Xbox Opens Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) to More PC Games with New Developer Tools

Microsoft is giving Xbox PC game developers a new way to prepare their games for Advanced Shader Delivery, a Windows 11 DirectX 12 technology designed to reduce long shader compilation waits and stuttering when games start. The developer-focused update moves ASD toward a self-service workflow, allowing studios to prepare and upload the required shader packages themselves.

Xbox wants developers to prepare games for faster starts

Shader compilation has become a growing issue as modern games use increasingly complex graphics. On PC, shaders have to be compiled for the specific combination of game, GPU and driver, which can lead to long first-launch waits or stuttering when shaders are compiled during gameplay. Microsoft introduced ASD to move much of that work away from the player’s machine.

The system uses State Object Database packages, or SODBs. Developers can create these packages and upload them alongside their game packages. Microsoft then handles the process of matching the appropriate precompiled shader data with the supported graphics hardware, giving the game access to shaders before it needs to compile them locally.

Microsoft says ASD can make a substantial difference. In its testing, Forza Horizon 6 loaded in around four seconds with ASD compared with almost 1.5 minutes without it on the tested system, representing a 95% reduction in loading time. The technology also helps avoid shader stutter during gameplay.

SODB packages can be updated as games change

The new workflow is designed to handle games that continue receiving updates. If a game changes enough for its existing shader package to become outdated, developers can upload a new SODB package rather than treating ASD as an all-or-nothing feature.

Microsoft first introduced ASD on the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X before expanding it to additional Windows 11 PCs. The Xbox PC app later moved ASD into general availability, with support expanding across AMD RDNA hardware.

For developers, Microsoft says the latest workflow requires the Xbox Game Package Manager updated in April 2026. Studios can start with the official ASD self-service documentation and begin preparing their SODB packages for Xbox PC titles.

The broader goal is straightforward. Instead of making every player’s PC spend time compiling the same game shaders during startup or gameplay, ASD lets much of that work happen before the game reaches the player. Microsoft has already said the technology is being expanded across more games, hardware and storefront support. You can check the ASD developer documentation here.