Intel’s engineers have introduced significant improvements in the latest driver update — giving the graphics processing unit a boost and fixing minor performance issues. This most recent patch targets integrated Intel Arc GPUs found in Intel Core Ultra processors, which are some of Intel’s top CPUs for laptops. This update adds support for a couple of games, but more importantly, it boosts gaming performance. 

With the download, Intel® Arc™ Control puts users in command of their graphics experience. Creators and gamers can tune their graphics performance by managing driver updates, and stream like pros with built-in studios that let them broadcast gameplay, create virtual backgrounds, auto-generate highlight reels, and more.

The new 31.0.101.5333 WHQL driver adds support for Last Epoch and Sea of Thieves, more precisely, the DX 12 update. This applies both to the Intel Arc A-series, meaning dedicated GPUs, and to the Core Ultra chips. Next, we have a slew of performance improvements in DX11 games. 

Just Cause 4 gets a 155% average uplift. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate also shows a marked increase in frames per second (fps), now up by 65%. Other increases include Sid Meier’s Civilization VI with a 27% boost, Snowrunner with 49%, Divinity Original Sin 2 with 25%, and It Takes Two with 24%. Even newer games like Palworld got tweaked in this update, now hitting up to 14% higher fps. The performance figures listed apply to 1080p and some variations of medium/normal settings. 

The following is a full list of improved games: 

• Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (up to 65%) 
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (up to 17%) 
• Divinity Original Sin 2 (up to 25%) 
• Far Cry 5 (up to 8%) 
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection (up to 19%) 
• It Takes Two (up to 24%) 
• Just Cause 3 (up to 18%) 
• Just Cause 4 (up to 155%) 
• Palworld (up to 14%) 
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (up to 9%) 
• Rust (up to 9%) 
• SCUM (up to 6%) 
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (up to 27%) 
• Snowrunner (up to 49%) 
• Warframe (up to 7%) 
• XCOM 2 (up to 8%) 

OS Reference: 

• Microsoft Windows® 10-64 – October 2022 Update (22H2) 
• Microsoft Windows 11*-64 – October 2021 Update (21H2) 
• Microsoft Windows 11-64 – September 2022 Update (22H2) 
• Microsoft Windows 11-64 – October 2023 Update (23H2) 

Platform (OS Support) 

• 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family (Codename Tiger Lake, Rocket Lake, Tiger Lake-H) 
• 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family (Codename Alder Lake-S, Alder Lake-H, Alder Lake-P, Alder Lake-U, Alder Lake-HX, Alder Lake-N) 
• 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family (Codename Raptor Lake-S, Raptor Lake-HX, Raptor Lake-H, Raptor Lake-P, Raptor Lake-U) 
• 14th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family (Codename Raptor Lake Refresh) 
• Intel® Core™ Ultra processor family (Codename Meteor Lake) 
• Intel® Iris® Xe Dedicated Graphics family (Codename DG1) 
• Intel® Arc® Graphics family (Codename Alchemist) 

Supported Platforms 

Platform Part	Platform Prerequisite
Graphics API Support	Microsoft DX11
Intel CPU and GPU Support	Intel 13th Gen processors with Intel Xe graphics, 20W or higher Thermal Design Power (TDP)
Intel Arc Control	March 16, 2023 or later
Memory Speed	4,000 MHz
Intel Platform Software	Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) decide whether this platform software is part of a system’s original design. At this time, Endurance Gaming feature will not be visible if required platform software and configuration are not present.

DX11 was not perfected for Intel Arc upon launch so it’s magnificent that 16 games effected by the update are DX11 titles. Intel’s discrete Intel Arc GPUs first came out with minor bugs, but the company has successfully smoothed out the rough edges into optimized performance and great value. Intel Arc Battlemage and the iGPUs in Intel Core Ultra chips are beginning to live up to their potential. For more information about Intel Arc for creators, click here. 

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/docs/discrete-gpus/arc/creator.html