Aside from bringing its Xbox video games over to the PC, the Game Bar is arguably one of the best gesture Microsoft’s made to Windows 10 players. It provides a tiny little bit of console-esque simplicity to the PC, letting you are taking screenshots, document video, or stream video games with easy system-level shortcuts. But…I by no means use it. It’s my third-tier desire for screenshots and video, after the instruments constructed into Steam and Nvidia’s Shadowplay.
Microsoft’s seeking to transfer up on this planet although, and it’s doing so by including much more performance to Game Bar over the subsequent few months—most of it distinctive to Game Bar, i.e. not duplicated by Steam or Shadowplay. In truth, Game Bar isn’t actually a becoming identify anymore. Game Overlay is likely to be extra applicable, albeit much less elegant.
Swiss Army Knife
Starting in the present day, Windows Xbox Insiders could have entry to a brand new and expanded Game Bar. And the inspiration of this new Game Bar? A completely customizable interface. As I stated, it’s extra an overlay than a bar at this level, a translucent window the place you’ll be able to add varied widgets—or pin them, in order that they’re nonetheless seen whilst you play.
That’s fairly wonderful to me, as somebody who lived by means of the “Every console is a walled garden and we must protect it from intruders” period. With Microsoft getting behind cross-play, cross-chat, all these platform-agnostic initiatives, it actually feels just like the partitions are lastly crumbling, to the good thing about all. I’m unsure the ever-suspicious PC gaming crowd will belief Microsoft to facilitate chat over better-established and better-trusted PC purchasers, however it’s nonetheless thrilling to observe unfold.
Bottom line
As I stated, these options can be found to Xbox Insiders to check beginning in the present day, and after seeing these screenshots I’m truly fairly excited to provide it a attempt. Until now, Game Bar’s simply duplicated instruments I already had obtainable by means of different means. Better quantity administration instruments, although? And a pinnable efficiency tracker? They’re not flashy options, however they’re precisely the type of hooks Microsoft ought to be offering on the system stage.
Add in Spotify integration and the remaining, and it’s no less than cause for me to hit Win-G and provides it a shot.
