Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery aims to end long shader compile waits — first on ASUS ROG Xbox Ally
Microsoft introduced Advanced Shader Delivery, a system that precompiles GPU shaders and distributes them (via the cloud) so games don’t need to compile them at launch or during gameplay. The result: much shorter “compiling shaders” waits and less in-game stutter.
Where it’s launching first
The initial rollout targets the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handhelds and games distributed through the Xbox app. Microsoft chose the ROG Ally because it has only a couple of hardware configurations, which makes shipping precompiled shader sets manageable.
How it works
- Shaders are compiled ahead of time and stored in the cloud.
- The Xbox app downloads the precompiled shader sets matching your hardware.
- This mirrors how consoles handle shader compilation but at PC scale — which is more complex due to many GPU/driver combos.
Limitations & timeline
Because shader binaries are hardware-specific, a game needs many compiled sets to cover common PC configurations — and that’s per game. That makes initial adoption limited. Microsoft is enabling support for developers via the Agility SDK, but adoption may take years (similar to DirectStorage’s slow uptake).
Sources & where to read more
Official Microsoft announcement: Advanced Shader Delivery on the DirectX blog
Shop/compare ASUS ROG Ally handhelds: Amazon search: ASUS ROG Ally
What do you think?
Will precompiled shader sets fix the stutter you see in big games? Share your experience in the comments below.
Originally reported on Engadget; primary source linked above.