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by demonshreder 3173 days ago
> Microsoft: Gaming has been a first class citizen at Microsoft for a while and I'm not sure if we can say the same about Apple.

This is changing fast if not changed already. Xbox One, DX12 lock in on Universal Windows Platform and finally,

> Windows 10 also has a "Gaming Mode" as part of the OS for performance improvement which some games might have it turned on automatically.

https://www.vg247.com/2016/10/14/dota-2-windows-10-anniversa...

Valve was skeptical about Microsoft turning Windows into a walled garden when they announced DX12 only for Windows Store exclusive games, that is when they started pushing their efforts into SteamOS, moreover a stable runtime (based on Ubuntu LTS) for Linux games, which has helped _a lot_ for linux gaming.
1 comments
jamesgeck0 3173 days ago
You don't have to use UWP to use DX12, and you don't have to use DX12 in Windows Store games. DX12 does require WDDM 2, but that's a different bucket of worms.

Xbox Game DVR predates Game Mode; you can enable/disable them independently.

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WorldMaker 3173 days ago
Also, you don't even have to use the Windows Store to install UWP games. Windows 10 allows sideloading by default (since the November Update two years ago, though shortly after Valve made their stink) and since the Anniversary Update (1611) last year this time, there is a nice little installer that pops up if you double click a (signed) UWP APPX package.

So even if DX12 was restricted to UWP apps (which, reminder, it isn't) UWP apps are not restricted to the Store either, and Steam could install UWP apps, too.

link