Microsoft's fix for PC shader compilation stutter could take years to fully implement

Microsoft has developed a solution called Advanced Shader Delivery to address the long shader compilation wait times experienced by PC gamers when booting up new AAA titles. The system aims to preemptively compile shaders and store them in the cloud, eliminating the need for in-game compilation that can lead to stuttering. The implementation of this technology, however, is expected to take years. This is due to the hardware-specific nature of shader compilation, as there are numerous GPU and driver combinations that need to be accounted for. Compared to consoles, which have a limited number of hardware configurations, the PC ecosystem presents a much more complex challenge. Microsoft is starting with the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, which have only two hardware configurations, to pilot the Advanced Shader Delivery system. The company's Agility SDK for game developers now supports this technology, but it may take a significant amount of time before it is widely adopted across the industry, similar to the slow adoption of Microsoft's Direct Storage technology.