Latest Intel ARC GPU Drivers Bring Game On Support for Like A Dragon and Avowed

Intel has just released its latest graphics drivers, bringing them up to version 101.6559 WHQL for its Arc GPUs. This latest release brings with it several gaming enhancements and bug fixes, as you might expect. However, this update focuses on improved performance and compatibility for both dedicated Arc graphics cards and the integrated Arc GPUs found in Intel Core Ultra processors.

Notably, the driver introduces “Game On” support for Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii across the Arc B-series and A-series GPUs, as well as Avowed for the dedicated Arc GPUs. These “Game On” drivers are specifically designed to optimise the gaming experience for these titles. If you’re playing these games on Intel GPU hardware, it’s pretty much essential you update ASAP.

Performance gains are also a key feature of this update. Intel claims up to a 5.9% average FPS improvement at 1080p with High settings in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (DX12) on Arc B-series GPUs compared to the previous driver version (32.0.101.6262). This suggests a continued focus on driver optimisation for newer titles.

Beyond performance enhancements, the 101.6559 driver addresses several key issues. A recurring problem with Adobe After Effects causing flickering in the preview window during playback has been resolved for both dedicated Arc A-series GPUs and integrated Arc GPUs within Intel Core Ultra Series 1 and Series 2 processors. Additionally, a crash issue in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (DX12) with frame generation enabled on Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors has been fixed. This update demonstrates Intel’s commitment to improving the stability and performance of its Arc graphics solutions.

Intel has released graphics driver version 101.6559 WHQL for its Arc GPUs, bringing gaming enhancements and bug fixes. This update focuses on improved performance and compatibility for both dedicated Arc graphics cards and integrated Arc GPUs in Intel Core Ultra processors.

Gaming Highlights

• “Game On” Driver Support:
  • Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (Arc B-series, A-series, and Intel Core Ultra with integrated Arc GPUs)
  • Avowed (Arc B-series and A-series GPUs)
• Performance Improvements:
  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (DX12): Up to 5.9% average FPS uplift at 1080p with High settings (Arc B-series GPUs)

Fixed Issues

• Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:
  • Adobe After Effects: Flickering in preview window during playback.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with integrated Intel Arc GPUs:
  • Adobe After Effects: Flickering in preview window during playback.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with integrated Intel Arc GPUs:
  • Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (DX12): Crash during gameplay with frame generation enabled.
  • Adobe After Effects: Flickering in preview window during playback.

Known Issues

A range of known issues persist across different Intel Arc GPU configurations. Arc B-series users may encounter problems such as flickering in Terraria, errors in MLPerf, and corruptions in Topaz Labs Photo AI, Magix Vegas Pro, and Cyberlink Power Director. Arc A-series owners might experience darker shadows in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, crashes in Topaz Gigapixel AI, and tearing in Cyberlink Power Director. Intel Core Ultra Series 1 and 2 users may face errors in PugetBench and Davinci Resolve Studio, corruptions in Topaz Video AI, and further issues with Cyberlink Power Director. Additionally, Series 2 users might encounter problems with Adobe Premiere Pro, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, and Avowed. Several broader issues affecting all Arc users include intermittent application crashes, problems with the FPS limiter and profile controls, display scaling inconsistencies, and incomplete uninstallation.

• Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products:
  • Terraria (DX9): Flickering corruptions in full-screen mode.
  • MLPerf: Intermittent errors on multi-GPU systems (workaround: disable integrated GPU).
  • Topaz Labs Photo AI: Corruptions with certain image enhancement operations.
  • Magix Vegas Pro: Corruptions when using the style transfer feature.
  • Dassault Systèmes CATIA: Application crash when using the HQAO option.
  • Cyberlink Power Director: Tearing and lag in preview window and exported video.
  • Adobe Lightroom Classic: Lower-than-expected performance (workaround provided).
• Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (DX12): Darker-than-expected shadows in certain campaign scenarios.
  • Topaz Gigapixel AI: Intermittent crashes while exporting images.
  • Cyberlink Power Director: Tearing and lag in preview window and exported video.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with integrated Intel Arc GPUs:
  • PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19: Intermittent errors with Extended benchmark preset.
  • Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0: Errors while rendering OpenVino test scenarios.
  • Topaz Video AI: Corruption when exporting videos after using some models.
  • Cyberlink Power Director: Tearing and lag in preview window and exported video.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with integrated Intel Arc GPUs:
  • Adobe Premiere Pro: Corruption in output video after 8K AV1 Encode.
  • PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio V19: Intermittent errors with Extended benchmark preset.
  • Davinci Resolve Studio v19.0: Intermittent errors while rendering certain AI/ML scenarios.
  • Topaz Video AI: Corruption when exporting videos after using some models.
  • Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (DX11): Intermittent crashes.
  • Cyberlink Power Director: Tearing and lag on certain Intel Core Ultra Series 2 Mobile Processors.
  • Avowed (DX12): Application instability when disabling Ray Tracing and restarting the game.

Intel Graphics Software Known Issues

• Intermittent application crash when navigating pages or dialogue boxes (WinAppSDK 1.7 fix pending).
• Intermittent crash when using “reset all settings” option in Windows 10 (individual page reset workaround available).
• Intermittent application crash on first re-arrange of metrics in select metrics window.
• FPS Limiter may not limit FPS with VSync ON and Low Latency Mode enabled.
• Profile controls don’t always supersede global controls.
• Display scaling at non-native resolutions might result in unintended scaling.
• Intel Graphics Software may not uninstall entirely using Add or Remove Programs.

Intel Graphics Software Performance Tuning (BETA)

Performance Tuning is currently in beta. Performance and features may behave unexpectedly. In multi-GPU scenarios with two performance-tuning capable devices, the performance tuning page may attempt to apply changes to multiple devices at once.