CS:GO beta depot update adds texture streaming feature

While CS:GO fans are waiting for Valve to migrate the game to the Source 2 engine, due to multiple rumours popping up about the move, the developer has released a new CS:GO beta depot update. 

The CS:GO beta depot update features texture streaming, as well as other technical improvements.

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CS:GO Beta Depot update

The texture streaming feature in the CS:GO beta depot update allows the game to defer loading of high-resolution textures until they are needed for rendering. This will potentially save a significant amount of video memory, and help those on lower-end PCs.

This pre-release build of CS:GO is compatible with public matchmaking. It also features some other technical improvements. Check out the full update notes below.

Texture Compositor:

• Optimized texture generation by giving composite textures destined for models that are already rendering higher priority in the generation queue.
• Added a trailing cache of composite inputs, designed to optimize composite generation for sequences of similar jobs.
• More asynchronous texture requests are allowed per cycle, allowing composites to generate faster on some systems.

Texture streaming:

Added an experimental graphics setting; ‘Texture Streaming’ in video options. Texture streaming allows the game to defer loading of high-resolution textures until they are needed for rendering, potentially saving a significant amount of video memory. On systems with slower disk access, streaming textures may be momentarily visible.

CS:GO beta depot - How to join

If you want to check out the new CS:GO Beta Depot update, then we've got you covered. Here's how to join and test out the pre-release update.

1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your LIBRARY.
2. Right click on CS:GO and select 'Properties'.
3. Click on the BETAS tab.
4. Select the beta you would like to opt into through the drop down box.
5. Select “texture_streaming_beta”.
6. You will be prompted to restart your client. After restarting, launch CS:GO to play the game with its Beta changes.

It remains to be seen how long this update will remain in the beta depot, and what type of effect it will have on the game's performance on lower-end PCs.

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While you not-so-patiently wait for CS:GO Source 2, why not check out the latest video in our Lockdown series.

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