FEBRUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 117tools, which can be triggered as a pop-up overlay by
hitting the Win+G key combination. Although the new
Game Bar experience will automatically download
as an update over time, you can also download the
update manually as well.
Game Bar allows you to open up several small
windows on your screen as an overlay or sidebar of
sorts, including the Performance meter as well as
the new Achievements box. The new Achievements
overlay replaces the Xbox Console Companion app
somewhat, so that any achievements will pop up on
Game Bar instead. According to a blog post from
Microsoft, you’ll be able to pin your progress on new
achievements to your screen.
Note that the new Game Bar frame rate update
requires you not only to agree to additional
permissions from Windows, but also reboot your PC.
You’ll then need to launch a game before it kicks in,
while the CPU/GPU meter runs in normal Windows
mode. By default, it tracks the last 60 seconds of
gameplay with a scrolling FPS meter. There’s a setting
to adjust the transparency of the ‘backplate’ of the
window, but in general you’ll still see performance
data in the small box in your screen.
Although FPS tracking was available in Steam’s
overlay, Nvidia and AMD’s graphics card software, and
other utilities, it’s nice to see this capability come to
Windows. Microsoft has also promised a “ton of things”
in store for the coming months. We’ll have to wait and
see what all that means.FEBRUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 117tools, which can be triggered as a pop-up overlay by
hitting the Win+G key combination. Although the new
GameBarexperiencewillautomaticallydownload
asanupdateovertime,youcanalsodownloadthe
updatemanually as well.
Game Bar allows you to open up several small
windows on your screen as an overlay or sidebar of
sorts, including the Performance meter as well as
thenewAchievementsbox.ThenewAchievements
overlayreplaces the Xbox Console Companion app
somewhat, so that any achievements will pop up on
Game Bar instead. According to a blog post from
Microsoft, you’ll be able to pin your progress on new
achievements to your screen.
Note that the new Game Bar frame rate update
requiresyounotonlytoagreetoadditional
permissionsfrom Windows, but also reboot your PC.
You’ll then need to launch a game before it kicks in,
while the CPU/GPU meter runs in normal Windows
mode. By default, it tracks the last 60 seconds of
gameplay with a scrolling FPS meter. There’s a setting
to adjust the transparency of the ‘backplate’ of the
window,butin generalyou’llstillseeperformance
datain the small box in your screen.
Although FPS tracking was available in Steam’s
overlay, Nvidia and AMD’s graphics card software, and
other utilities, it’s nice to see this capability come to
Windows. Microsoft has also promised a “ton of things”
in store for the coming months. We’ll have to wait and
see what all that means.