Share this article
Latest news
With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low
Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app
Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount
Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier
Why there are so few touchscreen games on Windows? No incentive, apparently
The gaming industry is not interested in touchscreens
2 min. read
Published onFebruary 20, 2024
published onFebruary 20, 2024
Share this article
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Ten years ago, I’ve had a lot of fun with an iPad 2, with hundreds of games from the App Store. Now, I’m fiddling with aMicrosoft Surface tabletand the old kid in me wants to play, but there’s literally nothing in the store to enjoy.
Yes, I know that the Surface tablets were mainly created for business and productivity, but what do I do in the few breaks I take? There are just a few touchscreen games to enjoy, and the most notable of them is Civilization. The others are just simple arcade or match games. Why aren’t there more?
Why are there so few touchscreen games for Windows?
Apparently, it all comes down to sheer numbers. First of all, Windows is installed on less than 3% of touchscreen devices. Developers wouldn’t move a muscle on that kind of market, and the result is obvious.
Furthermore, Windows gamers are much more competitive; they want something other than the touchscreen interaction. They want precision mice for that perfect shot, a high-quality display with 60 FPS and over 120 Hz refresh and mechanical keyboards with programmable keys, not unreliable capacitive contact.
Gamers have been incentivized to play in professional competitions, even televised and watched by millions. And the prizes offered in these competitions have also become huge. Touchscreen gaming is the definition of casual gaming, defined by short bursts of fun, and there’s no competition around them, except those with friends, of course.
Lastly, you can still enjoy tablet games on Microsoft Surface thanks to theWindows Subsystem for Android. And that’s what I did. I installed the app available in the Microsoft Store and played my favorite Android titles happily on my touchscreen.
So, to sum it all up, gamers don’t want tablet games, so the developers don’t create them. There is no trend for them, therefore, no one cares.
Handheld gaming consoles? That’s a different story because they combine a great screen with powerful processing and reliable gamepad controls.Microsoft is preparing a new handheld gaming consoleand we can’t wait to see what is like.
In the meantime, Surface tablets are for productivity. Get the gaming fun to the tablet from Android!
Would you like more touchscreen games for Windows? What games would those be? Tell us all about that in the comments section below.
More about the topics:gaming,Microsoft Surface
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, Claudiu is focused on whatever comes new from Microsoft.
His abrupt interest in computers started when he saw the first Home Computer as a kid. However, his passion for Windows and everything related became obvious when he became a sys admin in a computer science high school.
With 14 years of experience in writing about everything there is to know about science and technology, Claudiu also likes rock music, chilling in the garden, and Star Wars. May the force be with you, always!
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Claudiu Andone
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Oldtimer in the tech and science press, with 14 years of experience in writing on everything there is to know about science, technology, and Microsoft
