Recap: Intel lifted the lid on two main updates to its Arc software program stack on the finish of final week. It introduced a brand new driver that provides assist for 4 not too long ago launched video games and improves efficiency by ~5% in eight others, and a plugin for the Unreal Engine that makes it simpler for builders so as to add XeSS to their video games.
Intel has been working with builders to manually add XeSS to a good few video games (Intel has a largely full checklist right here). It feels like a reasonably fast addition to make, however with the plugin it needs to be a downright trivial addition to any sport that makes use of the Unreal Engine.
There are three variations of the plugin (on GitHub) for UE 4.0, 4.26, and 5.0, so video games which might be already underneath growth with an older model of the engine ought to have the ability to add XeSS, too.
In fact, the plugin has the identical limitations as baked-in XeSS. It does not assist break up screens or VR and it solely works with the DirectX 12 API. It additionally works greatest on Intel Arc GPUs and struggles to compete towards the extra hardware-agnostic AMD FSR 2.0 in video games that assist each. FSR is equally accessible as a UE plugin and can be open-source, which XeSS is just not.
Intel additionally introduced a brand new driver for the Arc A-series that guarantees wider compatibility, efficiency enhancements, and bug fixes. Principally, it provides assist for Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Name of Obligation: Warzone 2.0, Sonic Frontiers, and Dysterra. The driving force is out there now however nonetheless in beta. It needs to be bumped as much as launch within the subsequent few weeks.
In line with Intel launch notes, the driving force can enhance efficiency by “as much as” 3% in 5 titles: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Forza Horizon 5, Far Cry 6, Refrain, and Sniper Elite 5. It additionally pushes the efficiency up by 5% in Gotham Nights, 7% in Ghostwire Tokyo, and eight% in Dust 5. Intel did its benchmarking with max or near max settings at a mixture of 1080p and 1440p.
Intel additionally fastened a number of bugs in some widespread titles. Doom Everlasting now not sparkles on sure maps, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege now experiences constant efficiency, the lighting is fastened in Dying Stranding Director’s Reduce, and the vertical strains are gone from Forza Horizon 5. There are additionally quite a few bug fixes for the Arc Management app that ought to deliver it into the realm of usable, though it nonetheless has an extended method to go.
There are a lot extra recognized points that Intel admits to within the patch notes, and the group is aware of of fairly a number of extra. Should you purchased an Arc GPU you knew what you had been getting, however let’s give attention to the positives. Intel is beginning to dwell as much as its promise of continuous to refine its drivers and software program stack, and that is one thing for early adopters to be comfortable about.