14 DAY TRIAL //
In addition to improvements that can be noticed by any user, Windows 10 build 14997 comes with several changes under the hood as well, and it turns out that one of these is a possible gaming mode that could debut with the Creators Update.
Twitter user WalkingCat (@h0x0d) discovered that build 14997 comes with a new DLL file called gamemode.dll, which is a sign that Microsoft might be working on a so-called Game Mode for Windows 10.
In a later tweet, WalkingCat adds that Windows 10 Creators Update could feature a process optimization system specifically aimed at games, thus trying to prioritize processes launched by games in order to boost performance of CPU and GPU. This can be achieved in a wide variety of ways, which could also include disabling OS services and tasks that users don’t need while playing games.
Super-requested feature
Unsurprisingly, this has been one very popular feature request back in the days when Microsoft was using the UserVoice feedback platform for Windows 10 (before eventually switching to Feedback Hub entirely), with nearly 8,000 people upvoting this request.
“Add a game mode where Windows works optimally for games, disabling everything that isn't necessary for games and releasing the full power of the hardware for games,” this submission read.
Similar posts have also been published in the Feedback Hub and on Microsoft’s own Community forums, so Microsoft clearly heard the message, and the company might be working on making this feature reality in the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update.
At this point, the leaked Windows 10 build 14997 doesn’t come with any working implementation of the game mode and it’s not clear if Microsoft indeed plans to make it ready for the Creators Update, but this is very likely the plan given the fact that it’s the next major release on the roadmap.
We’ll probably hear more about the supposed game mode when Microsoft releases a new Windows 10 build for insiders in early January, as features that are available in the leaked build are likely to be part of the next public version as well.