gaming compatibility Archives

Winsage

March 14, 2025

Epic Games is addressing one of Windows-on-Arm’s last big app compatibility gaps

Utilizing a Windows PC powered by an Arm-based Snapdragon processor has become more similar to traditional Intel or AMD systems due to developers optimizing applications for native performance and Microsoft's advancements in Windows' Prism technology. However, compatibility issues remain, particularly with online multiplayer games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat software, as Prism cannot translate drivers and foundational Windows software. The small user base for Arm PCs has also discouraged some developers from creating compatible versions of their software. Epic Games plans to enhance support for Arm PCs by introducing its Easy Anti-Cheat software and official support for Fortnite later this year, which will also be available to developers through an Epic Online Services SDK release.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Fortnite is coming to Snapdragon PCs: ‘We’re all in on PC gaming’

Qualcomm announced plans to enable the multiplayer game Fortnite to run on Snapdragon processors, integrating Epic Games' Easy Anti-Cheat software to prevent cheating. This will allow Fortnite to be available on Windows devices powered by Snapdragon later this year. Qualcomm is collaborating with Epic to extend Easy Anti-Cheat support across the platform, addressing compatibility issues that have historically favored X86 CPUs. The company is committed to enhancing compatibility with essential platform services and has stated that they will provide developers with an Epic Online Services SDK to facilitate Easy Anti-Cheat integration in their games.

BetaBeacon

February 3, 2025

Xiaomi’s new WinPlay system will let you play Windows games on its Android tablets

Xiaomi is testing running Windows games on its Android tablets, with WinPlay supporting Steam and other storefronts, recruiting testers for the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 in China. The tablet has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 8/12/16GB of RAM. Tomb Raider Game of the Year Edition runs at an average of 45fps with a total device power consumption of 8.3W. Need for Speed Most Wanted (Limited Edition) has been demonstrated running on the tablet with an Xbox controller, with support for keyboards and mice.

Winsage

November 2, 2024

Frustrated with Windows 11? Nitrux Linux is the OS you deserve

Nitrux is a modern Linux operating system designed for speed, simplicity, and elegance. The latest version, Nitrux 3.7.1, features an updated Linux 6.11.5-1 system, focusing on performance, security, and compatibility. It includes software enhancements like Firefox 132.0, MESA 24.2.4 for graphics, and the latest Nvidia and AMD drivers, along with support for new hardware such as Qualcomm’s Wi-Fi 6 and Intel graphics. Performance improvements are aimed at gamers and developers, with enhanced network settings, memory optimizations, and a redesigned display manager (SDDM). New GameMode support optimizes settings for gaming, and security measures have been strengthened against network attacks. The KZones feature allows users to snap windows into custom zones, and soft word wrapping is enabled by default in the micro editor for developers. Users can download Nitrux 3.7.1 and run it as a live OS to test its capabilities.

AppWizard

September 4, 2024

Microsoft’s new ‘Copilot’ PCs can’t handle hundreds of popular PC games

Microsoft and its partners have launched Copilot+ PCs featuring AI-powered capabilities, moving away from Intel's architecture to Qualcomm chips based on Arm designs. However, gaming compatibility poses challenges, as many popular PC games are optimized for Intel's x86 chips. An analysis revealed that out of approximately 1,300 evaluated games, only about half functioned smoothly on the new Arm-powered PCs. Microsoft has acknowledged that some high-demand games may not work on these devices, and Qualcomm stated that their chip architecture is not currently viewed as a gaming platform. The competition between the Qualcomm-Arm alliance and Intel is expected to intensify, with predictions that new Intel chips for Windows AI PCs will gain significant market share due to better compatibility.

Winsage

July 8, 2024

Analyst: Windows on Arm is not ready for the complexities of the PC gaming landscape

Gaming remains a core weakness of Windows on Arm, with only 55% of tested PC games running smoothly without bugs or glitches. Popular multiplayer games like League of Legends, Destiny 2, and Fortnite are currently unplayable on Windows on Arm due to compatibility issues. Arm-based Windows devices only accounted for 0.05% of Steam users in 2024, and Arm-based laptops are expected to account for just 1% of shipments in the same year. Publishers are not incentivized to produce native versions of their games for Arm devices, and distribution platforms like Steam do not support Arm versions of software. Microsoft's Prism translation layer and improvements to Qualcomm's graphics drivers are key aspects needed for better compatibility, but these are not quick fixes and may take several years to improve. Ultimately, without a large audience on Arm devices, publishers and distribution platforms have little incentive to support the Arm platform for PC gaming.