ShadowPlay vs. Xbox Game Bar

Which is the better video capturing utility?

- SAM LEWIS

THERE ARE NOW A PLETHORA of screen recording apps available—the days when Bandicam was the preferred option are long gone. You can now use physical devices, such as USB or PCIe Express capture cards from the likes of Elgato or Avermedia, or you can use screen capturing software programs, such as Nvidia’s ShadowPlay and Windows Xbox Game Bar. With features such as quick access overlays, performance monitoring, and social interaction options, these offer more than just simple video recording.

What was once a hardware-intensive and expensive way of creating content is now far more accessible and userfriendly. Not only do these apps offer an easy way to help you create content, but they’re also highly polished pieces of software, well worth adding to your system. But which one should you choose?

In terms of design, Nvidia ShadowPlay and Xbox Game Bar look pretty similar. Both apps use a light UI, especially with the overlay functionality, which is perfect for seamlessly recording your gameplay. Having to keep swapping in and out of apps isn’t ideal, so having shortcuts to open up each app and start recording is most effective.