This Windows 11 update will introduce one of the best Xbox Series X/S features
Microsoft has released an easy way to check if your PC is ready for DirectStorage in the latest Windows 11 update, in the form of a preview of the Microsoft Game Bar.
As reported by PC Gamer,(opens in new tab) users can head into the Gaming Features tab within the settings menu after updating the Xbox Game Bar. The updated version of this tool now displays if your system is ready for DirectX 12 Ultimate as well as which parts of your gaming PC or laptop will need to be upgraded to be ready for the next-gen DirectStorage feature.
It’s worth mentioning that Windows 10 will also inform you if your system is ready for DirectX 12 Ultimate, but it will mention that your operating system requires an upgrade, despite Microsoft previously confirming the two were compatible.
DirectStorage, for those unaware, is a useful piece of technology that speeds up SSD loading times and has already been implemented into hardware such as the Microsoft Xbox series X and Series S.
In essence, DirectStorage allows developers to better utilize the speed of the latest storage devices (specifically NVMe SSDs) to squeeze as much performance out of the potential bandwidth available. Not only will this result in faster load times, but you should also see open-world games run more smoothly.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t yet been rolled out to the public so you’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub if you want early access to the feature. It's a bit of a pain to set up, but if you're especially keen you can follow the instructions provided below.
Okay, SSD technology and advancements hardly sound as exciting as, say, more powerful graphics, but this really is an essential development within the gaming space.
Cooper Partin, a senior software engineer at
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