Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips have been making waves in the world of laptops, offering performance that rivals AMD and Intel processors while providing excellent battery life and minimal fan noise. These laptops are a great choice for everyday use, but they do face challenges when it comes to PC gaming. In a recent investigation, it was found that gaming performance on Snapdragon laptops falls short compared to Intel x86 processors with Intel Arc integrated graphics. Some games even fail to launch on these devices.
Developers have been working to bring games to Windows on Arm, but progress has been slow. Despite the perception that developing games for Arm hardware is difficult, it’s actually quite similar to developing games for other platforms. Tools like the Windows SDK have made it easier for developers to create games for Windows on Arm. Indie game studio Spacefarer R&D, for example, found that optimizing their game for the Arm-based Nintendo Switch made it easier to port the game to Windows on Arm.
While some popular PC games have Arm versions available for other platforms, digital storefronts like Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store do not distribute games for Windows on Arm. This lack of support poses a significant challenge for developers looking to bring their games to Arm-based laptops. Without proper distribution channels, developing games for Windows on Arm becomes a less attractive option for developers.
The future of PC gaming on Windows on Arm remains uncertain, with major digital storefronts showing little interest in supporting the platform. The burden falls on Microsoft to promote Windows on Arm and encourage developers to create games for the platform. While there is hope that PC gaming will eventually embrace Windows on Arm, the current lack of support from key players in the industry makes it a challenging road ahead for developers and gamers alike.
In conclusion, if you’re a PC gamer considering a Windows on Arm laptop, it may be wise to hold off for now until major digital storefronts like Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store show more readiness to support Arm-based devices. The future of gaming on Windows on Arm may be promising, but it’s clear that there are significant challenges that need to be addressed before it becomes a mainstream option for gamers.