Since then, we’ve learned more about how Microsoft and Qualcomm have dramatically improved the Prism x64 app emulator and added Auto SR (“super resolution”) upscaling capabilities in Windows 11 for Arm. Qualcomm is also collaborating with game studios to help them best take advantage of the powerful Adreno GPU built into its processors. The result, thus far, is a list of over 100 games that run at 1080p and 30 FPS, most of which are emulated x64 titles. One game, World of Warcraft, allegedly runs natively and achieves 1080p/30FPS.
Gaming Limitations on Windows 11 for Arm
Lenovo has been mum on game playing, but I received a reviewer’s guide from Qualcomm ahead of time that recommends using low or medium quality settings for most PC games. The theory is that doing so will help with perceived performance while Auto SR will make them look like they’re running at a higher resolution and/or with better visual quality. I’ve also noted the Windows on Arm Ready Software website, which tracks which PC games work with Snapdragon X-based Windows 11 on Arm PCs.
With all this in mind, I started in the most obvious way imaginable by opening the Xbox app on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 I’m reviewing. After all, I pay for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which provides me with access to a big game catalog plus game streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming. I also own a reasonably-sized library of games I paid for.
So color me surprised when the app–after installing a gaming services prerequisite–came up looking like this:
To be clear, none of my games library or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library is available. I can only access Xbox Cloud Gaming titles on this PC. For some reason. Here’s what the Xbox app looks like on a “normal” non-Arm-based PC for comparison:
This was the first I had heard of this limitation. I intended to install and continue playing Doom Eternal and/or Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, two titles I’ve been playing recently on PC. But that wasn’t going to happen.
Curious, I opened the Microsoft Store and browsed through the games section. The games I can access via Xbox Game Pass appear in the Store on the Yoga, but the “Install” button is grayed out and there’s a “Your PC doesn’t meet some requirements for this product” message at the top of each landing page.
So much for that.
My next stop was Steam: I have an account there, and a library of games, but given my Xbox defeat I figured it was better to try one of the games Qualcomm recommends. They are:
- GTA5
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Borderlands 3
- F1 2022
- God of War
- FIFA 2022
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- The Witcher 3
- Rocket League
- Overwatch 2
- World of Warcraft (native)
- Redout 2
- Control
- DOTA 2
- Civilization VI
- Starcraft 2
- Total War: Warhammer III
I was looking for something familiar; a first-person shooter with single player would be ideal. But I settled on Control, a third-person single player shooter, which I purchased on Steam, on sale for $19.99. While that was downloading, I browsed the Steam store a bit, hoping to grab Doom Eternal cheaply. But it was $39.99, yikes. So I grabbed Doom (2016), which was $4.99, instead.
I had cross-referenced the Windows on Arm Ready Software website while doing this. This site rates compatibility on a scale that includes Perfect, Playable, Runs, and Unplayable. I had assumed Control would be rated Perfect since Qualcomm promo materials had highlighted it.
