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Microsoft's DirectStorage 1.4 Promises Faster Gaming
12 Mar
Summary
- DirectStorage 1.4 enhances game load times with new Zstd compression.
- The update allows developers to choose CPU or GPU for decompression.
- Driver support from major GPU vendors is expected soon.
Microsoft has unveiled a public preview of DirectStorage 1.4, a technology designed to accelerate game loading and asset streaming. This latest version incorporates the ZStandard (Zstd) codec, an open compression standard known for its efficiency. The integration of Zstd promises to reduce game load times and minimize asset pop-in, especially at greater draw distances.
Developers now have enhanced flexibility with DirectStorage 1.4, able to leverage either the CPU or GPU for decompression. This feature, along with potential hardware acceleration from GPU manufacturers, could lead to even faster load times. Microsoft also anticipates further compression ratio improvements of up to 50% through its Game Asset Conditioning Library (CAGL) in future updates.
Major hardware manufacturers including AMD, Intel, Nvidia, and Qualcomm have announced upcoming driver support for DirectStorage 1.4, with updates expected in the coming months. This advancement is particularly relevant for future gaming hardware, including upcoming Xbox consoles and PC components, building on the technology's initial effectiveness on Xbox. Developers interested can download the public preview from Microsoft.
