Microsoft introduces latest security features to ensure fair play during gaming on Xbox and Windows 11

While gaming, everyone deserves a fair chance to win, but there are a few players who use cheat software deliberately to disable the built-in protections in order to gain an unfair edge. To ensure fair play, Microsoft has worked closely with hardware providers and anti-cheat providers and has established a set of standards for hardware and software security.

At the heart of every great game is a simple promise: everyone deserves an equal shot at victory. Cheating breaks that promise.

Here's how we’re committed to protecting fair play and ensuring everyone can enjoy a level playing field: https://t.co/jzuDqKFsG8

— Xbox Wire (@XboxWire) November 14, 2025

Latest security features

• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0: Creates a modern, hardware-based secure key storage and root of trust, from which the system and Windows can generate information that can be trusted with cryptographic keys.
• Secure Boot: Ensures only trusted software loads during the boot process. So, when it is enabled, developers can have confidence that cheats weren’t inserted into the system early to evade detection by the anti-cheat providers. Plus, it extends the root of trust from the TPM all the way through the hardware initialization process to the time that Windows begins to boot.
• Virtualization-based Security (VBS): Provides another layer of protection, strengthening security by creating a secure, isolated environment within your system where it is difficult to run unauthorized code that could interfere with your game or anti-cheat software. Like secure boot, when it is enabled, developers can have greater certainty that cheats are not interfering with fair game play.
• Remote Attestation: Provides a well-documented and industry-wide approach for remotely validating every important step of both the hardware and Windows boot process by leveraging the TPM and creating cryptographically secure evidence that verifies your PC in a trusted state as it initializes and boots into Windows.

These technologies are used in the Xbox console and are also said to be leveraged in Windows 11.

Players can also keep their firmware and security features up to date to help developers maintain a trusted environment for everyone.

Here’s what players can do to ensure a fair environment:

• Keep Windows up to date
• Check for and install firmware/BIOS updates from your PC manufacturer.
• Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
• Review security requirements
• Stay informed