What do you get in the event you use a gaming PC from Alienware, a keyboard from Cooler Master, a headset from HyperX, and a mouse from Razer all on the similar time? You get 4 totally different packages and interfaces to regulate all these blinking RGB lights. Sorry, that wasn’t a punchline, it’s simply the annoying actuality of various proprietary software program to regulate a bunch of various PC gaming devices. But in keeping with the code of the most recent Windows 11 take a look at construct, it is likely to be getting a extra sensible answer quickly.

Twitter’s prolific Windows analyst Albacore (through The Verge) noticed RGB lighting controls for USB equipment in Windows 11 construct 25295, the most recent Insider Preview Build that hit the servers just yesterday. There’s no point out of lighting controls in Microsoft’s official changelog, however such is commonly the case for options the corporate is considerably iffy on. According to the screenshots posted to Twitter, this construct of Windows 11 can change fundamental lighting modes and settings for keyboards, mice, headsets, and much more esoteric devices just like the Stream Deck.

Albacore

Using a bunch of various driver packages to regulate lighting on each single part has lengthy been a headache for PC players. (You is likely to be conversant in these lamentations in the event you’re an everyday viewer of our Full Nerd podcast!) There have been a couple of examples of cross-compatibility like Asus and Corsair gadgets working collectively and some can now hook up with sensible house programs like Google Home and Alexa.

Albacore

Controls within the preview are fairly fundamental with solely 4 patterns, brightness, and velocity sliders, in addition to a selector for strong colours. But there’s an choice to immediately match up a selected gadget with the Windows accent shade the consumer specifies within the Personalization menu, which is a great contact. Microsoft has been engaged on a common lighting system since not less than 2018, however that is the primary time we’ve ever seen it being applied.

Windows 11 construct 25295 is a reasonably main soar ahead, in keeping with the discharge notes. We might need to attend till the yearly replace someday within the latter half of 2023 to see most of its adjustments. And to be sincere, it’s a little bit of a coin flip as as to whether Microsoft will truly maintain this function round — I believe it can hinge on what number of accent producers it may possibly persuade to evolve to the usual. But the dream of a common controller for a half-dozen rainbow equipment stays alive.