TL;DR
Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery technology has enabled Forza Horizon 6 to load in only four seconds on compatible hardware, a 95% reduction in load time. This development is limited to RDNA 3+ GPUs and requires enrollment in the Xbox Insiders program.
Microsoft has confirmed that Forza Horizon 6 now boots in just four seconds on supported hardware, thanks to its new Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) technology, representing a 95% reduction in load times compared to previous versions.
The breakthrough was achieved using ASD on Windows 11 PCs equipped with RDNA 3 or later GPUs, such as AMD’s RX 7600, and requires the game to be downloaded via the Xbox PC app or Microsoft Store. Without ASD, the same game took nearly a minute and a half to load; with ASD enabled, load times dropped to approximately four seconds.
Microsoft’s ASD works by decoupling shaders from drivers and storing them in a cloud-based Precompiled Shader Database (PSDB). When a game is downloaded, ASD detects the specific hardware configuration and pre-downloads the necessary shaders, allowing instant game startup. This method mirrors technology long used in consoles but is new to Windows PCs, especially on the PC gaming market.
Why It Matters
This development could significantly enhance the gaming experience by drastically reducing load times, making game launches nearly instantaneous. It also demonstrates a major step forward in PC gaming performance optimization, aligning PC load times more closely with console experiences. However, ASD is currently limited to RDNA 3+ GPUs and requires participation in the Xbox Insiders program, so widespread adoption is still in progress.
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Background
Microsoft announced ASD for Xbox ROG Ally devices last year, initially targeting handheld consoles with precompiled shaders to improve load times. Since then, the technology has been incorporated into the DirectX SDK, with AMD, Intel, and Nvidia developing their own versions. Forza Horizon 6 is the first major game to showcase ASD’s impact on Windows 11 PCs, with support for at least 34 other titles announced. The technology’s current limitation to RDNA 3+ hardware stems from Microsoft’s collaboration with AMD, but future plans aim for broader compatibility across GPU brands.
“The reduction of load times from nearly a minute and a half to just four seconds marks a significant leap in PC gaming performance, bringing it closer to console-like speeds.”
— Hassam Nasir, tech editor
“Advanced Shader Delivery is a preview feature that leverages cloud-based precompiled shaders to drastically reduce startup times on supported hardware.”
— Microsoft spokesperson
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What Remains Unclear
It is not yet clear when ASD will be available on all GPUs or through other marketplaces beyond the Xbox PC app and Microsoft Store. The long-term compatibility with non-RDNA 3 GPUs and the full rollout timeline remain uncertain, as does whether other game developers will adopt ASD widely.
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What’s Next
Microsoft plans to expand ASD support to additional games and hardware in the coming months, with broader compatibility expected later this year. The company will likely provide updates through the Xbox Insiders program and official channels regarding further adoption and technical improvements.
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Key Questions
What hardware is required to benefit from ASD in Forza Horizon 6?
Supported hardware includes RDNA 3 and later GPUs, such as AMD RX 7600, and participation in the Xbox Insiders program is necessary to enable ASD features.
Can other GPUs like Nvidia or Intel benefit from this technology?
Yes, Nvidia has a feature called ‘Auto Shader Compilation’ in its app, and Intel offers ‘Precompiled Shader Distribution’ in its graphics app. Both are similar but are currently separate from Microsoft’s ASD standard.
Is this technology available for all Windows games?
No, ASD is limited to games downloaded via the Xbox PC app or Microsoft Store and requires specific hardware support. Its broader adoption across all Windows titles is still in development.
Will ASD improve load times on older GPUs?
Currently, ASD is limited to RDNA 3+ GPUs, so older hardware will not benefit from this technology until further updates or support are introduced.
