Xiaomi Introduces WinPlay Engine for PC Gaming on Android Tablets
The consumer technology space has seen a resurgence in interest in the tablet market, with manufacturers focusing on Android tablets equipped with high-performance chipsets. However, the software experience often limits users from fully utilizing the power of these devices. Xiaomi is aiming to address this issue, particularly in the gaming sector.
The Chinese electronics company has unveiled the WinPlay engine, a system-level feature that enables cross-platform compatibility between Hyper OS and Windows gaming. This innovative feature allows users to play PC games on an Android tablet, specifically designed for the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4.
Zhang Guoquan, Director of Xiaomi Mobile System Software Department, explains that the WinPlay engine creates a virtual environment on the tablet that supports PC games while delivering high performance and stability. Users can access games from platforms like Steam or download them directly to enjoy a seamless gaming experience on the tablet.
The WinPlay engine supports a variety of gaming peripherals, including a mouse, keyboard, and console controller. Xbox controllers also offer Haptics support with the tablet, enabling multiplayer gaming for up to four players.
While optimizing Windows games on Android may involve some compromises, Xiaomi claims that internal tests show only a 2.9% GPU performance loss through WinPlay. Guoquan states, “Taking Tomb Raider 9 as an example, it runs at an average of 45 frames, with the power consumption of the entire machine only at 8.3W, comparable to running native games on a tablet.”
To handle essential APIs, image rendering, and command execution, Xiaomi has implemented a tri-layer virtualization system, ensuring a seamless user experience with minimal resource usage. The intelligent resource allocation system optimizes gaming performance by reducing system resource load for smooth gameplay from loading to rendering.
Currently, WinPlay only supports Windows games on the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro and does not include standard Windows applications. Xiaomi plans to enhance the feature based on user feedback and has not specified a timeline for the stable release. The beta program for Pad 6S Pro 12.4 users, running on Hyper OS 2 Beta, is now open for those interested in trying out the new feature before the official launch.
