Windows 10 Will Officially Support DirectStorage!

Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed that the new DirectStorage API would be a Windows 11 exclusive. Actually, it was about one of the most compelling reasons to upgrade to the new OS. However, it looks like Windows 10 users will benefit from it after all, and quite frankly, this is all getting a bit messy. Either way, it looks like Microsoft has just revealed that Windows 10 will soon support DirectStorage.

As Microsoft stated on their blog, DirectStorage SDK will be compatible with Windows 10, version 1909. See the full statement below.

“Microsoft is committed to ensuring that when game developers adopt a new API, they can reach as many gamers as possible. As such, games built against the DirectStorage SDK will be compatible with Windows 10, version 1909 and up; the same as the DirectX 12 Agility SDK.”

Windows 10 will officially support DirectStorage, I think that seems clear as day. However, it does also seem that it won’t be quite as beneficial as the Windows 11 integration, where there will be other performance benefits from this technology and more.

Features

• The new DirectStorage API programming model that provides a DX12-style batched submission/completion calling pattern, relieving apps from the need to individually manage thousands of IO requests/completion notifications per second 
• GPU decompression providing super-fast asset decompression for load time and streaming scenarios (coming in a later preview)  
• Storage stack optimizations: On Windows 11, this consists of an upgraded OS storage stack that unlocks the full potential of DirectStorage, and on Windows 10, games will still benefit from the more efficient use of the legacy OS storage stack  

This means that any game built on DirectStorage will benefit from the new programming model and GPU decompression technology on Windows 10, version 1909 and up. Additionally, because Windows 11 was built with DirectStorage in mind, games running on Windows 11 benefit further from new storage stack optimizations. The API runtime implementation and the GPU decompression technology is delivered via the DirectStorage SDK, and ships with your game. As a game developer, you need only implement DirectStorage once into your engine, and all the applicable benefits will be automatically applied and scaled appropriately for gamers.  

Honestly, I can’t wait to see this technology in action, and how much difference it makes. Given the many gaming PCs already have fast storage!