Top 7 Reasons for PC Gamers to Get Windows 7

With Windows 7 now finished, Microsoft's next challenge is to drive adoption. Those with high performance PCs made for gaming will only switch if there is a decent incentive to do so. While the nice Aero effects and new taskbar are reason enough for some of us who spend most of our time working on our PCs, gamers will need a little bit more.

Microsoft's Games for Windows site lists the following seven reasons for a PC gamer to get Windows 7:

1 - Performance
To quote a coworker: 'Across same hardware, Crysis runs awesome on Win7! Even better than XP!'. Code for the OS has been optimized for better all around performance for games. Whatever you're playing now should be a better experience in Windows 7.

2 - Compatibility
The top third-party games, services, and international versions of games have been tested in Windows 7, so you should not worry about Windows 7 breaking your games. Feel free to move to Windows 7 because whatever you're playing now should work fabulously in Windows 7.

3 - Discoverability
You can use Start -> Search to find any game you just downloaded or installed. No need to launch a separate application. Likewise, you won't need to launch a game to get more info about it: The Windows 7 Games Explorer can show you in-game statistics within a preview pane plus delivers up-to-date info about your favorite game publishers and gives you the opportunity to try new games.

4 - Easy updates
The new Games Explorer will notify you whenever updates are available for your games so you don't have to go searching for them yourself or have to launch the game to see if there's an update waiting.
5 - DirectX 11 support

DirectX 11 means better games, pure and simple, with more advanced features for games to use.

6 - Multitouch support
An increasing number of gamers are using multitouch devices. Windows 7 supports multitouch-capable machines, so you can buy the latest and greatest multitouch laptop or desktop confident it's going to work in Windows 7.

7 - Classics
Here's a bonus reason for you: Windows 7 is going to bring back Internet Backgammon, Internet Spades, and Internet Checkers because you can't spend all your time hardcore.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • yantelope
    Direct X 11 will be compatible with Vista so I'm not sure why this is listed.
    Reply
  • vertigo_2000
    Items 3, 5, 6 and 7 are not really selling features if you ask me. Yet another advertisement in disguise.

    Thanks Tom's.
    Reply
  • gwolfman
    Yes, it will run Crysis.
    Are you sure!?!
    Reply
  • apmyhr
    yantelopeDirect X 11 will be compatible with Vista so I'm not sure why this is listed.I think they are focusing mostly on XP users. People who upgraded to Vista already probably do not need as much convincing to get Win 7.
    Reply
  • gwolfman
    Sorry for double post, but this seems like a nice feature:
    4 - Easy updatesThe new Games Explorer will notify you whenever updates are available for your games so you don't have to go searching for them yourself or have to launch the game to see if there's an update waiting.
    Reply
  • apmyhr
    I wasn't going to get Windows 7, but now that I know it will have Internet Checkers I think I will have to rethink my decision!
    Reply
  • fck who will play Internet Backgammon, Internet Spades, and Internet Checkers ??
    Reply
  • Judguh
    I would like to see proof for #1.
    Reply
  • griffed88
    i'll have to wait and see benchmarks before I believe a MS marketing ploy that says games will run better than on XP lol
    Reply
  • etrnl_frost
    Number 3 is useless to all Steam users. In fact, if it starts to implement Live in too much of an integrated fashion, it could conflict with Steam, much as Live already does.
    Reply