While explaining how graphics drivers work, it seems that Nvidia couldn't help taking a jab at AMD in the process.
In a new video (and accompanying blog post) intended to explain Nvidia's arduous process of creating it's "Game Ready" drivers, Nvidia Senior Product Manager Sean Pelletier detailed how graphics drivers work and why it's important to ensure the right drivers are available when new games release.
Towards the end, Pelletier noted Nvidia doesn't release beta drivers because of how "integral the driver is to the overall experience." He likened the drivers to video games, saying that fully released games are "held to a higher standard" than the beta version of the same game. He seems to be inferring that Nvidia's Game Ready drivers, which are typically released on the same day as a game's launch, are superior to beta drivers that AMD may put out.
From the blog post:
Only once all this work is completed do we launch the driver via GeForce.com and GeForce Experience. And because the Game Ready Driver Program and our promise of quality relies on all of this work, we don’t release sub-par beta drivers with minimal testing, let alone multiple conflicting beta drivers forked from different development branches that support different games and products, which confuse customers.
Of course, astute PC gamers already know that despite Nvidia's in-depth testing and verification process, the company still deals with occasional driver problems. Sometimes, Nvidia has to release an updated driver to fix problems that the original driver caused.
Despite the jab at AMD, the video itself is well-made and does a good job outling the process of driver creation from beginning to end. The Game Ready program was started in 2014 as a way to optimize drivers by interacting directly with game development teams.
Nvidia also bragged about every single Game Ready driver being Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certified. That said, WHQL certifcation is certainly appreciated but focuses more on Windows functionality rather than specific games.
Finally, releasing "beta" drivers isn't necessarily a bad thing. By definition, a beta is a trial of software or any product by a third party during the final stages of development. It allows people outside of the development to put fresh eyes on the product and may lead to finding bugs that were otherwise undiscovered by the development team.
Of course, being a video about drivers, Nvidia has also released its latest 512.59 Game Ready drivers which contains optimizations for Dune: Spice Wars. It also includes ray tracing support for the Chernobylite survival game and adds DLSS support to JX3 Online and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt.
David Matthews is a freelance writer specializing in consumer tech and gaming. He also strongly believes that sugar does not go in grits. Follow him on Twitter @shortblktechie
