- Microsoft has expanded its Advanced Shader Delivery to the Xbox PC app.
- The feature was previously only available as a preview to Xbox Insiders.
- ASD shows monumental improvements in loading times in supported titles.
Microsoft has been rolling out its Advanced Shader Delivery feature in stages over the past few weeks. In a recent update, the feature is now available through the Xbox PC app, whereas previously it required an Xbox Insider sign-up. Advanced Shader Delivery was released on May 15 in collaboration with AMD to a limited audience, as the feature was labeled as a preview.
Now, in a DirectX Developer Blog post, Microsoft confirms the expansion of its acclaimed feature. Advanced Shader Delivery is a huge upgrade for game loading times, since it delivers pre-compiled shaders with the game download. Therefore, the game’s actual loading time is significantly reduced because it does not have to compile shaders on first launch.
Since the shaders are pre-compiled, the gameplay stability is also improved. Microsoft claims the feature can also reduce shader stutter in supported games. The primary example that Microsoft highlights is Forza Horizon 6, which apparently loads in just 4 seconds with Advanced Shader Delivery! This is a staggering 95% improvement over the game’s 1.5-minute load time without ASD.
Advanced Shader Delivery sounds promising, but it is still in its early stages with only a few supported titles. Currently, the list includes Forza Horizon 6, Forza Horizon 5, Forza Motorsport, Call of Duty Black Ops 6, Starfield, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, GTA V Enhanced, The Outer Worlds 2, Silent Hill F, Resident Evil 3, among others.
Since Advanced Shader Delivery was developed in collaboration with AMD, the expanded support also extends to older AMD devices. AMD’s RDNA 1, RDNA 2, RDNA 3, RDNA 3.5, and RDNA 4 devices are now listed as “supported” on Microsoft’s blog. Additional requirements include AMD Adrenalin 26.6.1 driver, Xbox Gaming Services 37.113.11003.0, and Windows 11 24H2.
With support expanding by the week, Advanced Shader Delivery looks like the quality-of-life improvement we wanted DirectStorage to be. It’s not quite on the same level, but at least ASD is providing real-time improvements right now rather than promises that may or may not be kept.
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[PC Hardware Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
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