Microsoft is advancing Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) to eliminate multi-minute shader compilation waits at initial PC game launches, a development showcased at GDC 2026 based on Ars Technica reporting.

The goal of ASD is faster game launches, smoother graphics loading, and reduced wait times for PC titles, benefiting both developers and gamers.

ASD aims to significantly cut shader compilation times on battery-powered devices and improve overall launch performance by delivering pre-compiled shaders.

Engine developers must integrate Microsoft’s Shader Object Database (SODB) APIs to streamline shader setup, with Epic Games in early testing and not yet committed to full adoption.

In the future, ASD could enable any storefront to compile SODBs into PSDBs and distribute them, expanding beyond the Xbox app to broader PC game distribution platforms.

Adoption is progressing unevenly: NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm have or plan ASD support on their GPUs and drivers, while some OEMs have yet to fully integrate the technology.

ASD works by creating a Pre-compiled Shader Database (PSDB) from a Shader Object State Database (SODB), allowing shaders to be downloaded with the game and updated with drivers to avoid local on-device compilation.

ASD also describes converting game assets through Direct3D into a SODB and then into a PSDB that downloads with the game and updates via drivers, removing the need for on-device first-run compilation.

Microsoft updated its API to simplify PSDB creation for large-scale titles, with a May rollout allowing developers to upload pre-compiled shaders via the Xbox Partner Center, initially for the Xbox app on PC and later expanding to all stores.

Additionally, Microsoft is encouraging integration of SODB collection into engines so precompiled shaders can be uploaded via the Xbox Partner Center to support PSDB/ASD testing and deployment.

In the near term, PC games downloaded through the Xbox app may skip the traditional “compiling shaders” step once ASD support takes effect for those titles.

Microsoft cited an 85% reduction in launch times for Avowed after integrating ASD into its SDK, underscoring strong performance gains on handheld devices with limited battery life, with early proof-of-concept support on the ROG Ally.