Awesome! Android gaming in Microsoft Windows 11 is going to get A LOT better

Focusing on the Android gaming experience on Windows 11, Microsoft has launched a new version of the Windows Subsystem for Android. And it is going to change the game.

Microsoft Windows 11 is set to improve the Android gaming experience for users. (Microsoft)

The Windows Subsystem for Android was first launched in February 2022 and ever since its launch, it has been a popular addition to the Windows 11 arsenal. For years, gamers have been using third-party emulators to run Android applications and games on their more powerful PCs. But since the launch of the new subsystem, users did not have to rely on downloading these emulators which were often not entirely stable, not properly configured and often were available on shady websites. Even as Microsoft offered a convenient way for Android users to play games on Windows 11, it lacked a lot of features. But now, Microsoft is rolling out an update to add improved controls and new features.

The new update to the Windows Subsystem for Android is currently only available to the Windows Insider Program members. The Insider Program is an open software testing program which the company uses to test out new softwares, updates and bug fixes. The version 2206.40000.15.0 update focuses on WASD keys for directional movements, gamepad compatibility, aiming controls, joystick and controller support and more. Let us take a closer look at them.

Android Gaming gets better on Microsoft Windows 11

The biggest addition to the Windows Subsystem is the addition of directional keys in WASD. This one change has also triggered multiple other changes such as controller pass-through support and using arrow keys for aiming purpose. In the earlier versions, players could only use the arrow keys for directional movements. Alongside, Microsoft has also added support for joysticks and controllers. But it should be noted that the Android subsystem already allowed controllers to be connected, but now players will get a dedicated options menu through which they can toggle it on and off during the game as well as see other options. This is also helpful in case of the Android games that support multiple control options.

On the optimization side, Microsoft has improved page scrolling, graphics, network improvements, fixed reliability issues and made it much easier to do troubleshooting using the diagnostic center.

The update is currently available only to testers in the USA. However, it is expected to expand to France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK by the end of the year. The latest version can be downloaded from the Microsoft store.