Intel Arc update adds pre-compiled shaders to speed up game load times by up to 3x

If you have launched a AAA game on your PC recently, you know how long it can take to start. You are often left staring at the “Compiling Shaders” screen without knowing what is happening.

In the most basic terms, shaders are specialized programs running on the GPU that determine how objects appear on the screen. Because PC hardware configurations vary widely, developers leave shaders uncompiled, meaning they are compiled on the fly when you launch a game, hence the wait. 

Intel’s latest Arc graphics driver update is here to fix that, and it’s part of a much bigger effort from Microsoft to solve one of PC gaming’s most annoying problems.

What exactly is Intel doing here?

The new driver introduces Intel’s Graphics Shader Distribution Service, which delivers pre-compiled shaders directly to your PC rather than making your GPU compile them on the spot. 

If you have played on a gaming console, you know that you never face compilation wait time. It’s because developers have to target only a few devices, and they can optimize the code for those devices. Microsoft is trying to do the same for PC gaming. 

Microsoft has achieved this by launching an API that lets apps identify themselves directly to D3D12 (Microsoft’s graphics API) and the graphics drivers in a standardized way. This way, Microsoft can deliver pre-compiled shaders for games across various display adapters and hardware manufacturers.

The result? First load times that are up to 2x faster on Intel Arc B-series GPUs, as well as Core Ultra Series 2 and 3 processors with built-in Arc graphics. The update includes pre-compiled shader support for big titles, including Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, God of War Ragnarok, Hogwarts Legacy, Starfield, and Oblivion Remastered, among others.

Why does it matter for you?

As more and more developers start supporting this new Graphics Shader Distribution Service, it will greatly reduce the game launch time. Microsoft demonstrated this earlier on the ROG Xbox Ally, cutting load times in games like Avowed by up to 85%.

You will also experience fewer stutters during games when a cut scene appears, or you move between different parts of the maps. So, update your drivers and enjoy playing games instead of watching them prepare to be played.