When Microsoft announced its Universal Windows Platform, it was met with considerable skepticism. Most of the skepticism is centered around the locked down nature of the platform. Tim Sweeney of Epic Games was one such high profile objector.
But what really should have been getting the attention is just how much Microsoft limits the games that use the platform. Because the service requires all apps be usable across a range of devices, developers cannot take advantage of more powerful PC hardware. Now Microsoft is throwing game developers a bone by giving them something they should have had all along.
Later today, Windows 10 will be updated with two key new features:
- Support for AMD’s FreesyncTM and NVIDIA’s G-SYNC™ in Universal Windows Platform games and apps
- Unlocked frame rate for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) games and apps
Once applications take advantage of these new features, you will be able to play your UWP games with unlocked frame rates. We expect Gears of War: UE and Forza Motorsport 6: Apex to lead the way by adding this support in the very near future.
Seriously, Microsoft arbitrarily blocked features of graphics cards and capped frame rates for game developers. What exactly is Microsoft’s goal here? Are they trying to knock Windows off the top spot for PC gaming? Because this nonsense is a surefire way to do it.
First they lock a bunch of features behind UWP, meaning developers can’t use them unless they release under UWP. Then they lock down what developers can do under UWP, just to realize they made a mistake. Now they are scrambling to fix some of those mistakes. Yet, they still aren’t getting rid of UWP.
Microsoft giveth, but it also taketh away. What will be next on its realization list of features gamers expect but don’t get under UWP? Regardless, nothing Microsoft has done with UWP is appealing to many game developers not tied to Microsoft.
Keep it up, Microsoft. This might be just the push we need to get better gaming support on Linux. 😀
Yeah, UWP is not helping Windows stand out as the première gaming OS at all. With pretty much all indies and the stores they utilize going multiplatform, pulling crap like this is not at all attractive.
A local indie was told about a mandatory update to the way games handle microtransactions, just days before Microsoft was going to start punishing games for not following the new rules.
Nonsense like this is why, when Microsoft said that they were really going to dedicate themselves to the PC market no really this time, it was met with skepticism. This is just Games For Windows Live all over again.