Opera GX is here! The Early Access Program is officially open, and as a subscriber we’d like to walk you through the browser’s features and design.
GX Control: Limit the browser’s RAM and CPU usage
The GX Control panel is a brand new feature which lets you define how much of your computer’s CPU or RAM you are willing to let the browser use. By toggling on the circle, you can choose to devote a certain percentage of the computer’s resources to the browser. Opera GX will stay within these limits. This means that, unlike other memory-hungry browsers, Opera GX puts you in full control of your gaming and browsing experiences.
We introduced this feature because running a game might require a lot of effort from your machine, even more so if you are streaming while you play. We found that many gamers often shut down their browsers in order to not slow down their gaming experience. Thanks to GX Control, games can run more smoothly without requiring you to compromise on what you do on the Web.
Twitch integration
Opera GX’s Twitch integration is another handy feature. The browser lets you log into your Twitch account directly from the sidebar and will notify you when a streamer you follow goes live. The browser’s speed dial screen is also different from the one you know from our main browser – it features shortcuts to sites popular among gamers including Discord, YouTube and Reddit.
GX Corner for latest gaming news and deals
We also created the GX Corner, a place where gaming news from the Web will be presented along with curated gaming deals and information about new and interesting releases.
Gaming design, sound effects, and gaming hardware integration
When you first start or upgrade Opera GX you will be welcomed by sounds and an animation sequence inspired by gaming consoles. The sound effects and musical logo creation in GX are a result of Opera’s collaboration with the sound designer Rubén Rincón and the band Berlinist, who recently received a nomination in the BAFTA Games Awards for the original soundtrack to the Gris game. You will be able to adjust or switch off the sound effects, as well as most browser features in the settings panel.
Opera GX comes out of the box with a sleek gaming-inspired design with dark and red elements. You can also choose a different highlight color from 10 suggested colors or go deeper and choose from 16 million possibilities using the extended color picker feature. We designed it to feel at home on any gaming setup.
Opera GX comes with an exclusive set of wallpapers designed to match the browser and the large displays of gaming setups. It also includes Razer Chroma integration, which means that the keyboard, mouse and other Razer Chroma elements will adjust their colors to the chosen highlight colors in the browser.
Opera’s powerful features are there
Opera GX includes all the features present in the Opera desktop browser. This means that, apart from the Twitch integration, you can also use the Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook or Vkontakte messengers in the sidebar to stay in touch with friends without the need to open separate tabs.
Opera GX also retains the popular Video Pop Out function which makes it easy to “pop out” a video from the website it is being streamed on and watch it on top of other websites.
Our built-in ad blocker will safeguard that websites load fast and distraction free while the free, no-log browser VPN will let you safely browse the Web when using public WiFi.
We’ve summarized all the key features in an image:
OperaGX Features
Early access at Level 1 starts today
The early access to Opera GX for Windows starts today at Level 1, during E3 in Los Angeles. Instead of the usual versions, the browser’s development will progress in levels. The initial early access version is designed for those of you who love games. It also gives you the opportunity to shape the next versions, as our developers have added special “feedback” boxes throughout the browser, where particular features can be rated with one to five hearts. We would also like to encourage you to provide feedback and wish lists via the Opera GX forums.
Opera GX can be downloaded here. A final version is planned to launch later this year.
