How it works 1. Bypassing the CPU – Traditionally, game assets (textures, models, etc.) are loaded from storage to RAM, then processed by the CPU before being sent to the GPU. DirectStorage allows assets to go directly from NVMe SSDs to the GPU, reducing CPU overhead. 2. Batching I/O Requests – Instead of loading assets in small chunks, DirectStorage enables batching thousands of I/O requests simultaneously, which is ideal for high-speed NVMe SSDs. 3. GPU Decompression – With DirectStorage 1.1, Microsoft introduced GPU-based asset decompression. Normally, compressed assets are unpacked by the CPU before being sent to the GPU. DirectStorage lets the GPU handle decompression, reducing CPU load and improving performance. Benefits • Faster Load Times – Drastically reduces loading screens in games. • Better Open-World Streaming – Seamless asset streaming in large, detailed game worlds. • Lower CPU Usage – Frees up CPU resources for AI, physics, and other game mechanics. Requirements • Windows 10 (version 1909 or later) or Windows 11 (Windows 11 has better optimizations). • NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 or 4.0; PCIe 4.0 recommended for best results). • DirectX 12-compatible GPU (NVIDIA RTX 20/30/40/50 series, AMD RDNA 2/3, Intel Arc).
It works like magic. I had massive stutters before, after adding this it reduced the stutters by at least 85% . I wish I took some before and after screenshots of the graphs from the benchmark, it's like night and day.
I ACTUALLY CAN PLAY THE GAME PEACEFULLY NOW! DISCLAIMER: This is based on my research over the internet for AC Shadows 1.0.4 and could have different results on different pc specs OR some part of this could be a placebo, but you guys can try it out.
ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR FILE BEFORE REPLACING THEM WITH MODS or your game will break although it should not.
I read somewhere on Reddit, a user said V-Sync in the game is broken which I always turned it on that may cause stutter, I disabled it now that I see it has improvement.
FPS Limiter is crucial since we don't want excessive fps more than playable. I know that the more FPS, the smoother the game is but if you don't limit, the GPU will work harder and make your game unstable. As for now, we can set the limit at 60 or 45. 30 is too fluctuating.
Frame Generation is disabled. I've tested it and the GPU went a lot harder here so stuttering get a lot worse especially when you get out of the map screen/inventory.
User chunchunis69 said the ACShadows.ini prior to 1.0.4 patch was corrupted with out-of-range values raytracing_gi=0; raytracing_giquality=4; raytracing_mode=0. Deleting it will recreate a new one with newer build from the game itself at launch. I tried it and I gladly say that it really does improve my gameplay.
The optimized settings are from this video by BenchmarKing which he gave thoroughly detailed explanation on how each setting do and affect performance. This is great for visual and performance balanced.
Some said FSR performs better than DLSS in the game because the game has problems with Nvidia GPU. You can try switch between them.
END OF NOTE: I don't know anything else much after these, which what matter the most right now is that I can play the game smoothly so this is all I can share. My game consistently going around 55-60fps depends on the location which is really great. No stutter ever exists to ruin the immersion. I was thinking to stop playing until June's patch but after all these fixes, I've been playing the game 6 hours nonstop because of how smooth and enjoyable it gets.
LAST RESORT: If none ever fix your stutters, the only thing to do is put your graphics to the lowest and cap the FPS to 45.
This mod help a lot ^^ tysm for your work but.. what fixed stutters for me was putting "prefer maximum performance" on NVCP (on the game only, not globally ofc) for some reason my GPU was NEVER used at 100% except on few rare occasions which resulted in my fps hovering from 45 to 70 all the time after doing what i said in the NVCP i'm now playing with stable 60-70 fps
and with all that i'm using DF optimized settings (as always on demanding games lol) voilà hopefully this will help someone else ^^
WARNING: Do not use this mod, it will cause instant crash in the game, you will be forced to verify steam files, waste a bunch of time to download the original files again
when modding a game (especially when replacing files.....) you SHOULD make a backup copy & paste of the 2 original DLLs to a new folder anywhere you'd like
you could also simply rename: dstoragebkup.dll dstoragecorebkup.dll
just like this voilà
that way you will avoid losing time like this person (if & when any kind of mod doesn't work on your system) Think, it ain't illegal yet guys! :)
157 comments
1. Bypassing the CPU – Traditionally, game assets (textures, models, etc.) are loaded from storage to RAM, then processed by the CPU before being sent to the GPU. DirectStorage allows assets to go directly from NVMe SSDs to the GPU, reducing CPU overhead.
2. Batching I/O Requests – Instead of loading assets in small chunks, DirectStorage enables batching thousands of I/O requests simultaneously, which is ideal for high-speed NVMe SSDs.
3. GPU Decompression – With DirectStorage 1.1, Microsoft introduced GPU-based asset decompression. Normally, compressed assets are unpacked by the CPU before being sent to the GPU. DirectStorage lets the GPU handle decompression, reducing CPU load and improving performance.
Benefits
• Faster Load Times – Drastically reduces loading screens in games.
• Better Open-World Streaming – Seamless asset streaming in large, detailed game worlds.
• Lower CPU Usage – Frees up CPU resources for AI, physics, and other game mechanics.
Requirements
• Windows 10 (version 1909 or later) or Windows 11 (Windows 11 has better optimizations).
• NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 or 4.0; PCIe 4.0 recommended for best results).
• DirectX 12-compatible GPU (NVIDIA RTX 20/30/40/50 series, AMD RDNA 2/3, Intel Arc).
i just bought the game and it dont work
Ryzen 9 7950X3D
RTX 5070Ti
32GB DDR5
SSD NVME M.2
DISCLAIMER: This is based on my research over the internet for AC Shadows 1.0.4 and could have different results on different pc specs OR some part of this could be a placebo, but you guys can try it out.
MY SPECS:
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
RTX 4060
32GB Ram
NVMe SSD
STEPS:
KEY POINTS:
END OF NOTE:
I don't know anything else much after these, which what matter the most right now is that I can play the game smoothly so this is all I can share. My game consistently going around 55-60fps depends on the location which is really great. No stutter ever exists to ruin the immersion. I was thinking to stop playing until June's patch but after all these fixes, I've been playing the game 6 hours nonstop because of how smooth and enjoyable it gets.
LAST RESORT:
If none ever fix your stutters, the only thing to do is put your graphics to the lowest and cap the FPS to 45.
i'd opt for DF settings tbh
other than that, read and apply if you have similar system, this guy is cookin ^^
but..
what fixed stutters for me was putting "prefer maximum performance" on NVCP (on the game only, not globally ofc)
for some reason my GPU was NEVER used at 100% except on few rare occasions
which resulted in my fps hovering from 45 to 70 all the time
after doing what i said in the NVCP i'm now playing with stable 60-70 fps
and with all that i'm using DF optimized settings (as always on demanding games lol)
voilà
hopefully this will help someone else ^^
when modding a game (especially when replacing files.....)
you SHOULD make a backup
copy & paste of the 2 original DLLs to a new folder anywhere you'd like
you could also simply rename:
dstoragebkup.dll
dstoragecorebkup.dll
just like this
voilà
that way you will avoid losing time like this person (if & when any kind of mod doesn't work on your system)
Think, it ain't illegal yet guys! :)