Windows Anywhere is the best feature for gamers
Another post in my series of "tech is boring right now" topics.
I haven't written about this yet. But, Windows Anywhere is THE killer feature in the gaming world.
I get how it can be overlooked. Or even played down. But, if you don't see the value in it, you're priorities don't match what many gamers claim are important. There is literally only one draw back I can see to it, and that is, if you're against digital ownership and DRM, this is clearly only possible in that environment.
Beyond that, the biggest thing gamers tend to gripe about is performance. It was cited over and over again as the biggest reason for PlayStation's early lead in this console generation. Everyone defended the PS4 as giving gamers what they wanted. A system which focused on gamers first.
Windows Anywhere gives you the best possible answer to this. If a console can't deliver the experience you want. You can build a system which will. And not have to buy the game all over again.
Furthermore, if the game supports scalable performance, and this is quite common for PC titles, both Play Anywhere games and otherwise, then as long as the platform continues to support that code. This means subsequent console generations can provide improved performance as well. Just as the Xbox One X provides a better experience than the One S or the original. On scalable games, new assets don't even need to be delivered to improve the experience (though improved assets kick that up another notch obviously).
In short, it creates an ecosystem where you can improve your gameplay experience by improving your gaming system. You can wait for or buy a newer generation of console hardware, or you can build a better gaming PC and get instant gratification.
It doesn't mean that individual console releases are necessarily superior to their competitors. It just means that, for these titles, if the console you have doesn't meet your expectations, you can theoretically improve your experience without any requirement to re-purchase the game.
At the end of the day, even the "top" gaming console will play some games better or worse. And even the games it plays the best can't always reach ideal resolutions or consistent framerates. These have always been complaints the "gamer's gamer" have made. Windows Anywhere provides a solution.
You may argue that it isn't a great solution. Sure, building or buying an expensive PC isn't a great sounding answer. But, at the end of the day it is the only guaranteed solution to an ongoing problem. Game makers will continue making games which push the boundaries. Once a system is released its specs are set somewhat in stone. While a system you can build yourself can adapt to increasing demands.
Consoles offers better performance per $ spent and a reasonably consistent target hardware profile allows for better game optimization. But, as mentioned above, those consistent hardware profiles also mean very real constraints.
If we reach a point where most or all Xbox titles are Windows Anywhere titles it gives you a console you know can play the games even if the experience isn't always ideal and an escape route if you just NEED that top tier gaming experience.
None of Xbox's competitor have an ecosystem like Windows at present where this is even a possibility. If you're a hardcore gamer, Windows Anywhere is the killer feature.
I haven't written about this yet. But, Windows Anywhere is THE killer feature in the gaming world.
I get how it can be overlooked. Or even played down. But, if you don't see the value in it, you're priorities don't match what many gamers claim are important. There is literally only one draw back I can see to it, and that is, if you're against digital ownership and DRM, this is clearly only possible in that environment.
Beyond that, the biggest thing gamers tend to gripe about is performance. It was cited over and over again as the biggest reason for PlayStation's early lead in this console generation. Everyone defended the PS4 as giving gamers what they wanted. A system which focused on gamers first.
Windows Anywhere gives you the best possible answer to this. If a console can't deliver the experience you want. You can build a system which will. And not have to buy the game all over again.
Furthermore, if the game supports scalable performance, and this is quite common for PC titles, both Play Anywhere games and otherwise, then as long as the platform continues to support that code. This means subsequent console generations can provide improved performance as well. Just as the Xbox One X provides a better experience than the One S or the original. On scalable games, new assets don't even need to be delivered to improve the experience (though improved assets kick that up another notch obviously).
In short, it creates an ecosystem where you can improve your gameplay experience by improving your gaming system. You can wait for or buy a newer generation of console hardware, or you can build a better gaming PC and get instant gratification.
It doesn't mean that individual console releases are necessarily superior to their competitors. It just means that, for these titles, if the console you have doesn't meet your expectations, you can theoretically improve your experience without any requirement to re-purchase the game.
At the end of the day, even the "top" gaming console will play some games better or worse. And even the games it plays the best can't always reach ideal resolutions or consistent framerates. These have always been complaints the "gamer's gamer" have made. Windows Anywhere provides a solution.
You may argue that it isn't a great solution. Sure, building or buying an expensive PC isn't a great sounding answer. But, at the end of the day it is the only guaranteed solution to an ongoing problem. Game makers will continue making games which push the boundaries. Once a system is released its specs are set somewhat in stone. While a system you can build yourself can adapt to increasing demands.
Consoles offers better performance per $ spent and a reasonably consistent target hardware profile allows for better game optimization. But, as mentioned above, those consistent hardware profiles also mean very real constraints.
If we reach a point where most or all Xbox titles are Windows Anywhere titles it gives you a console you know can play the games even if the experience isn't always ideal and an escape route if you just NEED that top tier gaming experience.
None of Xbox's competitor have an ecosystem like Windows at present where this is even a possibility. If you're a hardcore gamer, Windows Anywhere is the killer feature.
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