Intel has released a new Precompiled Shaders technology, "which helps reduce the load/launch times in games, reduces stuttering on 1st launch, and offers an automatic shader cache update process", as reported by WCCFtech. This feature is now available for Intel Arc Discrete & Integrated GPUs in 13 popular games.
Traditionally, games only compile shaders on the user's own computer, which can take time and cause stuttering. Intel's solution does the work in advance (in the cloud). These precompiled shaders are downloaded to the user's computer in the background, and the game uses them at start-up.
Intel has shared performance figures for its graphics cards such as the Arc B580 and the integrated Xe2 and Xe3 chips. On average, loading times are allegedly 2-3 times faster, but sometimes even much more than that. God of War: Ragnarök, for example, loads up to 37 times faster than without precompiled shaders, according to Intel.
The feature is disabled by default, so you have to manually enable it in Intel's software. Open Intel Graphics Software and go to Graphics, then 3D Rendering, then Precompiled Shaders and turn the option on.
And finally, here are the games that are currently supported by this new feature.
Black Myth: Wukong
Borderlands 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Cyberpunk 2077
God of War Ragnarök
Gotham Knights
Hogwarts Legacy
NBA 2K26
Starfield
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The Outer Worlds 2