Based on the sources, GPU decompression is soon coming to Windows PC games, according to Microsoft. GPU decompression is anticipated to be the next development in the ongoing quest to decrease game load times on PCs following the launch of DirectStorage earlier this year. It’s “one of our most commonly requested features,” according to Microsoft, from the gaming industry.
About the Microsoft’s DirectStorage 1.1
GPU decompression works by shifting the burden of decompressing game assets from the CPU to the graphics card. Modern video games contain enormous amounts of assets, such as people, environments, and objects, all of which have been compressed to make them smaller overall.
According to Cassie Hoef, a senior program manager at Microsoft, decompression work is often carried out on the CPU because compression formats have previously been optimized for CPUs only. By shifting the decompression of those assets to the GPU instead, or GPU decompression, they are providing an alternate technique in DirectStorage 1.1.
Load times in games can be significantly reduced by shifting this task to a GPU, especially in situations where you’re switching between different worlds. As much as three times faster, according to Microsoft, freeing up the CPU to tackle other game processes.
According to Hoef, the launch of DirectStorage 1.1 marks the beginning of a new journey for game developers to fully utilize gaming technology and shorten load times for PC games over the coming years.
Improvements coming for Developers
Developers should expect these new enhancements soon, and both Windows 10 and Windows 11 will support them. The best option for GPU decompression and DirectStorage, in general, will be Windows 11, according to Microsoft, because users of that operating system can take advantage of further IO stack optimizations.
Before Microsoft’s official release later this year, GPU manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD will also need to release DirectStorage 1.1 drivers that are compatible. Although Xbox Series X consoles that use DirectStorage promise lightning-fast load speeds, not many PC games have yet included this technology. The first significant game with DirectStorage support was scheduled to be Forspoken, however, the release date was pushed back to January 2023.
