Could Windows 7 Revive PC Gaming?

So, just who will be switching over to Windows 7 as soon as it arrives this October? According to the CEO of software development company Stardock, gamers should be amongst the first.

In an interview this week, Stardock CEO Brad Wardell reported that he expects a significant improvement in Windows 7 over Vista in the way it handles video games. "It would be good if everybody switched to Windows 7 as quickly as possible," Wardell said.

Windows 7 Improves Game Functionality

According to Wardell, the new Windows 7 operating system is simply friendlier to gamers.

For instance, a tool called Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform allows a user's system to perform DirectX graphics acceleration, even when a video card doesn't support certain rendering features. In addition, Microsoft is reportedly working hard to minimize the impact Windows 7 has on a system, providing more power to run games. (Source: gamasutra.com)

Much of the anticipation associated with the Windows 7 launch is directly related to the disappointment represented by Windows Vista. Although the latter was originally billed as an ideal system for the PC's high-end games like Crysis, many felt the operating system was too demanding and slowed performance. Thus, plenty of gamers opted to keep Windows XP rather than upgrade.

Could Win7 Mark the Resurgence of PC Gaming?

Meanwhile, Digital Trends blogger Rob Enderle recently wondered aloud if the arrival of Windows 7 and DirectX 11 could mean a resurgence in PC gaming -- perhaps even to the point where that market might surpass the popularity of consoles like the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3. (Source: digitaltrends.com)

How's that possible? Well, according to Enderle game console sales tend to slide as they age. The Xbox 360 is now almost four years old, and presumably won't blow us away with any major technical achievement soon. In fact, there are rumors that Microsoft could be working on a whole new console.

So, does that mean Win7 will revive PC gaming? Probably not. In fact, as most of us know, tiny, under-powered netbooks are all the rage right now, indicative of the world's struggling economy and the need to trim frills. The likelihood that a new operating system will usher in a new age in PC gaming assumes that we've all got the cash to follow with expensive video cards and processors.

With that said, let's see if Microsoft and Windows 7 can prove me wrong.