Microsoft considers bringing more game console features to the PC

Initiating or terminating games on a PC is typically an arduous task; players may have to expend several minutes to access the main game menu, and suspending the PC likely necessitates the termination of the game. In contrast, game consoles maintain game progress even when transitioning into a low-power mode.

Recently, Roanne Soanes, a software director at Microsoft Xbox, discussed the challenges faced by the Windows operating system as a gaming platform while exploring the functionalities of the Asus ROG Ally handheld. The absence of the quick recovery feature common in the Xbox console series is a concern for many players, and Microsoft is considering integrating this functionality into Windows PCs.

Implementing a quick recovery feature in the Windows operating system, one that developers can exploit would be a significant undertaking, albeit not impossible. After all, both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S possess such a feature, and these consoles, being based on x64 architecture hardware, bear considerable resemblance to contemporary gaming PCs. Notably, Microsoft’s own Xbox platform shares much of its code with Windows, and features initially applied to game consoles, such as DirectStorage, have ultimately been introduced to PCs. A similar approach to porting might prove beneficial.

The real impediment lies in the myriad factors influencing Windows, as its functionality is not as singular as that of game consoles. Microsoft may opt to trial this mode on specific devices or platforms, with portable devices such as laptops or the ROG Ally handheld being the most likely candidates. From this foundation, a system that developers genuinely wish to actualize could be constructed.