Microsoft claims that “Windows 11 gaming became faster, more portable, and more visually immersive” in 2025, and it’s difficult to argue with that, at least in recent months. October saw the release of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, and Microsoft has committed to keep the improvements flowing on these handheld devices – recently, that includes the addition of “hand-crafted” default game profiles to make life easier for Xbox Ally owners.

As we quickly come towards the end of the year, and the festive season is well underway (there’s already a holiday discount on the Xbox Ally), we can start looking towards 2026, and it seems to be shaping up great for gamers on Windows. Microsoft says that, moving forward, it is “committed to making Windows the best place to play”.

Windows gamers can look forward to more improvements in 2026

It’s not like Windows is unpopular among gamers. Steam’s monthly surveys show that the operating system is being used by nearly 95% of users, and it has been the most popular gaming OS for decades. It’s important to point out that the end-of-life of Windows 10 in October has seen many move on to Windows 11, though the more AI-focused operating system certainly has its critics, and many continue to stick with Windows 10 – or move over to Linux.

Competition from Linux is starting to build, as the open-source alternative recently crossed the 3% milestone for the first time. We should see this grow even further thanks to Valve’s continued development of its Linux-based SteamOS, which already features in the Steam Deck handheld will expand to the upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame early next year.

The enhancements and improvements we introduced this year are shaping the future of gaming. We’re building experiences designed to empower players to play what they want, with whom they want, wherever they want—and we’re excited to deliver even more in the year ahead.

Source: Windows Experience Blog

Microsoft highlights a handful of “what’s next?” improvements for Windows in its blog post.

• Xbox full screen experience (FSE) for all Windows 11 form factors
• Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) expansion
• Auto Super Resolution (Auto SR) preview
• Performance fundamentals (optimized workload, power, etc., for gaming)

SteamOS has already been shown to be more optimized for gaming than Windows, and perhaps Microsoft fears growing support for the operating system, especially with the Steam Machine on the horizon. Either way, any kind of competition to keep Microsoft on its toes is more than welcome.

The biggest drawback to Linux-based operating systems remains the lack of anti-cheat support, especially kernel-level solutions. This means some of the most popular multiplayer titles right now, such as Fortnite, Call of Duty, and GTA Online, simply don’t work on Linux. On the plus side, Valve hopes the Steam Machine will make devs pay more attention to Linux anti-cheat support, but we’ll have to wait and see how that pans out.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.