Last month, Microsoft announced the Advanced Shader Delivery, a system aiming to resolve a key challenge facing PC gamers: the lengthy shader compilation process. Although currently restricted to the Asus ROG Ally handhelds and games from the Xbox app, the latest version of the Agility SDK allows other vendors to adopt this technology.
The Agility SDK serves as a toolkit for developers, enabling them to implement new features from DirectX without waiting for full OS integration. With this latest update, developers should find a more efficient way to manage shader compilations.
Shader compilation can be a major headache, often resulting in frustrating delays during gaming sessions. Advanced Shader Delivery proposes to move this process offline, handled directly by developers who can pre-compile shaders and store them in a centralized database. This aims to eliminate the grinding process of on-the-fly shader compilation during gameplay.
As it stands, Microsoft is focusing on implementing this feature through their Xbox app, which will manage shader databases exclusively for the ROG Ally and Ally X handhelds—creating a more streamlined experience for users. It’s anticipated that widespread adoption across platforms could take time, likely not appearing until well into 2026 due to the need for developers to adjust their outputs to fit this new framework.
