New DirectStorage 1.1 will faucet GPU to hurry up video games much more

Microsoft mentioned not too long ago that it plans to launch DirectStorage 1.1 by the tip of 2022, enhancing scene loading instances by an element of three and dramatically rushing up PC video games in consequence.

Microsoft introduced the unique DirectStorage API in March, promising to dramatically velocity up recreation loading instances by optimizing gameplay with NVMe SSDs for PCs. Now, Microsoft is taking the following step: offloading the decompression of the sport’s property to the GPU, quite than the CPU, and rushing up video games even additional.

Microsoft mentioned in a latest weblog publish that DirectStorage 1.1 would require principally the identical {hardware} as DirectStorage 1.0: an NVMe SSD, plus any DirectX GPU that helps Shader Mannequin 6.0. Microsoft makes clear that you just’ll be capable of play DirectStorage 1.1 video games on any succesful {hardware}, however that the DirectStorage benefits will solely be seen on the SSD/GPU mixture. Likewise, you’ll be capable of play these video games on Home windows 10 or Home windows 11, however Home windows 11 consists of optimizations within the I/O stack that enable the sport to run most successfully on Home windows 11.

Microsoft defined that the majority video games compress their property to save lots of house, proper up till the time they’re getting used. This real-time decompression could save house in your laborious drive or SSD, however it prices time and computational effort to carry out. It additionally signifies that a GPU (which might not be in use till the sport or scene hundreds) could also be sitting idle, whereas your PC’s CPU could also be confused by all kinds of various duties. Microsoft merely proposes switching which part is doing the work.

Microsoft mentioned that scenes loaded 3 times sooner utilizing DirectStorage 1.1—0.8 seconds versus 2.36 seconds, particularly. “When DirectStorage 1.1 [is] launched, it kicks off a brand new journey for recreation builders to make full use of gaming {hardware} and velocity up load instances for PC video games over the following few years,” Microsoft wrote.

Microsoft isn’t saying when it’ll launch DirectStorage 1.1 to shoppers, simply that it’s going to launch the API to builders earlier than the tip of the 12 months. These {hardware} and recreation makers could have an opportunity to check it earlier than it’s launched to shoppers. Microsoft has mentioned that it will likely be shifting again to a single annual characteristic replace for Home windows 11, however it’ll add smaller updates just about anytime it needs. It’ll probably be in these small updates that Microsoft releases DirectStorage 1.1, and its consequent enhancements to your PC.