Microsoft’s new Agility SDK will allow developers to better optimise games

Microsoft recently released the new Agility Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.613, which comes with new features that enhance game development processes. One of the standout features is Work Graphs, which allows for CPU offloading and encourages the usage of GPU-driver rendering, enabling a GPU to produce work for itself on demand.

In simple terms, the CPU and GPU work together to generate the final image or output, but it is common for the CPU to take too long to decide what the GPU should do next, leading to delays and inefficiencies. Work Graphs provide a mechanism that allows the CPU and GPU to work together more efficiently by enabling the CPU to plan and organise tasks for the GPU. Rather than waiting for each block, the CPU can provide a list of tasks ahead of time, allowing the GPU to proceed without waiting for another job to be delivered. With CPUs and GPUs working together, memory management is improved, and tasks are completed more quickly.

Another feature of the Agility SDK 1.613 is the revised Shader Model 6.8, which comes with new capabilities such as Start Vertex/Instance Location that allows shaders to access parameters via the API call. This is useful for performing address computations without relying on fixed function data. Additionally, the Wave Size Range feature enables developers to specify the desired wave size in shaders, which can help reduce the number of required shaders or eliminate the need for several of them. Lastly, Expanded Comparison Sampling is expected to improve cross-platform shaders.

The SDK also includes GPU Upload Heaps, a new feature that allows quick data transfer from the CPU to the GPU and eliminates the need for a PCI bus to transport data between the VRAM and the CPU (requires ResizableBAR enabled).

AMD and Nvidia have released day-0 drivers for the new SDK, meaning users can start using it now. Work Graphs are supported by Nvidia Ampere and Ada GPUs running drivers 551.76 or later. As for AMD, it has been stated that only the RDNA 3 graphics cards support Work Graphs, at least for now. Intel has not yet shared which of its graphics architectures supports Work Graphs.

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KitGuru says: The first games to benefit from the new features introduced by Agility SDK 1.613 won't come right away, so if you don't have a compatible graphics card, there's still time to get one.

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