The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 arrived as a pivotal release, promising enhanced gaming experiences for several highly anticipated titles. Released on August 30, 2016, this driver aimed to provide optimal performance and stability for gamers diving into the immersive worlds of World of Warcraft: Legion, Battlefield 1: Open Beta, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Quantum Break on Steam. This article delves into the features and improvements offered by this driver, exploring its impact on gaming and virtual reality experiences.
A Focus on Day-One Gaming
Nvidia’s driver team consistently strives to deliver the best possible experience from day one of a game’s release. The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 is a testament to this commitment. The driver was meticulously crafted to include performance tweaks and bug fixes that ensured a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience for the aforementioned titles. This "Game Ready" approach allowed gamers to jump into new releases with confidence, knowing that their Nvidia GeForce graphics card was optimized for peak performance.
Game Ready Enhancements
The "Game Ready" designation for the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 highlighted its focus on providing the best possible experience for specific games. Let’s break down the enhancements for each title:
- World of Warcraft: Legion: As players embarked on their adventures in the Broken Isles with the release of Legion, this driver ensured that their GeForce cards were primed for optimal performance in the visually stunning environments and intense combat scenarios of the expansion.
- Battlefield 1: Open Beta: With the hype surrounding Battlefield 1‘s return to World War I, the driver was crucial for delivering a stable and visually impressive experience during the Open Beta phase. Gamers could experience the large-scale battles and detailed environments with the assurance of Nvidia’s optimization.
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided: This cyberpunk action RPG demanded high graphical fidelity to showcase its detailed environments and augmentations. The driver optimized performance for gamers exploring the intricately designed world of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
- Quantum Break (Steam): After its initial release on the Windows Store, Quantum Break made its way to Steam. The driver provided the necessary optimizations to ensure a smooth and visually appealing experience for players on the Steam platform.
Virtual Reality Ready
Beyond traditional gaming, the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 also catered to the burgeoning world of Virtual Reality (VR). It delivered an "optimal experience" for both existing and upcoming VR titles, including:
- NVIDIA VR Funhouse: This free VR experience showcased the capabilities of Nvidia’s VRWorks technology, offering a collection of carnival-style games designed to immerse players in a virtual world.
- Everest VR: This VR experience allowed users to virtually climb Mount Everest, providing a stunning and realistic simulation of the challenges and breathtaking views associated with the iconic mountain.
- Obduction: From the creators of Myst, Obduction offered a visually captivating puzzle adventure game built for VR. The driver ensured smooth performance and a comfortable VR experience for players exploring its otherworldly environments.
- Raw Data: This action-packed VR shooter pitted players against hordes of robotic enemies. The driver optimized performance for intense combat scenarios and visually demanding environments.
- The Assembly: This narrative-driven VR adventure explored moral dilemmas and complex characters within a secret underground facility. The driver helped bring the game’s immersive story and detailed environments to life in VR.
For VR enthusiasts with GeForce GTX 1080, 1070, and 980 Ti cards, the release of the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 was a significant step towards experiencing the full potential of virtual reality gaming.
Ansel Support: Revolutionizing In-Game Photography
One of the most notable features supported by this driver was Nvidia’s Ansel technology. Ansel is a revolutionary in-game camera tool that allowed players to capture stunning screenshots from virtually any angle. It provided unparalleled freedom and control over image composition, enabling gamers to create breathtaking virtual photographs.
With the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10, Ansel support was extended to Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. This allowed players to showcase the game’s sleek and stylish environments in unprecedented detail. Ansel allowed users to:
- Compose shots from any angle, unconstrained by the limitations of the in-game camera.
- Capture images in 2D, 360°, and even stereoscopic 3D for VR viewing.
- Adjust post-process filters to fine-tune the look and feel of their screenshots.
Ansel empowered gamers to become virtual photographers, capturing and sharing their unique perspectives on the games they loved.
Support for GeForce GTX 10-Series Notebooks
The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 also brought support for the latest GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs powering gaming notebooks. This meant that gamers could enjoy desktop-level performance in a portable form factor. The driver ensured that these powerful notebooks were optimized to deliver the best possible gaming experience, even on the go.
Driver Details and Download Information
- Release Date: August 30, 2016
- Filename: 372.70-desktop-win10-64bit-international-whql.exe
You can download the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 here:
https://www.techspot.com/downloads/drivers/essentials/nvidia-windows-10/
Alternative Download Link (Guru3D): https://www.guru3d.com/files/index.php?act=category&id=7 (Look for the 372.70 version).
Previous Versions and Their Highlights
The article also provided a historical overview of previous Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver releases, highlighting their key features and game optimizations. This gave users a sense of Nvidia’s ongoing commitment to improving the gaming experience with each driver update. Some of the previous versions mentioned include:
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 365.19 (May 13, 2016)
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 365.10 (May 2, 2016)
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 364.51 (March 10, 2016)
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 364.47 (March 7, 2016): Optimized for Tom Clancy’s The Division, Hitman, Need for Speed, Ashes of the Singularity, and Rise of the Tomb Raider.
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 361.91 (February 15, 2016): Optimized for ARMA 3, Street Fighter V, Monster Hunter Online, and HITMAN (Beta).
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 361.43: Added support for GameWorks VR 1.1.
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 359.06: Provided the best gaming experience for Just Cause 3 and Rainbow Six: Siege.
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 359.00: Provided the best gaming experience for Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate and Overwatch: Beta.
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 358.91: Provided the best gaming experience for Fallout 4, Star Wars: Battlefront, and StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void.
This historical context emphasized the continuous evolution of Nvidia’s driver technology and its dedication to supporting the latest games and technologies.
Conclusion
The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.70 for Windows 10 was a significant release that delivered on its promise of optimized gaming experiences for several major titles. Its "Game Ready" approach, VR enhancements, Ansel support, and compatibility with GeForce GTX 10-series notebooks made it a valuable update for gamers and VR enthusiasts alike. By consistently refining its drivers, Nvidia demonstrated its commitment to providing the best possible performance and features for its users.