Windows Turbo: Microsoft is finally unlocking an ingenious Xbox feature for PCs


The Xbox Series X and Series S have been masters since their release, and now Windows is finally following suit. DirectStorage is designed to radically reduce game load times, but those who want to get the most out of the new technology may have to swallow a bitter pill.

DirectStorage finally for Windows: interface ensures faster loading times

Long loading times have always been a source of frustration for PC gamers. Since the advent of SSDs, these have decreased significantly, but there is more to come. At least that’s how Microsoft sees it. To achieve this goal, the company has developed a storage interface called DirectStorage, which is already being used in the Xbox Series consoles and there significantly speeds up the launch of games.

Now the feature has finally found its way to the PC. In an official blog entry, Microsoft announces that that Windows games can now rely on DirectStorage and released the corresponding software development kit.

The feature is available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems and, above all, ensures that memory access is optimized (source: DirectX Developer Blog). This is not only reflected in faster loading times and less popping up of textures, but also relieves the processor and can potentially provide more performance.

Have you just upgraded to Windows 11? Then we have a few useful tips to help you get started:

Maximum performance is only available with Windows 11

However, PC gamers should note two things: DirectStorage is intended to increase the performance of all storage media, but it can provide the greatest benefit NVMe SSD owners only draw from it. According to Microsoft, the fastest SSDs show the greatest increase in performance.

Perfect for DirectStorage: Check out the Samsung 980 PRO at Amazon

If you also want to get the absolute maximum out of DirectStorage technology, Willy-nilly have to upgrade to Windows 11. Although the function is also available to Windows 10 users, Microsoft says Windows 11 offers some additional optimizations that further increase the effect of DirectStorage.

If developers rely on DirectStorage in the future, this should result in shorter loading times and sometimes even one for players better performance to make noticable. The action role-playing game Forspoken, which will be released in the fall, is said to be one of the first games to support the new technology.



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