Microsoft DirectStorage is a Windows 11 exclusive with various restrictions

Microsoft shared more details about the PC version of DirectStorage. First introduced on the Xox Series X, this technology delivers much faster video game load times and allows the creation of more expansive virtual worlds. First up, DirectStorage will be a Windows 11 exclusively. Microsoft will not make a version for Windows 10.

With a high performance NVMe SSD and the proper drivers, Windows 11 can soon load new games faster than ever thanks to a breakthrough technology called DirectStorage, which we also pioneered as part of the Xbox Velocity Architecture featured in the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

With DirectStorage, which will only be available with Windows 11, games can quickly load assets to the graphics card without bogging down the CPU. This means you’ll get to experience incredibly detailed game worlds rendered at lightning speeds, without long load times. “DirectStorage Optimized” Windows 11 PCs are configured with the hardware and drivers needed to enable this amazing experience.

Windows 11, NVMe SSD, and DirectX 12 (SM 6.0) GPU required

Besides needing Windows 11, the feature will only work on systems with a DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support. Yesterday, Microsoft's requirements page listed a DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU as the minimum but it seems this was not accurate. If a DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU is required, support would be limited to the AMD Radeon RX 6000 series and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20/30 series.

Furthermore, Microsoft revealed you will need an NVMe SSD that uses Microsoft's Standard NVM Express Controller driver. Initially, Microsoft mentioned you would need 1TB of storage capacity -- but the revised requirements page no longer lists a minimum capacity.

As I mentioned earlier today, Windows 11 will also require a system with at least TPM 1.2 support.