Microsoft has announced that the DirectStorage SDK found within the Xbox Series X|S consoles is now available for developers on PC, which is designed to load more detailed game environments with reduced load times. The DirectStorage API is designed to take full advantage of the new NVMe 4.0 SSDs and motherboards running Windows 11, but Microsoft’s recent blog post (thanks, The Verge) detailing the tech’s rollout also states that you’ll still see some improvements on Windows 10 and other storage devices. It is, however, mostly aimed at optimising a new generation of games on Windows 11, which Microsoft says is “our recommended path for gaming,” due to Windows 11 already having the latest storage optimisations built-in.The technology is now available to the public, and just like it does on the Xbox Series X and S consoles, the DirectStorage API improves game performance by removing the need for data decompression via your CPU. Instead, your NVMe Solid State Drive will stream the game’s data directly to your GPU, cutting out the CPU middleman, and drastically improving data loading.”Starting today, Windows games can ship with DirectStorage,” Microsoft’s blog post reads, but it’s worth noting that it’s an optional feature for developers to use, and right now there aren’t any games taking advantage of it. That’s set to change on March 23rd, though, during this year’s Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) when Forspoken will be showcased by AMD and Luminous Productions. Microsoft won’t be resting on its laurels now, either, saying “GPU decompression is next on our roadmap, a feature that will give developers more control over resources and how hardware is leveraged,” as well as further optimising the DirectStorage API.Have you already upgraded your rig with NVMe 4.0 SSDs, or are you waiting for the tech to be fully implemented first? Let us know down in the comments!
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