DirectStorage 1.4 adds Zstandard GPU decompression for faster streaming

Microsoft has published further details on a new GPU decompression algorithm in DirectStorage 1.4, unveiled at GDC 2026 during the DirectX State of the Union. The update aims to speed asset streaming and give developers another tool to tackle load times and texture pop‑in.

Benchmarks in Microsoft's notes show GDeflate remains the preferred choice when developers want the GPU to handle asset loading, while Zstd performs better for CPU‑intensive projects and offers an overall compression ratio advantage of about 2%. Evaluations of several codecs led Microsoft to conclude that "Zstd stands out by delivering competitive compression ratios and decompression performance, broad availability on hardware and software across operating systems, and widespread adoption in OS, cloud, and web scenarios." Its inclusion alongside GDeflate gives developers more options for different workloads.

GPU vendors are already planning optimizations.

directstorage 1.4, zstandard, gdeflate, gpu decompression, asset streaming, texture pop-in, load times, decompression performance, gdc 2026, gpu vendors