Winhanced has received another massive update as the Windows gaming interface moves closer to its full 1.0 release. Version 0.9.9.9 is the final patch before Winhanced leaves Early Access, and it brings several major additions alongside a long list of improvements aimed specifically at Windows gaming handhelds.

We couldn’t be any closer to the 1.0 release, as the developer behind the mod has released Winhanced 0.9.9.9, and it’s an expansive update covering a wide range of areas. You can find the full patch notes here – as a summary, we’ve put together the highlights below.

Highlights of the 0.9.9.9 update

One of the biggest additions is the new Streaming Companion, which lets users stream games from their gaming PC directly to a handheld. Winhanced can detect compatible games installed on the PC and display them as ready to stream inside the handheld’s library. Users can also stream their entire desktop, adjust streaming quality using a controller, and even wake a supported PC remotely before starting a game.

The update also expands per-game performance profiles. Games can now have separate configurations for playing on battery, while plugged in, or while using an external GPU. More importantly, these profiles can include the game’s own graphics settings, allowing someone to automatically use lower settings on battery and switch to higher settings when more power is available. 

Winhanced is also making Windows itself easier to manage without leaving its controller-friendly interface. The Update Center can now download and install Windows updates directly inside Winhanced, either individually or all at once. It displays download progress, update sizes, and restart requirements, although the software won’t automatically restart the handheld. 

Handheld controls have received a significant overhaul as well. Winhanced says it rebuilt much of the system responsible for managing supported ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, and OneXPlayer devices. The changes are intended to make settings more reliable after sleep, wake, or controller reconnections and prevent different parts of the software from conflicting with each other. 

Users can now set a battery charge limit on supported handhelds, while graphics memory controls have been added for several Intel- and AMD-based devices. Power and cooling behavior has also been improved, including smarter Auto FPS behavior and better thermal management when using Dynamic power mode. 

There are plenty of quality-of-life changes elsewhere. Epic Games Store updates no longer need to download the entire game again, interrupted Epic and GOG downloads can resume, and Epic games now have a repair option for missing or damaged files. Steam installs and updates are also handled through the Steam client itself, while Winhanced has improved library management, memory usage, sleep and wake behavior, controller navigation, and game launching.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.