No one can deny the progress that technology has made in video games in recent years. Even so, loading and data management are aspects of games that need to continue to be worked on to make the user experience more optimal.

This is where Microsoft’s DirectStorage comes in. If you want to know what it is all about, then keep reading the post to discover how this technology affects the performance of games and what are the requirements that your PC must meet to enjoy its benefits.

What is DirectStorage?

It is the name given to an API developed by Microsoft to provide PC gaming enthusiasts with a tool to optimize its load and the way in which data is accessed.

Curiously, this technology was initially implemented on Xbox X/S Series consoles but was eventually adapted for Windows 10 and 11 platforms, allowing PC users to benefit from its capabilities when playing their favorite games.

Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology ensures that data takes a direct path to the GPU from the high-speed NVMe solid-state drives. This not only helps prevent bottlenecks from forming but also makes the loading process much more efficient.

How does Microsoft DirectStorage technology work?

Before delving into the mechanics of how Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology works, you should know that usually loading video game data required it to be read from the hard drive and then transferred to RAM. From there the CPU would then process and decompress them and finally send them to the GPU to be rendered.

But DirectStorage came to make things easier for your PC and optimized this process by making the data travel directly from the NVMe SSD to the GPU.

From there, the GPU takes care of decompressing the assets, freeing the CPU of work. In addition, this API is very efficient at handling multiple small I/O requests. Recognizing the decompression work performed by the GPU is important as this component takes full advantage of its processing power to handle tasks that could put the CPU on the ropes due to the level of resources it consumes.

Impact of Microsoft’s DirectStorage on gaming performance

With all the above mentioned, it is more than evident the potential that DirectStorage has to boost the performance of your favorite PC games. Once it is launched, the effects of this technology are immediately felt in the following aspects:

Faster loading times

Here DirectStorage allows your PC games to load and update smaller data packets continuously during gameplay, thus drastically shortening load times. So much so that games like Forspoken have shown a loading speed of 2 seconds. Impressive indeed.

Reduced CPU overhead

The work of Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology can also contribute to a 20% to 40% reduction in CPU overhead for games running on Windows 11. This allows the CPU to focus its efforts on other important tasks while playing games, improving overall performance.

Improved content streaming

In addition to taking some of the load off the CPU, DirectStorage makes the transfer of game assets more efficient. This advantage allows in-game worlds to look more detailed and performance issues to be eliminated. It also makes your gaming experience more immersive and fluid, especially in open-world games.

GPU-based decompression

As the GPU is the component where DirectStorage concentrates the decompression of game assets, the data channel is further optimized to support the sending of multiple packets. This allows the GPU to perform tasks more in line with its capabilities, thus improving the overall efficiency of the system.

Simultaneous data handling

Another plus on the list of benefits provided by DirectStorage is the ability to handle multiple small readings efficiently when playing your favorite game on the PC. This feature makes it possible for both the CPU and GPU of your PC to process more work simultaneously, thus bringing more fluidity to the game and fewer interruptions.

What are the hardware requirements that my PC must meet to use DirectStorage?

If you want to squeeze every last drop of Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology to boost the performance of your games you must ensure that your PC meets the following requirements:

Operating System

Ideally, you should have Windows 11 installed on your PC so that the games can experience its effects in all its splendor. In addition, this operating system offers advances in file I/O handling, which can help reduce the CPU workload considerably. However, this API is also compatible with Windows 10 version 1909 although its functionality will be reduced.

Storage

In this section, it is important that your PC has a NVMe SSD with PCIe 3.0 or higher so that this will provide optimal performance for games. And although the SSD and SATA HDD are technically compatible, the results obtained are not so favorable with respect to the NVMe storage option. You should know that the NVMe SSD requires the “Standard NVM Express Controller” to work properly.

GPU

Make sure that the graphics card installed in your PC supports DirectX 12 (initially DirectX 12 Ultimate was required but was later dropped) and Shader Model 6.0.

CPU

Having a modern CPU in your PC will allow DirectStorage to run smoothly. To enjoy this result, we recommend that you purchase a PC that has Intel Nehalem processors or later versions that are compatible.

Which games are compatible with DirectStorage?

Forspoken was the first PC game to have the privilege of experiencing the effects of DirectStorage in January 2023. Since then many more games have been added to the list to benefit from this technology. Here are some of the compatible titles:

·         Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

·         American Truck Simulator

·         Diablo IV

·         EA Sports FC 24

·         Euro Truck Simulator 2

·         Forspoken

·         Ghost of Tsushima (Director’s Cut)

·         Horizon: Forbidden West (Complete Edition)

·         New World

·         Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

·         Synced

·         Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown

·         Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Microsoft’s DirectStorage Technology: Final words

Therefore, Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology is a very helpful element to provide you with an optimal gaming experience.

Thanks to this API, the data associated with the game is handled more efficiently and faster by making the CPU and GPU perform their work without getting to the point of overloading. This also helps to avoid bottlenecks that can hinder the smoothness and loading of highly detailed game elements. So, if your PC meets all the hardware and software requirements for using DirectStorage, then all you have to do is play some of the above-mentioned titles to enjoy the full benefits.