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Windows 10’s Game Mode may be available only to UWP games


Last week, we informed you about a Game Mode that will be coming in the near future to Windows 10. This mode will reduce memory, CPU and GPU footprint on running apps when a game is running, which may potentially improve performance. However, it appears that this mode may be available only to UWP games.

According to WindowsCentral‘s sources, UWP games are required to be developed as “Game Mode enabled” applications.

“Previously, we were unable to ascertain whether Game Mode would be a feature restricted to games built for the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), but it does appear that this could be the case. Our information states that games developed for the Windows 10, Xbox One, and Project Scorpio ecosystem specifically need to be “Game Mode enabled” Universal Windows Apps (UWA).”

Do note that this does not confirm – at least yet – Microsoft restricting Windows 10’s Game Mode to UWP games. As WindowsCentral’s sources claimed, future games developed for Windows 10 simply need to be “Game Mode Enabled”. However, and given the fact that developers need to develop their games with the Game Mode in mind, this could potentially hint at a UWP-only feature.

Game Mode is expected to be released sometime in Spring 2017, and will be included in the Windows 10 Creators Update.