Forza Horizon 6 starts in 4 seconds: here's the technology behind the performance leap

Microsoft has expanded the deployment of Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD), a technology introduced last year on ROG Xbox Ally portable devices, now extending it to Windows 11 PCs equipped with AMD Radeon GPUs based on RDNA 3, RDNA 3.5, and RDNA 4 architecture. The aim is to tackle one of the most persistent issues of modern PC gaming: long initial loading times and the phenomenon of "shader stutter" during the first run of games.

The solution developed by Microsoft involves the use of precompiled shaders distributed via the cloud. In practice, the system detects the hardware configuration of the PC—GPU, drivers, and installed game—and pre-downloads the already compiled shaders through the Xbox PC app or Microsoft Store. This avoids traditional local compilation upon first launch, a process that can normally take several minutes and cause stutters during gameplay.

According to Microsoft, the title that best highlights the benefits of this technology is the new Forza Horizon 6. In tests conducted by the company with a Radeon RX 7600 and a Ryzen 7 5800 processor, the initial loading time reportedly went from about a minute and a half to just four seconds, marking a 95% improvement. In addition to reducing startup times, ASD eliminates the "just in time" compilation of shaders during gameplay, thus reducing the typical micro-stutters in the early gaming sessions after installations or driver updates.

The operation resembles approaches already adopted in the console world, where fixed hardware has long allowed the use of precompiled shaders. Valve also employs a similar system on Steam Deck in a Linux environment, while Microsoft now aims to introduce a standardized mechanism for the Windows ecosystem. The technology relies on a cloud database called the Precompiled Shader Database (PSDB), effectively separating shaders from traditional graphics drivers.

For now, ASD remains tied to the Xbox ecosystem on PC: games must be downloaded through the Xbox PC app or Microsoft Store, and users must join the Xbox Insider program, which is necessary to activate the feature in preview through the Xbox Insider Hub. The minimum requirements include Windows 11 24H2, AMD Adrenalin drivers 26.5.2 or later, and updated Xbox Gaming Services.

Microsoft has also confirmed that support will be progressively extended to other Windows devices and hardware from additional manufacturers. NVIDIA and Intel have already introduced similar technologies. NVIDIA offers "Auto Shader Compilation" through its dedicated application, while Intel provides "Precompiled Shader Distribution" within Intel Graphics software, currently using a proprietary cloud database while awaiting full adoption of the ASD standard.

The initial availability should include over thirty games already compatible with the technology, many of which were announced during the debut of the ROG Xbox Ally devices. It remains to be clarified whether and when other Windows marketplaces, such as Steam or Epic Games Store, will adopt the precompiled shader distribution system promoted by Microsoft.