All The New Gaming Features In The Windows 11 2022 Update

The Windows 11 2022 update is available now, offering a handful of new features for PC gamers. The biggest addition is a new Controller Bar update to the Xbox Game Bar, as well as optimization for windowed game modes and new options for HDR calibration.

The Controller Bar is a new update feature that makes the Xbox Game Bar more controller-friendly, giving easy access to recently played games and launchers. The new menu can be accessed by pressing the Xbox button on a connected controller.

The update also offers some graphical improvements for gamers. Windowed games running DirectX 10 and 11 will now benefit from a feature previously only available in full screen, boasting "dramatically improved display latency, Auto HDR, and variable refresh rate (VRR)."

Players with HDR-capable displays will also be able to get more out of their tech, with a new HDR Calibration app designed to "improve the color accuracy and consistency" of HDR displays.

Though these are the most major changes in the new update, Xbox also points to a number of smaller improvements to gaming features such as Auto HDR support, enhancements to DirectX12 Ultimate, and broader support for DirectStorage.