Nvidia’s 621.01 driver adds Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery

Nvidia released its GeForce Game Ready 621.01 driver on Oct. 21 with support for Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery, Tom Warren reports for The Verge. The technology downloads precompiled shaders from the cloud matched to a PC’s graphics hardware, Digital Foundry’s Will Judd explains.

When a game compiles a shader on the fly, a new model or effect can cause a momentary hitch, Judd writes. Warren reports that Advanced Shader Delivery is meant to speed game launches and reduce mid-game compilation-related stutter and CPU spikes. That depends on the game: developers must specifically support the technology, .