14 DAY TRIAL // The ARM push is becoming more and more a top priority for tech giants out there, and Microsoft and Apple are currently spearheading the push in this regard.
The Redmond-based software giant is now the one rolling out a big announcement, as the company is introducing x64 emulation in preview for Windows 10 on ARM PCs.
The new system is only available for users in the Windows Insider program and running build 21277 in the Dev channel.
Microsoft says users can now install x64 apps from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 on ARM, though the company warns everything is still in the preview stage and further improvements might still be required.
“In this preview, you can install x64 apps from the Microsoft Store or from any other location of your choosing. You can try key x64-only productivity apps like Autodesk Sketchbook, as well as games like Rocket League. Other apps, like Chrome, which run today on ARM64 as 32-bit apps, can run as 64-bit using the new x64 emulation capability. These apps may benefit from having more memory when run as 64-bit emulated apps,” Hari Pulapaka, Partner Group Program Manager, Windows, explains.
Graphics driver updates
Microsoft has also recommended users to install a preview version of the Qualcomm Adreno graphics driver for the Surface Pro X, Lenovo Flex 5G, or Samsung Galaxy Book S, as this should guarantee the best app performance as par of this emulation program.
The company hasn’t published details as to when this new feature is supposed to go live for production devices, but it did say further updates are due in the coming months.
“With developers increasingly supporting ARM64 apps natively, emulating x64 apps is an important step in our journey with Windows 10 on ARM. Through working with Qualcomm Technologies, Windows 10 on ARM PCs continue to deliver incredible battery life, connectivity capabilities with 4G LTE and 5G, and immersive experiences with AI acceleration, pen and touch capabilities – all features we believe to be more essential as we work, learn, and connect from home and other remote locations,” Pulapaka said.