Microsoft promised a gaming revolution when it introduced DirectStorage as a marquee feature for Windows 11 back in 2020. But here we are, barreling into 2024, and the promise still feels... lukewarm at best. So, what’s keeping this game-changer trapped in the development wormhole? And should you, as a PC gamer, care? It's time to unpack DirectStorage’s potential and current reality.
Let’s deep-dive into how it works, its hardware requirements, the state of adoption, and whether it’s worth waiting for this technology to evolve—or if it’s simply ahead of its time.
Enter DirectStorage. The revolutionary feature removes the bottleneck by enabling direct communication between high-speed storage devices (like NVMe SSDs) and the GPU. Instead of tasking the CPU with decompression duties, DirectStorage passes off a significant chunk of that workload to the mighty GPU itself, which is more than capable of crunching numbers with blazing speed.
Here’s why this is such a game-changing idea:
Unfortunately, DirectStorage adoption has been slow-moving. A limited number of games support it fully as of 2024, such as Forspoken and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Even when implemented, results have been a mixed bag:
It’s worth noting that while DirectStorage works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the latter sees the best performance, thanks to OS-level optimizations. Yet for now, improvements are largely situational, and the technology isn’t yet delivering a universally transformative experience.
Here’s a breakdown of the minimum prerequisites for DirectStorage:
So, keep an eye out for AMD’s RX 8000 series or NVIDIA’s rumored RTX 5000 cards. These could close the performance gaps and allow DirectStorage to really shine.
If you’re holding off on Windows 11 due to its quirks (bugs, ads, some general clunkiness), wait until DirectStorage adoption grows or your favorite games start leveraging the tech.
Got any thoughts or questions about DirectStorage? Share your experience on our forums! Let’s talk tech that takes your gaming to the next level.
Source: XDA 5 things you need to know about DirectStorage on Windows 11
Let’s deep-dive into how it works, its hardware requirements, the state of adoption, and whether it’s worth waiting for this technology to evolve—or if it’s simply ahead of its time.
What is DirectStorage and How Does It Work?
DirectStorage aims to streamline and accelerate gaming’s most mundane yet essential process: loading assets. Let’s put this into context. When you boot up your favorite game—a graphically rich AAA title, perhaps—the game loads compressed data files from your storage (SSD or HDD). Traditionally, these files would follow this journey:- Storage to RAM: The compressed assets are loaded and temporarily stored in system memory.
- CPU Decompression: The CPU takes over to decompress these assets, working like a translator to make the data usable.
- RAM to GPU VRAM: The decompressed assets are then moved to the GPU’s VRAM, ready for rendering on your screen.
Enter DirectStorage. The revolutionary feature removes the bottleneck by enabling direct communication between high-speed storage devices (like NVMe SSDs) and the GPU. Instead of tasking the CPU with decompression duties, DirectStorage passes off a significant chunk of that workload to the mighty GPU itself, which is more than capable of crunching numbers with blazing speed.
Here’s why this is such a game-changing idea:
- Accelerated Load Times: Assets bypass the RAM-CPU bottleneck, shooting directly from storage to the GPU. Result? Faster load screens and seamless world-building.
- Increased GPU Utilization: The GPU takes over decompression instead of sitting idle, which also frees up the CPU for other tasks.
- Better Multitasking: With the CPU less bogged down, gaming machines should handle other tasks (like background processes or streaming) more effectively.
The State of DirectStorage Adoption in 2024
As cool as all of this sounds, you might be asking—where are the results?Unfortunately, DirectStorage adoption has been slow-moving. A limited number of games support it fully as of 2024, such as Forspoken and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Even when implemented, results have been a mixed bag:
- In Forspoken, load times showed impressive reductions.
- Conversely, Ratchet & Clank ironically seemed to run better without DirectStorage, as some PC gamers discovered by disabling the feature altogether. This exposed flaws, notably issues like GPU driver scheduling conflicts.
It’s worth noting that while DirectStorage works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the latter sees the best performance, thanks to OS-level optimizations. Yet for now, improvements are largely situational, and the technology isn’t yet delivering a universally transformative experience.
What Hardware Do You Need?
Good news—you likely already have part of the required hardware.Here’s a breakdown of the minimum prerequisites for DirectStorage:
- Windows 10 (build 1909 or newer) or Windows 11: Best results on Windows 11.
- NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 or PCIe 4.0) recommended: While supported on SATA SSDs and HDDs, the performance gains shrink dramatically on slower drives.
- DirectX 12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support: Essentially, this means you’ll need a modern GPU (released in the past five years).
What About Upcoming Hardware?
GPU decompression is the linchpin of DirectStorage’s success. Current GPUs (AMD RX 6000/7000, NVIDIA RTX 3000/4000, Intel Arc A-series) can handle it to a degree, but rumblings in the tech grapevine point toward next-gen GPUs featuring dedicated hardware decompression blocks. This would fix many of the current flaws.So, keep an eye out for AMD’s RX 8000 series or NVIDIA’s rumored RTX 5000 cards. These could close the performance gaps and allow DirectStorage to really shine.
Why Hasn’t DirectStorage Taken Off Yet?
- Developer Challenges: Game studios need time to rework design pipelines around the API, and they haven’t figured out how to make DirectStorage shine across diverse game engines consistently.
- Hardware Limitations: Not all PCs—especially those with older components—can maximize the benefits. Without next-gen GPUs optimized for hardware decompression, many users won’t notice massive differences.
- Consumer Skepticism: Gamers aren’t exactly rushing to embrace DirectStorage, especially after discovering that it often doesn’t deliver enough improvements—at least not yet.
Should You Upgrade to Windows 11 for DirectStorage?
Well... it depends. DirectStorage is supported on Windows 10, so you don’t have to upgrade. However, Windows 11 enjoys additional optimizations. If you’re someone who wants to futureproof your gaming rig, upgrading makes long-term sense. Windows 10 reaches end-of-life in October 2025, so consider that in your decision.If you’re holding off on Windows 11 due to its quirks (bugs, ads, some general clunkiness), wait until DirectStorage adoption grows or your favorite games start leveraging the tech.
The Future of DirectStorage
Much like a GPU-intensive game running on outdated hardware, DirectStorage is still in its early frames-per-second struggles. But the signs of a promising future are there.- 2025 Gaming Boom? As new games launch with DirectStorage baked in (and GPU decompression becomes a mainstream feature), we might finally see the transformative benefits Microsoft spearheaded.
- Next-Gen GPUs: The upcoming generation of graphics cards could unlock the full spectrum of DirectStorage's capabilities. Expect to hear announcements at major tech expos within the next year.
What Should Gamers Do Now?
- Invest in a PCIe NVMe SSD if you haven’t already. Prices are coming down, and the storage speed upgrades alone are worth it—DirectStorage support is just a bonus!
- Keep both Windows and GPU drivers up-to-date. New DirectStorage improvements could arrive quietly through updates.
- If you’re building a new rig or upgrading your GPU, consider waiting for models with dedicated decompression hardware.
TL;DR Takeaway
DirectStorage on Windows 11 promises shorter load times, smoother gameplay, and smarter use of your hardware, but the industry is dragging its feet in delivering the vision. On paper, it’s a revolutionary API tailor-made for modern gaming. In reality, it’s a work in progress. If you already have the hardware, enjoy the benefits it brings to select titles. If not, sit tight—DirectStorage’s best is yet to come.Got any thoughts or questions about DirectStorage? Share your experience on our forums! Let’s talk tech that takes your gaming to the next level.
Source: XDA 5 things you need to know about DirectStorage on Windows 11
