If you are using a newer device like the Surface Pro 11, Surface Laptop 7, or a Copilot+ PC from Dell, HP, or Lenovo, your computer is likely powered by a Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus processor.
Unlike traditional computers that use Intel or AMD, these devices use ARM architecture. This is the same technology found in smartphones, designed for extreme battery life and 'always-on' connectivity.
While the majority of our games should be able to run on Snapdragon devices, they are technically not supported at this time, so please be sure to make use of the free trials before purchasing to ensure the game will run on your PC/device.
Snapdragon Overview
Most traditional computers (Intel/AMD) use CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing). ARM uses RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing).
Think of it like two different languages.
The Architecture Breakdown
CISC (Intel/AMD): Like a language with massive, complex words that can describe a whole action in one go (e.g., 'Defenestrate').
ARM (RISC): Like a language with very simple, short words. To say something complex, it has to use a string of many simple words (e.g., 'Pick up the trash, walk to the bin, throw it out').
The Core Difference: Native vs. Emulated
Because Snapdragon speaks a different 'language' than traditional PCs, apps run in one of two ways:
Native Apps (Fast & Efficient): These apps are written specifically for Snapdragon. They use very little battery and run at full speed. (Examples: Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Spotify, Netflix, and Microsoft Office).
Emulated Apps (The 'Translation' Layer): When you run an app built for Intel/AMD, Windows uses a tool called Prism to translate the code in real-time. While Prism is very fast, it can use more battery and may cause 'lag' in heavy apps or games.
Basically, the Snapdragon processor has to take the CISC language and translates it into the ARM language. Unfortunately, this can cause things to get 'lost in translation', which then can lead to them not working properly.
Troubleshooting & Optimization
While support is limited, below is some troubleshooting information if a game is performing poorly, crashing, or refusing to open.
Use the Snapdragon Control Panel
Newer Snapdragon devices include a dedicated Snapdragon Control Panel (available via the Microsoft Store or your system tray).
Update Drivers: This is the most important step for gaming. Qualcomm releases specific 'Adreno' graphics drivers here that aren't always included in standard Windows Updates.
Toggle 'Auto Super Resolution' (Auto SR): For gamers, this uses AI to upscale low-resolution games, giving you higher frame rates without losing image quality.
Adjust Compatibility Settings (Prism)
If a specific app is glitchy, you can manually tweak how Windows 'translates' it:
Right-click the app's icon and select Properties.
Go to the Compatibility tab.
Click Change emulated instruction set settings.
Try switching the execution mode (e.g., from 'Default' to 'Strict') to fix graphical glitches.
If none of the above works, you can click HERE to view and work your way through our Basic Troubleshooting Guide.
Click HERE for more information regarding Snapdragon processors.