Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) has emerged as a promising solution for gamers, aiming to enhance the overall experience by significantly reducing load times and improving frame rates during gameplay. In our recent tests across six popular titles, we observed an impressive improvement of up to 95% in loading times, alongside notable enhancements in 1% low FPS metrics for certain games.
What is Advanced Shader Delivery?
ASD is designed to tackle the frustrating issue of shader compilation stutter, a common problem that has plagued PC gamers for years. This feature allows precompiled shaders to be distributed alongside game downloads, ensuring that players can dive into their favorite titles without enduring lengthy waits for shaders to compile. By utilizing a new asset type known as a State Object Database (SODB), developers can capture and generate shaders that are then precompiled using offline compilers, eliminating the need for real-time compilation on the gaming device.
Upon installing a game that supports ASD, players will find an update from the Xbox store that includes these precompiled shaders. This means that when a game is launched for the first time, all necessary shaders are readily available, allowing for a seamless experience without the dreaded stutter that often accompanies shader compilation.
Test System
- PowerColor Red Devil RX 9070 XT
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- 64GB (2x32GB) G.SKILL Flare X5 DDR5 @6200 MHz CL30
- Crucial T700 Gen5 SSD
- ASUS ROG STRIX B850-F Gaming WiFi
- Corsair Nautilus 360 RS AIO Cooler
- HAGS enabled
- Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26200.8457)
- Adrenalin 26.5.2
- NVIDIA driver 596.49
Forza Horizon 6
The latest installment in the Forza franchise has been optimized with ASD, a welcome change given the series’ history of lengthy shader pre-compilation times. Our tests revealed a staggering reduction in load time from 48 seconds to just 2 seconds, marking a 96% improvement. Furthermore, gameplay performance was noticeably smoother, with the elimination of stutters that typically occur during the initial run of the game.
The Outer Worlds 2
Another title that benefited from ASD is The Outer Worlds 2, which previously required nearly three minutes for shader pre-compilation. With ASD, this time plummeted to just 9 seconds, representing a 95% reduction. This improvement not only enhances the initial experience but also significantly cuts down on waiting time, allowing players to immerse themselves in the game much faster.
Ninja Gaiden 4
While Ninja Gaiden 4 did not exhibit a pre-compilation step with ASD disabled, minor stutters were observed during the first run. However, these stutters were absent in subsequent runs with ASD enabled, showcasing the feature’s ability to smooth out gameplay even in scenarios where pre-compilation is not a factor.
Avowed
Avowed also demonstrated a lengthy pre-compilation process, taking nearly three minutes. With ASD, we noted a 78% improvement in load times, reducing the wait by over two minutes. Although the performance remained consistent without shader compilation stutters, the reduction in loading time significantly enhances the user experience.
Hogwarts Legacy
In the case of Hogwarts Legacy, the pre-compilation time was shorter compared to other titles, yet still exceeded a minute. The implementation of ASD resulted in a 56% reduction in load time, a noteworthy enhancement despite being less dramatic than other games tested. Performance remained stable, with no shader compilation-related stuttering detected.
Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f did not see improvements in initial load times due to the absence of a pre-compilation phase. However, significant shader compilation stutters were present in the early gameplay. Unfortunately, ASD did not eliminate these stutters, indicating that further refinement is needed to fully realize the technology’s potential.
In summary, our testing indicates that Advanced Shader Delivery can greatly enhance the gaming experience by reducing load times and minimizing shader compilation stutter. While the feature has shown promising results across many titles, there remains room for improvement to ensure consistent performance across all games. As developers continue to refine this technology, the future of gaming could become even more seamless and enjoyable for players everywhere.
