some screenshots of how you can enable the option, but Microsoft only just today unveiled Game Mode to the public in a post published to its Xbox Wire blog.

Microsoft’s description lists the feature as a mode to let a PC make gaming the “top priority to improve your game’s quality.” It’s still not clear exactly how Game Mode will improve gaming performance, but it’s likely that Windows 10 will simply suppress system processes and other apps from taking too many CPU, GPU, and RAM resources away from the primary game being played.

Microsoft is also testing a game broadcasting feature in the Xbox app, thanks to its acquisition of Beam last year. While the feature is currently disabled, Windows 10 users will be able to easily stream game play to the Beam service with just the Xbox app once the Windows 10 Creators Update is released in April.

Update at 5:25PM ET, 1/13: Clarified that Microsoft has since publicly announced Game Mode and other new game streaming features slated as part of the Creators Update.