August update for Windows Subsystem for Android amps gaming

Android Games

Microsoft has released a new update for the Windows Subsystem for Android, with the August update now rolling out for Insider on all channels as version 2206.40000.15.0.

It is mostly focused on adding a number of small enhancements, with additions ranging from improved input compatibility in games, networking and windowing improvements, as well as other reliability updates for the subsystem.

You can gather the full details in the release note here.

The most notable new changes are reserved for games, with lots of new settings to add compatibility for playing titles with joysticks and gamepads. Redmond has also included compatibility for aiming and sliding in games with arrow keys.

There are a whole range of smaller fixes, including the following:

  • Scrolling improvements
  • Networking improvements
  • Android minimum window size defaulted to 220dp
  • Improved dialog when unsupported VPN is detected
  • New toggle to view/save diagnostic data in the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app
  • Security updates
  • General reliability fixes, including improvements to diagnostic sizes
  • Graphic improvements

As typically happens with releases like these, Microsoft acknowledges that one known issue has crept in, explaining that in some cases, users could end up encountering VPN problems with Advanced Networking.

To get around this, the company suggests disabling Advanced Networking in the Settings app of Windows Subsystem for Android if you are using a VPN and find Android apps lacking network connectivity.

Unfortunately, all these goodies are still only available exclusively for users in the United States, as the feature itself is not yet available to folks in other countries.