Interestingly, and this passed me by, the version of Rise of the Tomb Raider sold in Microsoft's Windows store is a UWP app and differs from version sold through Steam. It looks like there are a bunch of restrictions placed upon UWP apps (reminiscent of Apple's Mac App Store) which may not appeal to gamers.
HowToGeek produced this list:
- No SLI or CrossFire: If you have multiple NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards using SLI or CrossFire, the Windows Store version won’t be good for you. It doesn’t support SLI or CrossFire, although the Steam version does.*
- VSync is Always On: VSync is designed to eliminate screen tearing, but it can have downsides–like adding input lag, or decreasing game performance. If you have the Steam version, you can choose whether or not you want to use VSync. On the Windows Store version, it’s always enabled.
- Always Borderless Fullscreen Mode: The Store version will always run in “borderless fullscreen” mode, also known as “fullscreen (windowed)” mode. This ensures Alt+Tab will work properly and the game won’t take over your entire display. However, it means the game can’t have exclusive access to your graphics card, so you can’t get the best possible performance. The Steam version gives you the option of using exclusive fullscreen mode.
- Sorry, No Modding: Windows Store apps are protected, so this means modding–one of the mainstays of PC gaming–just isn’t possible. The game’s running process is protected so applications like SweetFX can’t be used to modify its graphics.
- No .exe File (and No Steam Controller): You can’t launch the game directly as an .exe file. This means you can’t add it to Steam, for example, and that means you can’t use a Steam controller with it.
- No Overlays: You also can’t use overlays or any other software with the game. You can’t get a Steam overlay or any other type of overlay. Software like Fraps for recording your screen and tracking your framerate won’t work, either.
- Mouse Macros Won’t Work: Mouse utilities that allow you to create custom macros for specific games won’t work with the Windows Store version of the game.
Nixies, who did the PC port,
confirmed the vsync issue. and *Microsoft clarified that SLI/CrossFire does work but needs to be supported by the game (odd the version sold by Microsoft direct doesn't support multiple cards) and that they'll fix the vsync issue.
The article includes a tweet response from Phil Spencer: We know lists like this include features PC gamers want to see from us, we appreciate the feedback and have plans to improve
UWP looks like foundation technology that is work in progress that could have bigger benefits for Xbox (whether as hardware or a software platform) in the long-term, rather than now or the near future. There are some limitations for gamers right now but if Microsoft can address those and convince developers to produce UWP applications as standard, future Xbox platforms will benefit greatly. As will consumers. Win-win?
