Microsoft just blitzed PC game load times by 85%, starting with Asus Xbox Ally X

The new Asus Xbox Ally X handheld gaming PC will be one of the first to benefit from a new DirectX feature that promises to speed up your game load times. According to Microsoft, this advanced game tech will use cloud computing to compile your in-game shaders, with the company claiming it reduced initial load times in a recent game by 85%.

With the new Xbox Ally X release date now set for October, we won’t have long to wait until we can test out its features, including this one. This Microsoft announcement might seem technical, but it could have a big impact on how quickly complex games load on some of the models in our best handheld guide. These Asus-made handhelds will be the first to test it out, however.